FDCP, FEST Film Lab team up for professional filmmaking workshops

 

The Film Development Council of the Philippines recently collaborated with internationally renowned mentors and industry professionals from FEST Film Lab to host a series of world-class filmmaking workshops at Seda Manila Bay in Parañaque City.

The FDCP x FEST Film Lab 2025 program, which ran from July 12 to 17, was designed to elevate the skills of Filipino filmmakers through intensive, discipline-specific workshops.

FDCP Chairman and CEO Jose Javier Reyes opened the event with his inspiring remarks, as he encouraged participants to challenge conventions and elevate local storytelling.

FEST Film Lab Head Filipe Pereira followed with a welcome message, emphasizing the program’s inclusive vision and its goal to connect all sectors of the film ecosystem through expert mentorship.

Oscar-nominated film editor Álex Rodríguez, known for “Y Tu Mamá También” (2001) and “Children of Men” (2006), shared his editing philosophy, focusing on narrative rhythm, structure, and emotional flow. He showed excerpts from the action film “Mosul” (2019), which he also edited.

Meanwhile, Casting Society of America (CSA) Artios Award-winning casting director Nancy Bishop guided actors through live scene work, tape reviews, and casting exercises, and gave personalized feedback to the participants in the “Auditioning for Film and TV” workshop.

Two-time Emmy winner Gemma Jackson (“Game of Thrones” and “John Adams”) and BAFTA winner Andrew McAlpine (“The Piano”) showcased concept art and film scenes in Production Design, offering commentary on their creative processes.

On the other hand, Oscar winner Mark Ulano (“Titanic”) and pioneering boom operator Patrushkha Mierzwa emphasized collaboration between sound, cinematography, and direction, with practical sessions on equipment placement and mic concealment, in “Telling the Story with Sound.”

Seasoned producer Paul Miller explored the producer’s role, intellectual property, and pitching strategies in the “Film Financing in an Entrepreneurial Age” class, concluding with insights into global production systems and box office analysis.

Cinemalaya winner Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan ("Blue Room"), one of the Filipino filmmakers who joined Miller’s workshop, enjoyed her FEST Film Lab experience. “I attended with friends, and met young and emerging producers, and gained knowledge from the workshop and from one another,” she shared.

The final day featured a media conference with mentors, reflecting on their engagement with Filipino creatives.

The collaboration between FDCP and FEST Film Lab marked a significant opportunity for Filipino filmmakers to gain hands-on experience and exchange ideas and inspiration with global industry leaders.