Did you know? Short fact-based information about the Philippines
- Film & media · 16
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The first Philippine feature film was made as early as 1919. The country therefore looks back on more than 100 years of film history. One of Asia's most productive film industries developed at an early stage.
Director Lino Brocka brought Philippine cinema to the international stage in the 1970s and 1980s. His socially critical films were shown several times at the Cannes Film Festival and are now considered classics of world cinema.
Brillante Mendoza won the Best Director award in Cannes in 2009. This made him one of the first Philippine directors to receive one of the festival's highest honours. His success once again drew international attention to Philippine cinema.
Director Lav Diaz is known for his exceptionally long films. Some of his works last seven to eight hours and are even shown with breaks. In 2016, he won the Berlinale's Golden Bear for this — one of the highest honours in the film world.
Nora Aunor is regarded as the Philippines' best-known actress. In 2022, she became the first film actress to be named National Artist for Film. Over decades, she shaped cinema, television and music alike.
"Eat Bulaga!" has been on air since 1979 and is one of the world's longest-running television shows. Several generations of Filipinos have grown up with the programme. To this day, it remains one of the country's best-known TV formats.
Fernando Poe Jr., known to his fans simply as "FPJ", was one of the Philippines' greatest film stars. His popularity was so great that he ran for president in 2004. Many supporters are still convinced that the election victory was stolen from him.
In 2015, the historical film "Heneral Luna" unexpectedly became a box-office success. As a result, many young Filipinos became deeply interested in their country's history for the first time. The film is regarded as the trigger for a new wave of historical films.
The film 'Himala' was chosen by CNN as the best film of the Asia-Pacific region. The story of miracles, faith and doubt is still considered a masterpiece of Philippine cinema. Many film critics count it among Asia's most important films.
Director Ishmael Bernal was among the Philippines' most important filmmakers. With films such as 'Himala' and 'Manila by Night', he left a lasting mark on modern Philippine cinema. He was later honoured as a National Artist for this work.
The television series 'FPJ's Ang Probinsyano' ran for a full seven years and produced more than 1,600 episodes. This makes it one of the longest-running television productions in Philippine television history. For years, it was one of the country's most successful series.
The television duo 'AlDub' set an exceptional social-media record in 2015. Fans sent more than 41 million tweets in a single day. This even temporarily surpassed the record of the Football World Cup final.
'Hello, Love, Goodbye' became the most successful Philippine film of all time. The film tells the story of two overseas Filipinos in Hong Kong and thus touched on a topic that personally affects millions of families.
The Metro Manila Film Festival has been held every year since 1975 and takes place exclusively during the Christmas season. During the festival, major cinemas show almost exclusively Philippine productions. This gives domestic films an especially large platform every year.
In 2020, ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ largest media company, lost its broadcast licence. The decision prompted international discussions about press freedom and media independence. Millions of viewers had to change their usual viewing habits.
Vilma Santos is among the most successful actresses in Philippine film history. She later moved into politics and became governor of the province of Batangas. Few film stars achieve a comparable career.