GMA Network tested the movie waters by co-producing films with Viva Films. Among the movies that were co-produced were Ober Da Bakod: The Movie, Forever and Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko. Although not credited in the opening and closing credits of the movies, the network's logo appeared in the aforementioned movies' posters in theaters and newspaper ads.
1995–2000: early years
Cinemax Studios logo used from 1995 to 1998.
In 1995, GMA Network launched its own film outfit Cinemax Studios under the supervision of Jimmy Duavit and Butch Jimenez, with Run Barbi Run (1995) as its maiden movie. Later that year, Cinemax signed a co-production deal with OctoArts Films in which OctoArts would distribute the movies in theaters nationwide, while Cinemax (through its mother network, GMA) would handle publicity and promotions of the movies for TV and radio. GMA Network holds the airing rights for those movies. Films co-produced with other production companies are distributed by Cinemax.[3]
In 1997, Cinemax began producing and distributing its own movies, beginning with Mga Bangka sa Tag-araw (later on known as Sa Pusod ng Dagat) and Indios (later on known as My Guardian Debil). At this time, it partnered with sister companies Film Experts and Optima Digital for production and post-production of its movies respectively.[4][5]
In 1998, it changed its name to GMA Films after HBO's sister channel Cinemax entered the Southeast Asian market. The same year, GMA received critical and commercial success for TGIS The Movie,[6]Sa Pusod ng Dagat and José Rizal, both produced and directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. GMA Films also produced Muro-Ami and Deathrow, both which were entries at their respective MMFFs and also critically acclaimed.[3]
On June 9, 1999, GMA Films locally distributed the anime film Voltes V: The Liberation, produced by Carlos Agustin.[7]
In 2000, after the departure of Butch Jimenez from GMA Network, GMA Films was placed on hiatus. Deathrow was the last film produced.
2004–2009: comeback and breakthrough
In late 2004, GMA Films made its comeback, with Let the Love Begin as its first production. It became the highest-grossing Valentine film in the Philippines when it released in February 2005.
It later released other films that also became hits in the Philippine Box-office.
In 2007, the award-winning film Ouija co-produced with Viva Films was supposed to be its first film to be released internationally. However, the scheduled overseas premieres in four U.S. cities (Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego) were cancelled. Only the one in New Jersey pushed through.[8] The movie is titled Seance internationally.
In 2009, GMA Films produced the reboot of the classic komiks novel Ang Panday in partnership with Imus Productions. Starring Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. in the title role, it became the official entry of GMA Films and Imus Productions for the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival. It became the festival's top grosser and won 6 major awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Revilla.
During the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival, GMA Films' entry Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote became the top grosser. The film starred Vic Sotto and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and was a joint production with Imus Productions, M-Zet Production, Octo Arts Films and APT Entertainment.
GMA Films logo used from September 2011 to May 2014.
On May 11, 2012, The Road was released to theaters in the U.S. and Canada.[9][10]
2012 is the year that GMA Films has produced eight films in a year, the most it has ever done since its very start. This was part of GMA Films' resolution to produce one film per month. Even though that did not happen, they managed to produce eight films. On the same year, It made their own first venture for television was Cielo de Angelina on the morning slot.
2013–2014
In 2013, GMA Films produced only 2 feature film, Dance of the Steelbars and My Lady Boss. Both films performed less than its previous films last year despite a star-studded cast. It distributed the Cinemalaya 2013 entry Sana Dati to theaters.
With the popularity of the AlDub love team (Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza) rising to phenomenal heights in 2015, GMA Films partnered with Octo Arts Films, M-Zet Productions, APT Entertainment and MEDA Productions to produce My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore as entry to the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival. The hottest love team was joined by Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai delas Alas, directed by Jose Javier Reyes. The movie figured in a tight race with another MMFF entry, Beauty and the Bestie for the top spot at the box-office. The movie eventually earned P385 million, breaking box-office records. The said movie also earned 3 major awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Maine Mendoza.
In 2016, GMA Films partnered with APT Entertainment and M-Zet Productions for the movie Imagine You and Me, which marked the second team-up of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza. Shot mostly in Como and Verona in Italy, the movie was directed by Mike Tuviera. It was also one of the only two films (the other one is the film adaptation of Angels & Demons by Dan Brown) permitted to shoot in Verona.
Upon the movie's release on July 13, 2016, the film grossed over ₱12.8 million on the first six hours of opening day and it went on to gross over ₱21.5 million at the end of the day. It was 2016's highest opening gross for a Philippine film until it was surpassed by the Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla starrer Barcelona: A Love Untold, which grossed ₱23 million according to Star Cinema. Overall, Imagine You and Me was a big box office hit and had a successful four-week run in Philippine cinemas nationwide.
After Imagine You and Me, GMA Films took another hiatus as parent GMA Network focused on its migration to digital TV.
2019–2024: Second comeback with GMA Public Affairs
On July 1, 2023, GMA Network announced the appointment of Nessa Valdellon as Senior Vice President for GMA Pictures. .[17]
GMA Network, Inc. announces the appointment of Nessa Valdellon as Executive Vice President of GMA Pictures, effective April 1, 2024 where GMA Pictures began to gain nationwide commercial box office hits such as Firefly reaching up to 100 million sales, and Balota at Cinemalaya 2024.[18][19][20]
On August 7, 2024, GMA Pictures has successfully completed its digitally restored and remastered version of the 1998 movie 'Jose Rizal' and was shown at Cinemalaya Festival 2024.[21][22]
2024-present: Collaboration with Star Cinema
On May 19, 2024, Deadline Hollywood confirmed GMA Pictures and ABS-CBN's film outfit, Star Cinema will collaborate in a film together with Bernardo and Richards reprising their respective roles as Joy and Ethan. The film's sequel, and is targeting release for a November 13, 2024 in the Philippines.[23]
GMA Home Video (formerly known as GMA Records Home Video) is the home video distribution arm of GMA Pictures. It is the exclusive home video and DVD distributor of films produced by GMA Pictures, as well as programs from GMA Network and films from select production companies.
The Cinema of the Philippines began with the introduction of the first moving pictures to the country on August 31, 1897, at the Salón de Pertierra in Manila. The following year, local scenes were shot on film for the first time by a Spaniard, Antonio Ramos, using the Lumiere Cinematograph. While most early filmmakers and producers in the country were mostly wealthy enterprising foreigners and expatriates, on September 12, 1919, Dalagang Bukid, a film based on a popular zarzuela, was the first movie made and shown by Filipino filmmaker José Nepomuceno. Dubbed as the "Father of Philippine Cinema," his work marked the start of cinema as an art form in the Philippines.
Martina Eileen Hernandez delas Alas-Sibayan, known professionally as Ai-Ai delas Alas, is a Filipino actress and comedian. Referred to as the "Queen of Comedy" for her comedic talent, she is best known for her role as Ina Montecillo in the film series Ang Tanging Ina. Her accolades include two Star Awards for Movies, a FAMAS Award, a Metro Manila Film Festival Award, an ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards, and a Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, including nominations for three Gawad Urian and three Luna Awards. Her films have collectively earned ₱2.41 billion, making her the highest grossing Filipino comedy actress of all time.
José Rizal is a 1998 Philippine historical drama film directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya and starring Cesar Montano as José Rizal. The film was based on the true story of Filipino patriot José Rizal, who was imprisoned under the Spanish colonization and tells Rizal's story until the final day of his execution.
Eugena Roxas Domingo-Bottoni is a Filipino actress, comedienne and host. She has performed in lead and supporting roles in various genres of the Philippine film industry. She is popularly known as the "Comedy Star for All Seasons" and was a sidekick of Ai-Ai delas Alas in the Ang Tanging Ina series (2003–2010), until her very first lead film role in Kimmy Dora in 2009. She is currently an exclusive artist of GMA Network. Domingo's films have collectively earned ₱1.81 billion, making her one of the highest grossing Filipino box office stars this century.
Herminio Jose Lualhati "Ogie" Alcasid Jr. is a Filipino actor, singer, songwriter, comedian, director and producer. He is best known for his songwriting and collaboration with other musical artists. He has appeared in films and television shows, notably as a cast member of Tropang Trumpo (1994–1995) and Bubble Gang (1995–2013), and a host and main performer of SOP (1997–2010) and ASAP (2017–present). He is currently married to Regine Velasquez, with whom he has one child.
Viva Films, Inc. is a Philippine film production and distribution company owned by Viva Communications. It was founded in 1981 by Vic del Rosario Jr. and his sister Tess Cruz. Viva Films is one of the largest film studios in the Philippines, along with Star Cinema, Regal Entertainment, GMA Pictures and MQ Studios.
OctoArts Films is a Filipino film production and distribution company founded in 1989 by Orly R. Ilacad. A veteran record producer, Ilacad only decided to establish the film company when producer Simon Ongpin agreed to be its head.
Beauty and the Bestie is a 2015 Filipino action comedy film directed by Wenn V. Deramas, starring Vice Ganda and Coco Martin, alongside James Reid and Nadine Lustre. It is an official entry to the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival.
My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore is a 2015 Filipino romantic comedy film directed by Jose Javier Reyes, starring Ai-Ai delas Alas and Vic Sotto with Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza. It is an official entry to the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival produced by Octo Arts Films, M-Zet Productions, APT Entertainment, GMA Pictures, and MEDA Productions. The film follows the love–hate relationship story between Vito Carillo (Sotto) and Corazon Talatala and the growing relationship between star-crossed lovers Dondi Talatala (Richards) and Anna Carillo (Mendoza).
The 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is the 42nd edition of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. It is organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). This is the first time that the festival committee required producers to submit either picture lock versions or finished films, instead of screenplays in previous editions. During the festival, no foreign films are shown in Philippine theaters (except IMAX, 4D, and large format 3D theaters), however there are some non-MMFF entries like The Super Parental Guardians, and Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers shown on SM Cinema branches.
Meant to Beh is a 2017 Philippine family comedy film directed by Chris Martinez and starred by Vic Sotto and Dawn Zulueta.
The Mall, the Merrier! is a 2019 Filipino musical fantasy comedy film directed by Barry Gonzales and starring Vice Ganda and Anne Curtis. The film was co-produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films under the working title Momalland.
Firefly is a 2023 Philippine fantasy film written by Angeli Atienza and directed by Zig Dulay. The film stars Alessandra De Rossi and Euwenn Mikaell in his theatrical debut. It was one of the entries in the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival, where it won as Best Picture.
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