“It’s a scam!” is one of the most popular catchphrases these days, and even film festivals are not spared from this. There are thousands of film festivals worldwide, and this amount increased since last year when lockdowns forced cinema screenings, film fests, and other industry events to migrate to digital platforms.

The Filipino film industry is supposed to have its banner year this 2020 with the ongoing Sine Sandaan or Philippine Cinema Centennial celebration. Sine Sandaan affairs that aim to honor luminaries and unsung heroes are slated to continue this year, leading up to the closing of the yearlong commemoration of One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema in September.

The international film festival season always gets a great head start, thanks to the successful conduct of the Berlin International Film Festival in Germany, which kicks off every February. Also known as the Berlinale, the first A-List festival of the year comprises the Top 3 of the most important international film festivals together with Cannes in France and Venice in Italy.

Tonight, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will stage the 5th Film Ambassador’s Night (FAN) online at the FDCP Channel to recognize the filmmakers and films that put Philippines in world cinema spotlight last year.

The reopening of cinemas throughout the country was what we have been yearning for since last year. Its shutdown beginning in March has crippled Philippine Cinema, and the same can be said for the global film industry.