News and Updates

The announcement of the three awardees caps off the inaugural year of the Film Location Incentive Program and International Co-production Fund

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, JANUARY 18, 2021 — In the third and final cycle of the FilmPhilippines Incentives Program for 2020, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chose one grantee of the Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP) and two awardees of the International Co-production Fund (ICOF).

“Survivor Israel” stands to receive a 20% cash rebate on Qualifying Philippine Production Expenditures (QPPE) as the lone FLIP awardee of Cycle 3. The reality television show produced by Gregory Bekerman and directed by Roee Strikovsky will be shot in Caramoan, Camarines Sur.

The selective fund FLIP requires a minimum qualified production spending of PHP 8 million (approximately USD 157,000) in the Philippines in order to receive a 20% cash rebate capped at PHP 10 million (approximately USD 196,000). Filipino line producers of foreign productions will be given the 20% cash rebate, provided that they are registered with the FDCP’s National Registry.

Abot Hameiri from Israel (“Survivor VIP,” “X-Factor Israel,” and “Got Talent”) is the production company behind “Survivor Israel” while the Filipino local line producer is Philippine Film Studios, Inc. (“Survivor Israel” in 2018, “Born on the Fourth of July” by Oliver Stone, and “Survivor” seasons for Finland, Denmark, Holland, and Belgium).11

Meanwhile, the two ICOF recipients are “Some Nights I Feel Like Walking” by Petersen Vargas (“How To Die Young in Manila,” “Hello Stranger,” and “2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten”) and “Holy Craft” by Joseph Mangat (“The Paradise We Are Looking For,” “Exorcism,” “Every Death Has a Story,” and “Shoes aka Kids These Days”).

The ICOF is a selective fund of up to PHP 10 million (approximately USD 196,000) for full-length feature films that have at least PHP 5 million (approximately USD 98,000) worth of production expenses spent in the Philippines. Filipino companies in co-production with international productions must be registered with the FDCP National Registry.

The queer youth drama “Some Nights I Feel Like Walking” will be given PHP 6 million. It is co-produced by Filipino companies VY/AC Productions, Inc. (“Liway,” “2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten,” and “Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa) and Ten17P (“Mañanita,” “Sunod,” and “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis”) together with foreign companies are Giraffe Pictures Pte. Ltd from Singapore (“Wet Season” and “Pop Aye”) and Dolce Vita Films from France (“A Son” and “Vostok n° 20”). “Some Nights I Feel Like Walking” has received support from the Southeast Asian Fiction Film Lab (SEAFIC) through the SEAFIC Award, Next Masters Support Program of Talents Tokyo, and Singapore Film Commission with the Southeast Asia Co-Production Grant.

Meanwhile, “Holy Craft” will be given PHP 3.04 million. It is another VY/AC Productions project co-produced with Volos Films from Taiwan (“Far Away Eyes,” “Absent Without Leave,” and “TEN YEARS TAIWAN” - “The Sleep”) and Cinetracts from the United States (“Bidyoke,” “Exorcism,” and “Every Death Has a Story”). The documentary project about a Catholic figurines factory in the Philippines has gained support from Cannes Docs Online of Marché du Film (Cannes Film Market) of the Cannes International Film Festival in France after bagging the Docs-in-Progress Award.

“Amid the pandemic, the FDCP’s FilmPhilippines Office continues its commitment to support international co-productions that benefit Filipino companies and promote our country’s tourism,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño. “As we welcome 2021, the FDCP encourages applications for FilmPhilippines production incentives to further boost Philippine Cinema in these trying times.”

There are three cycles this year for FLIP, ICOF, and the ASEAN Co-production Fund (ACOF) which was launched recently:

• Cycle 1 - January 4 to March 31, with Selection Committee deliberations in April
• Cycle 2 - May 3 to July 30, with Selection Committee deliberations in August
• Cycle 3 - September 1 to November 29, with Selection Committee deliberations in December

Applying for FLIP, ICOF, and ACOF automatically entitles applicants to avail of the Film Location Engagement Desk (FLEX), a special one-stop-shop service that connects international productions to Filipino talents, filmmakers, and companies under the FDCP National Registry and assists local and foreign audiovisual productions in all government transactions. Banijay’s “Survivor Europe,” line produced by Philippine Film Studios, Inc., has received FLEX assistance.

The FilmPhilippines Office welcomes inquiries and provides consultations for producers who are aiming to apply for the FLIP, ICOF, and ACOF. For more information, visit www.filmphilippines.com or e-mail [email protected].