Indie Films will soon be available in SM Cinemas all-year round

Die Beautiful, one of the indie movies shown in last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival. (Photo: Die Beautiful/Facebook)

After the successful run of independent films in the recent Metro Manila Film Festival, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) raised the stakes on a whole new level when it entered on a three-year partnership with SM Cinemas.

The agreement signed Saturday is expected to help local independent films to further venture into the commercial film market.  The agreement will take effect on the first half of the year with eight participating theaters namely: SM North EDSA, SM Fairview, SM Iloilo, SM Southmall, SM Cebu, SM Bacoor, SM Mall of Asia, and either SM Davao or SM Lanang.

Edgar Tejero, President of SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. mentioned that the partnership is the institution’s way of giving support to the local film industry.

“We believe in nurturing our independent movie producers and recognize the effort and creativity they put in their work despite the financial challenges. This is our way of helping them to show their films to a wider audience because we believe in their talent and the work that they do for the local movie industry,” Tejero said.

In a statement released by FDCP, Chairperson Liza Diño stressed the need to “nurture and support” independent filmmakers.

“It is a known fact that independent filmmakers face many challenges including preconceived notions but everyone agrees that many of our talented directors and actors started out in independent and so there is a need to nurture and support them by giving their films more exposure, more venues to reach more people,” the statement read.

She added that the general goal of the council is to take the country’s film industry to new heights and improve it on different levels.

“From the very start, FDCP’s approach is engaging the entire film community through collaboration. FDCP believes that all sectors from the filmmakers to the audience are stakeholders in the growth of our creative industry,” Diño said.

This venture would not only help expand the coverage and accessibility of independent films but to also change the moviegoer’s perspective towards these works of art and the stigma that surrounds it.