More Filipino films may soon be shown in China, says Marcos’ creative comms adviser Soriano

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MANILA, Philippines – More Filipino films may soon break into Chinese cinemas as the country looks into forging stronger ties with the Asian economic giant’s creative industry, said presidential adviser on creative communications Paul Soriano.

Soriano, who joined President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in his state visit to China last week, said on Tuesday that several Chinese film industry players have already expressed interest in collaborating with their counterparts in the Philippines.

“I got to meet some of the leaders in the Chinese industry who have been very vocal about collaborating with the Philippines, and hopefully, being able to show some of our films there,” he said in a hearing of the House committee on creative industry and performing arts on the plight of Philippine cinema.

Soriano further stressed that pursuing such collaboration with China would yield gains for the Philippines.

“The potential for that collaboration is, I believe, very positive as their industry over there can definitely help us, at least, from the revenue side of things,” he added.

Soriano said he will share more details about this possible collaboration soon.

But this is not an untapped area in Philippine-China relations as several Filipino films have previously been included in the lineup of China film festivals, including the 3rd Silk Road International Film Festival.

The said fest aims to “provide an international platform of interaction and transaction for the film industry, promoting ‘cultural exchange and cooperation between China and the countries along the maritime silk road.’”

PH creative industry’s bridge to Marcos

Soriano, a distant nephew of Marcos’ wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, said that while his stint in the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications (OPACC) is a new challenge for him, he is “very excited to help and to champion […] in any way that I can, the film industry.”

“I’ll be here also to bridge if there’s anything [we need] as my agency is attached to the Office of the President. I do have that access to go directly to him if there’s anything we need to push [for],” he said.

Marcos, according to Soriano, is looking into holding town hall meetings with stakeholders from the Philippine creative industry to hear about their experiences firsthand.

“He does have a lot of great ideas, and I know the heart of the President has a lot of culture and arts in it,” he added.

Before he was appointed at the helm of the OPACC, Soriano–together with his wife–strongly backed Marcos’ 2022 presidential bid. He was the director behind Marcos’ campaign commercials for the May 9 elections and first State of the Nation Address last July.

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