Several notable Filipino films supported by ANIMA made the country proud as they reaped awards and recognition in the past year, uplifting Philippine cinema amid the dragging impact of the pandemic.
“Globe continues its commitment to strongly support Filipino talent. ANIMA has been a strong ally of Filipino film creators, producing films that have been acclaimed both locally and on the global stage,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO, during the WAGI! Celebration of Filipino Excellence event at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on February 18.
“To those in the Filipino film industry, may you always be inspired to create good work. There are many institutions that value your work and are willing to support your vision and talent,” he added.
ANIMA is the new name of Globe Studios, an organization now under the umbrella of Kroma Entertainment, Inc., a new entertainment company backed by the Globe Group of Companies.
WAGI! featured director Erik Matti’s award-winning “On The Job (OTJ): The Missing 8,” the lone Filipino entry to the 78th Venice International Film Festival in 2021. Its lead actor John Arcilla won the coveted Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the festival, the first in history for a Filipino artist.
An HBO Asia original, “On the Job,” which tackles social ills reflective of contemporary times, was originally released as a series. Its Philippine cinema premiere on February 18 was its first and only screening as a film in the country, made possible through a partnership between the CCP and the Asian Cultural Council.
Another award-winning film backed by ANIMA is “Leonor Will Never Die,” the first Filipino feature film to premiere in the distinguished Sundance Film Festival in over 15 years. The film, the directorial debut of Martika Ramirez Escobar, received the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Innovative Spirit at the prestigious US independent film event.
ANIMA is a strong believer in out-of-the-box and critical film-making that brings not only entertainment but also impact to society. Its other works include the highly-acclaimed “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral” and “Fan Girl,” which were also streamed over Netflix, and the web series “Gaya sa Pelikula.”
“We’ve always believed that Filipinos have the inspiring vision and capable talent to bring highly competitive films to a global audience. The tremendous display of Filipino films in some of the most challenging film festivals in the world not only proves this but encourages us to bring more local ideas to life,” said Cu.
At the same time, Cu stressed that Globe’s commitment to the Filipino film industry goes beyond producing top-notch films. The company also encourages customers to fight piracy and consume content only from legitimate sources.
“The work of our filmmakers, the amount of time and effort they put into creating these masterpieces deserve our respect,” he said.
Globe, through its #PlayItRight anti-piracy campaign, stands behind filmmakers and entertainment content creators. By avoiding pirated materials, the public can help sustain jobs and the lives that depend on them.
To learn more about ANIMA, visit https://www.anima.ph.
