Incentives for award-winning indie films, film tourism promotion pushed

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Grace Poe, daughter of the late movie icon Fernando Poe Jr., filed bills aimed at further promoting local movies and film tourism.

Poe said the proposed Philippine Independent Film Incentives Act of 2019 will grant up to P5 million in incentives to production outfits of award-winning movies.

“This bill seeks to further promote the production of Filipino indie films and provide support to filmmakers, including aspiring ones, who operate on meager budgets to produce their artistic craft,” Poe said in the bill’s explanatory note.

The Philippine Independent Film Incentives Act of 2019  would grant P5 million to full-length award-winning films, while a short feature shall be given a grant of P3 million.

The bill will tap the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to provide a P50-million fund for these incentives.

“Malaki ang utang na loob ng aming pamilya sa industriya, kaya’t hindi natin ito pwedeng pabayaan. With intervention from the government, we have to work together to help the Philippine film industry get back on track to excellence and profitability,” Poe said.

Film tourism

Poe also proposed a measure on film tourism, the Philippine Film and Television Tourism Act of 2019, which will generate jobs and promote the Philippines at the same time.

“We have sparkling beaches, imposing waterfalls, historical heritage sites, where many of our movies have been shot. We should grab the opportunity to market these so that movie fans will also be travelers to these destinations,” Poe said.

Under the film tourism measure, a Philippine Film and Television Tourism Authority (PFTTA) will be established to promote the country as a location site for films and television programs.

At the same time, an Inter-Agency Committee on Film and Television Tourism will be created as governing body of the PFTTA.

Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla also earlier filed a bill for the entertainment industry.

His “Eddie Garcia Law” is aimed at providing occupational safety for workers in the movie and television industry. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)

READ: Revilla proposes ‘Eddie Garcia Law’ to protect movie, TV workers