The Film Development Council of the Philippines will reconvene with representatives of Academic Film Society member schools this week “to discuss the current trends and happenings concerning film education in the country.”

FDCP Project Development Officer Korina Dela Cruz shared that the AFS, a nationwide association of schools, colleges, and universities involved in film education, “has grown over the past few months since its launch last March 2023.” The agency’s Education Division has invited registered members to meet to further “promote the incorporation of film in institutional academic activities as well as training for teachers on how to use film in the classroom and in 21st century learning.”

Also expected to attend the meeting are FDCP Officer-in-Charge Rica Arevalo, Technical Consultant Jose Javier Reyes, Education Consultant Seymour Sanchez, and more than 30 program chairs, film professors, and reps of accredited academic institutions offering film, communication, visual arts, and other related courses, as well as teachers from senior high schools with arts-related programs.

The discussion aims to tackle “the different needs of the schools, including suggestions on how FDCP may serve their respective institutions” and “the proposal of a first-ever Film Education Convention to be held in September 2024,” among other related matters.

Among the registered AFS members from Metro Manila are Adamson University, Asia Pacific Film Institute, CIIT College of Arts and Technology, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, DLSU Manila, Eugenio Lopez Jr. Center for Media Arts Senior High School, FEU Alabang, FEU Manila, iACADEMY, La Consolacion College Manila, LPU Manila, Manila Tytana Colleges, Manuel A. Roxas High School, Mapúa University, Meridian International Business and Arts Inc. (MINT), Miriam College, Olivarez College, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, San Beda College Alabang, St. Scholastica’s College, STI Ortigas, Treston International College, Universidad de Manila, University of Makati, University of the East Caloocan, UP Diliman, and UP Manila.

AFS members outside Metro Manila include Alaminos City National High School, Benilde Antipolo, Bicol University College of Arts and Letters, Biliran Province State University, Bulacan State University, DLSU-Dasmariñas, Francisco E. Barzaga Integrated High School, Laguna University, LPU Cavite, National University – Laguna, St. Dominic College of Asia, Partido State University (Camarines Sur), STI College Balagtas, The Manila Times College of Subic, UP Baguio, UP Mindanao, UP Visayas, University of San Agustin, University of San Carlos, University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, and West Visayas State University.

AFS-registered schools have access to the FDCP’s Student Film Assistance Program (SFAP) and Film School workshops and specialized training programs, references, artifacts, and films available under its media library, mentors and resource persons for film education component, film exhibition platforms including Cinematheque Centres nationwide and JuanFlix: The FDCP Channel, FDCP ratings and permits, school event promotions, and other benefits.

Through the AFS, the FDCP also encourages educational institutions and student organizations in the country “to mount their own student film festival to provide an avenue for student filmmakers to showcase their works and motivate them to produce more original projects.” The national agency has “existing programs for festival development which the members can apply to and utilize.”