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 movie based on a popular musical play, 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.
Abelardo Dennis Florencio Ho, widely known as Dennis Trillo, is a Filipino actor, model and recording artist. He is currently a contract star of GMA Network. He was known for his role as Eric del Mundo in the first ever gay-themed series on Philippine TV, My Husband's Lover aired on GMA Network in 2013.
Ishmael Bernal was a Filipino filmmaker, stage and television director, actor and screenwriter. Noted for his melodramas, particularly with feminist and moral issues, he directed many landmark Filipino films such as Nunal sa Tubig (1976), City After Dark (1980), Relasyon (1982), Himala (1982), and Hinugot sa Langit (1985). He was declared a National Artist of the Philippines in 2001.
Rene O. Villanueva was a Filipino playwright and author. He is famed for his deep involvement in theater and television and in children's literature, whether it be on television, in books or on stage.
Himala ("Miracle") is a 1982 Filipino tragedy film directed by Ishmael Bernal and produced by the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines. The film's script was written by Ricky Lee based on a series of alleged Marian apparitions to schoolgirls on Cabra Island in the province of Occidental Mindoro, which took place from 1966 to 1972.
Joel Lamangan is a Filipino film director, television director and actor. His award-winning films includes The Flor Contemplacion Story, Sidhi, Deathrow, Hubog, Aishte Imasu 1941, Blue Moon and Mano Po.
Luisito Lagdameo Ignacio better known as Louie Ignacio is a Filipino television director, film director, music video director, and painter. He studied AB Mass Communication in Centro Escolar University.
Maria Cristina "Maricris" Yu Garcia-Cruz is a Filipina singer and actress. She came to prominence after winning the third season of Pinoy Pop Superstar. She is the Philippines' Divine Siren.
The 59th Berlin International Film Festival was held from 5 February to 15 February 2009. The opening film of the festival was Tom Tykwer’s The International, screened out of competition. Costa-Gavras's immigrant drama Eden Is West served as the closing night film at the festival. The festival's jury president was actress Tilda Swinton of the United Kingdom.
Roque Federizon Lee, known professionally as Roxlee is a Filipino animator, filmmaker, cartoonist, and painter. Considered by many to be the godfather of young Filipino filmmakers, Roxlee is best known for creating Cesar Asar with his brother, Monlee. Apart from the Lee brothers is their nephew Topel Lee, an audiovisual director of GMA Networks.
Ronnie Zabala Lazaro is a Gawad Urian Award-winning Filipino film and television actor, producer, casting and art director.
Khavn De La Cruz is a Filipino poet, singer, songwriter, pianist and filmmaker. He is the founder and festival director of MOV International Film, Music and Literature Festival. Considered the father of Philippine digital filmmaking, Khavn has made 47 features and 112 short films since 1994. His 46th feature, Ruined Heart, is lensed by Christopher Doyle and features Tadanobu Asano and Nathalia Acevedo. It premiered in official competition at the 27th Tokyo International Film Festival.
Ultraviolins is a collection of 14 short stories by Khavn, first published by the University of the Philippines Press in 2008 and subsequently by the University of Hawaii Press in 2009. It is his first book of fiction.
Mondomanila is a 2012 Filipino crime comedy drama film directed by independent filmmaker Khavn. It is based on thework by Norman Wilwayco, who also co-wrote the script with Khavn. It premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in January 2012.
José Rizalino "Joel" de León Torre is a Filipino actor and producer who is best known for his numerous films such as the biographical film José Rizal (1998), crime thriller film On the Job (2013) and the historical drama Amigo (2010), with the latter winning him the Best Actor Award at the 17th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival.
Ruined Heart is a 2014 Filipino crime drama film directed by Khavn.
Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, abbreviated as PPP, is a film festival held in the Philippines in celebration of the Buwan ng Wika. It is organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines. Similar to the Metro Manila Film Festival, only shortlisted films will be shown in cinemas except in select 3D cinemas, VIP cinemas and IMAX theaters.
Petersen Vargas is a Filipino filmmaker. He is best known for directing the Cinema One Originals Best Picture winner 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten (2016) and the web series Hello Stranger (2020).
Carlo Francisco Manatad is a Filipino filmmaker and editor. He is one of the most prolific editors in the Philippines and has edited the films Ruined Heart (2014), A Gentle Night (2017), Balangiga (2017) and Women of the Weeping River (2018) to name a few. As a director, his films have screened in a number of international film festivals, such as in Locarno, Toronto, Busan, and Cannes.
