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PHILIPPINES INVITES HOLLYWOOD EXECS TO FILM IN THE COUNTRY
West Hollywood, California – The Philippines takes a bold step in repositioning the country as a key player in global entertainment by promoting Filipino-centric storylines and encouraging collaborations with international filmmakers.
First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos on Thursday, March 6 (US Time) hosted an exclusive gathering of industry producers and executives with advanced projects, either set in the Philippines or featuring Filipino storylines. Joining the First Lady at The Cavatina at The Sunset Marquis Hotel in California were Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque.
The gathering aims to entice filmmakers to film in the Philippines, and reestablish the country as a vibrant hub for film and entertainment, leveraging its rich cultural heritage and creative talent to captivate audiences worldwide. The event, held on the sidelines of the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF), is part of the “Expanding The Bridge Initiative,” which seeks to reintroduce the Philippine film and entertainment industries by reconnecting with Hollywood ties.
The First Lady noted that with the support of the Hollywood filmmakers present, an Oscar for the Philippines may be realized soon.
“We travel a lot and people say ‘oh the Philippines is so beautiful’, like this and that, and why not we open the doors and let people film, right? For all of you who have been to Manila, it’s really is beautiful, right? And they don’t want to go back home after going to the Philippines,” the First Lady said.
Attendees included notable personalities such as American producer and four-time Emmy winner Lisa Lew; David Shim, producer of the Oscar-nominated movie “Parasite”; Filipino-American actor, martial artist, and television personality Mark Dacascos; and Filipino-American actress and singer Tia Carrere. Also among the A-listers were industry producers and executives, bestselling author Kevin Kwan, known for his successful “Crazy Rich Asians” trilogy, and American producer Lawrence Bender, whose films have garnered 36 Academy Award nominations, resulting in eight wins.
Secretary Frasco highlighted the Philippines’ stunning beaches, renowned for their unmatched beauty, and the country’s breathtaking landscapes and biodiversity. She pointed out the Filipinos’ strong English language skills as a significant benefit for filmmakers looking to choose the Philippines as their upcoming filming destination.
“The Philippines, with its archipelago of over 7,600 islands, is the perfect canvas for filmmaking, precisely because of the diversity of our destinations from our pristine beaches of Boracay, Palawan, Siquijor, Cebu, Camiguin, and so many more. To our lush landscapes in the northernmost part of the Philippines, Batanes, to the hinterlands of the country in Bukidnon in Mindanao, to our urbane cityscapes—from the historic walls of Intramuros in Metro Manila, to the bustling city of Cebu—there’s a wealth of destinations at which you can make your films.”
“The beauty of filming in the Philippines is not just on the strength of its places, but most importantly, its people. The Philippines is an English proficient country with a wealth of creative talent that can be hired for a local production film crew, as well as a robust ecosystem of filmmakers that are now invigorated because of the efforts of our First Lady to bring everyone together to rally for filming in the Philippines,” added the tourism chief.
Frasco also noted the incentives for filmmakers who would make the Philippines the next location for their film.
“With this opportunity to film in the country, our President has recently signed a legislation called the CREATE MORE Law which provides incentives for filming in the Philippines whereby if you’re a foreign film production company and you partner with a local film production company, This initiative, which can be registered as a tourism enterprise, can avail of incentives that include an income tax holiday of four to six years, depending on the location of the filming, lower corporate income tax, exemptions from importation taxes related to the filming itself, as well as a host of other very attractive incentives for filming in the country. In addition to this, we also have the competitive advantage of a relatively lower cost of filming, from cost of goods, cost of labor, and the like. And all of this is wrapped and enjoyed because of the diversity of offerings that the country has in terms of its culture, its heritage, its history, even its gastronomy. And so, the wealth of ingredients that can supplement your filmmaking in the country is there. You only need to tap it”, pitched the tourism chief.
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Published:March 10, 2025
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