Compared to films produced in the Western part of the world, Filipino cinema still has a long and tedious way to go. Aside from having yet to experience advancement in moviemaking technology, the Philippines has yet to cultivate a manner of creating unique and captivating storylines, breaking free from formulaic and predictable plotlines.
This, however, does not discount the gems that Filipino film makers have indeed churned out throughout the process. Pillars like the great Lino Brocka will forever be remembered as significant, steps in a creative direction that retains a Filipino identity, and finds a significant place in global cinematic history.
Furthermore, in the local perspective, technological developments in film making must not be discounted as great leaps forward for the industry. And these advancements – a simple example being the opening of the country’s first cinema – have been evident since the late 19th century.
In this case, while Philippine cinema has yet to experience a surge forward on its path to advancement, many milestones have littered its way. Below are a few of those milestones:
1897
Four movies were shown using a 60mm Gaumont Chrono photograph projector in Escolta - Un Homme Au Chapeau (Man with a Hat), Une scene de danse Japonaise (Scene from a Japanese Dance), Les Boxers (The Boxers), La Place de L’Opera (The Place L’ Opera). These movies were said to be the first projected motion picture shown to the public, care of a Spanish theatre owner Pertierra.
Also, in the early part of the year, a Spanish soldier named Antonio Ramos brought in from Paris a Lumiere cinematograph, with the financial support of Swiss businessmen Liebman and Pertz. Ramos also imported 30 films, all of which were screened in the Philippines for the first time in an Escolta cinema, formerly a jewelry shop.
The cinematographe Lumiere
1898
The Philippines was for the first time used as a backdrop for film: Panorama de Manila (Manila Landscape), Fiesta de Quiapo (Quiapo Fiesta), Puwente de Espa–a (Bridge of Spain), and Esce–as Callejeras (Street Scenes). These films were produced by Antonio Ramos, now hailed as the first movie producer in the country
1899
The year when foreign travellers documented their stay in the Philippines: Battle of Baliwag (Burton Holmes), Banawe Rice Terraces (Kimwood Peters), Filipino Cockfight and Battle of Mt. Arayat (Raymond Ackerman).
1900
The first actual movie house was opened. The establishment was called Cine Walgrah, after its British owner.
1903
The Cinematograpo Rizal, the Filipino-owned movie house, opened across the Tutuban train station. The establishment was owned by a Jose Jimenez.
1909
The first feature film shot on location, Rose of the Philippines, was produced by the Independent Moving Picture Company owned by German film pioneer Carl Laemmle Ð the future founder of Universal Pictures Corporation.
Carl Laemmle, founder of IMP Company and Universal Studios Corporation
1910
The first film with audio (via Chronophone) was brought to Manila.
1912
The Board of Censors, with other foreign agencies, was established.
1919
Dalagang Bukid became the first film produced by a Filipino, Samuel Ilagas.
1929
The censoring boardÕs name was changed to Board of Censorship for Moving Pictures – now known as Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB)
1933
Punyal na Ginto (Golden Dagger), the first movie with dialogue and sound, was created by Jose Nepomuceno.
1937
Filipino films started gaining praise from the international market through Zamboanga starring Fernando Poe, Sr. with Rosa del Rosario. The film was reported lost, until it was rediscovered in the U.S in 2004. Other internationally-renowned films followed suit, one being Manuel Conde’s Genghis Khan, which was show in Venice and Cannes film festivals in 1952.
1950
The Golden Age of Philippine Cinema began, with the emergence of LVN Pictures, Sampaguita Pictures, Premiere Productions, and Lebran International.
1953
The Filipino Academy of the Arts and Sciences was founded.
1956-1960
Anak Dalita, directed by Lamberto V. Avellana, received the Best Picture award from the Asia-Pacific Film Festival.
Manuel Conde won the international Prix Cidalc Award for his short film, Bayanihan. Also, Avellana’s La Campana de Baler (Ang Kampana ng Baler) won the Conde de Foxa Award in Spain.
Lamberto V. Avellana, during the shoot for “Anak Dalita”
1962
The country saw the opening of its First National Festival for short films; Avellana’s The Barranca Story emerged the winner.
1977
Eric de Guia’s Mababanong Bangungot ni Kidlat Tahimik was screened at the Berlin Film Festival’s Young Filmmakers Forum. The Interfilm Jury granted it the Prix de la Critique Award.
1984
Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim, directed by Lino Brocka, became the first Filipino film to compete in Cannes Film Festival. Brocka would become one of the main figures of Philippine cinema, creating other films including the much-celebrated Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, a film based on the novel by Edgardo M. Reyes.
1987
Internationally-noted filmmaker Nick Deocampo garnered the Grand Prize in the Brussels film festival for his trilogy of documentaries – Oliver (1983), Children of the Regime (1985) and Revolutions Happen Like Refrains in a Song (1986) – that featured life under the military regime of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Also among other accolades to come over the next number of years was the Citizen’s Prize at Japan’s Yamagata International Documentary Film for Private Wars in 1997.
2000
This year saw the dawn of a new form in film making, digital cinema.
2008
Animation gives new breath to Philippine cinema. Dayo, the first ever animated movie became an official entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival. And Urduja, the first full-length animated Philippine film, was released.
Also, the international spotlight was on the country as 40 films were seen during the 6th Edition of the Festival Paris Cinema.
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