Film Dev't Council opens largest cinematheque in Zambo

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -  The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) finally found a home in southern Philippines as it formally unveiled Wednesday its Zamboanga City Cinematheque theater to showcase classic films.

The theater, dubbed as the newest and the largest in the country, stands on the 406-square meter lot  under a usufruct deal with the city government in Petitt Barack, Barangay Zone IV and has a seating capacity of 160 and equipped with 35mm projectors.

Briccio Santos, FDCP chairman, said the cinematheque is designed to be an alternative and accessible venue for screening of classic, contemporary Filipino and renowned foreign films.

The inauguration of the facility coincided with the opening of the 2nd Film Festival and the fourth straight year of Sineng Pambansa in this city on the occasion of the 77th Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga.

“As the newest and largest of our cinematheques around the country, the FDCP hopes that Cinematheques Zamboanga will become a beacon for filmmaking in the region,” Santos said.

He said the Cinematheque will allow the FDCP to showcase films in the city all year-round and bring more international and local films to an audience yearning for interesting and inspiring films.

The inauguration of the cinematheque also coincided with opening of the film festival Wednesday of a selection of most acclaimed Spanish films. The opening feature was the black-and-white film Blancanieves directed by Pablo Berger.

Santos thanked the Spanish embassy for providing the films and the city government for bringing the FDCP to the countryside.

City government public information officer Sheila Covarrubias said admission for the film screening is free  and tickets are available at the city hall.