PH invites Hollywood execs to film in the country

Metro Manila, Philippines- The Philippines seeks to position itself as a major player in the global entertainment industry by promoting Filipino-centered narratives and fostering collaborations with international filmmakers.

First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos recently hosted in California, USA an exclusive event attended by industry producers and executives involved in projects either set in the Philippines or featuring Filipino storylines.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Trade Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque also joined the gathering.

The Department of Tourism said that the event aimed to attract filmmakers to shoot in the Philippines and reestablish the country as a thriving hub for film and entertainment, leveraging its rich culture and creative talents to captivate audiences globally.

"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 really is beautiful, right? And they don’t want to go back home after going to the Philippines,” the first lady said.

American producer and four-time Emmy winner Lisa Lew; David Shim, producer of the Oscar-nominated film "Parasite"; Filipino-American actor, martial artist, and television personality Mark Dacascos; and Filipino-American actress and singer Tia Carrere were present during the gathering.

Bestselling author Kevin Kwan, known for the "Crazy Rich Asians" trilogy, and American producer Lawrence Bender, whose films have received 36 Academy Award nominations, with eight wins also attend the event.

Frasco shared the country’s breathtaking landscapes, from world-renowned beaches to diverse natural settings, making it an ideal filming destination. She also highlighted the strong English proficiency, making it a practical choice for international filmmakers.

"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,” said Frasco.

The tourism chief also shared the incentives available for filmmakers who choose to shoot in the Philippines.

"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,” said Frasco.