15 hours Ago By N/A (Dexter Barro II)
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is aiming to expand the country’s entertainment industry this year by fostering greater exposure in international markets. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is aiming to expand the country’s entertainment industry this year by fostering greater exposure in international markets. Driven by world-class Filipino talent, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the agency is set to push local films and teleseryes (television series) on an “aggressive basis”.
Roque recalled during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Wednesday, Jan. 29, that she already met with the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) on how to push such content globally given the growing number of Filipinos abroad. “We just have to choose which film is best for each country, so ‘yun rin ang gusto nating tutokan (that's what we want to focus on),” she said.
The DTI chief noted that Filipino horror films are gaining popularity in Indonesia, while adult films such as that of streaming service VMX (formerly Vivamax) have captured audiences’ attention in countries like South Korea. She added that other countries are also interested in local romantic-comedy (romcom) films, as well as old teleseryes. Roque said the “major concern” right now for Filipino films and teleseryes abroad is the language barrier.
As such, she said the DTI will emphasize the need for subtitles or dubbing to make the content accessible to international audiences. The Trade Secretary is keen on having the Filipino content made available through the local streaming services of each country, such as Netflix. With support from the Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC), the DTI also aims to nurture business-to-business (B2B) relationships between Filipino movie producers and their foreign counterparts.
Roque emphasized that they are ready to provide a platform for independent filmmakers and other artists who are interested in bringing their works abroad. “So, no one gets left behind,” she added. According to her, the DTI’s renewed focus in strengthening the local entertainment industry abroad came from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
himself. In October of last year, Marcos signed Executive Order (EO) No. 70 to aid the development of the FAP and maximize the full potential of the film industry.
Under this order, the FAP was placed under the administrative supervision of the DTI. It was previously under the Department of Education (DepEd)..
