The Philippines is represented by one competition film, one featured film, six production companies, eight filmmakers, and event participation to be led by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in one of the world’s leading and most reputable film festivals, the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), slated until February 20 in Germany.

The 72nd Berlinale is an opportunity to showcase Filipino talents and works in a prestigious international platform. It is being held as an in-person event with reduced seating capacity of 50% in selected movie theaters, while the Berlinale Industry sections: European Film Market (EFM), Berlinale Co-Production Market (BCM), Berlinale Talents, and World Cinema Fund is being held entirely online until February 17.

“The Berlinale, one of the top three most important and much-awaited international film festivals in the world, has been continuously recognizing our Filipino filmmakers by providing various platforms to showcase films, nurture filmmakers, and develop film projects. I trust that our filmmakers will make use of the experience and knowledge they will gain from being a part of this A-list festival and bring back the learnings to the local film industry,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

The short film It’s Raining Frogs Outside (Ampangabagat Nin Talakba Ha Likol) by Director Maria Estela Paiso was selected to compete in the Berlinale Shorts section against twenty other short film entries from all over the world.

It’s Raining Frogs Outside, the only Filipino film in the festival’s official selection, won the Gender Sensitivity Award in the QCinema International Film Festival last year.

Director Estela Paiso made history for being the first Filipina filmmaker in the Berlinale Shorts history.

Recent Sundance Special Jury Award for Innovative Spirit recipient Leonor Will Never Die by Martika Ramirez Escobar had its Market Premiere at the EFM Online Screenings.

The participating companies in the EFM, one of the top three biggest film markets in the world are 2076 Kolektib, ANIMA, BlackOps Studios, Create Cinema, Daluyong Studios and Viva Films.

In the BCM online Visitors Programme, FDCP selected five producers as the country’s official participants: Danzen Santos Katanyag of Digital Dreams Inc., Wilfredo Manalang of FUSEE Media, Kyle Nieva of Screen Asia Corporation, Paul Sta. Ana of Project 8 corner San Joaquin Projects and John Paul Su of Eight Horses Productions, Inc.

The festival’s talent development program, the Berlinale Talents, is an annual summit and networking platform for 200 carefully selected emerging film professionals in the industry.

Two Filipinos will take part in the Berlinale Talents: Production designer Connie Valera and director and producer Rafael Manuel, while producer Bianca Balbuena-Liew will be part of the Short Form Station as a mentor.

The BCM Country Session on February 13 featured representatives from the Philippines, United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland and Brazil.

They discussed co-producing and funding opportunities in their respective countries.

Under the FDCP, FilmPhilippines Office (FPO) facilitates the promotion of the country as a viable filming destination for international productions, while UniPhilippines aims to assist and support Filipino films and filmmakers to gain exposure in the global scene by participating in international film festivals and markets.

The FDCP’s FPO and UniPhilippines, to be represented by Chairperson Liza Diño, will share about the Agency’s FilmPhilippines Incentives Program composed of the Film Location Engagement Desk (FLEX), Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP), International Co-production Fund (ICOF) and ASEAN Co-production Fund (ACOF).