Universal Pictures partners with Phl portal to stream blockbuster movies

A groundbreaking partnership between Hollywood giant Universal Pictures and pioneering Filipino live-streaming platform upstream.ph was signed recently to bring the biggest movies of the decade right at the comfort of your own home.

With this development, upstream.ph becomes the first Filipino live-streaming platform to ink an unprecedented deal with Universal Pictures which means it is now home to global blockbuster movie franchises such as “Jurassic Park,” “Fast & Furious,” “Despicable Me,” “Candyman,” “Minions,” “Halloween,” “Boss Baby,” among many others.

The deal also allows Universal Pictures’ vast library of existing films that have captivated audiences worldwide as well as upcoming film releases starring the biggest Hollywood stars from 2021 onwards to be part of upstream.ph’s content.

Upstream executive Dondon Monteverde said this is upstream.ph being true to their word of bringing world-class content to Filipinos as an alternative to watching movies in the cinemas during this time of the pandemic.

“We are truly honored to be the first and only Filipino portal to be trusted by Universal Pictures to stream old and new titles from their catalogue of blockbuster films. This is timely because the pandemic has certainly imposed limitations on our activities and most of us find ourselves cooped up in our homes as safety precaution,” said Monteverde, adding he is thankful to the trust that Universal Pictures has given Upstream.ph to be its live-streaming partner.

Some of upstream.ph’s upcoming releases from Universal are: “F9” starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Nathalie Emmanuel; “The Croods: A New Age,” starring Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds; “Let Him Go,” starring Diane Lane, Kevin Costner; “Bios,” starring Tom Hanks; “The Bad Guys,” starring Awkwafina, Sam Rockwell, Craig Robinson; “Last Night in Soho,” starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin McKenzie, Matt Smith, and directed by Edgar Wright; “Crisis,” starring Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, Evangeline Lilly; “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” starring Steve Carell, Lucy Lawless, Julie Andrews; and “The Forever Purge,” starring Ana dela Reguera, Will Patton, Josh Lucas; “Nobody,” starring Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, Christopher Lloyd.

There’s also “Fatale,” starring Hilary Swank, Michael Ealy, Mike Colter; “Old,” directed by: M. Night Shyamalan, based on the graphic novel “Sandcastle,” starring Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Thomasin McKenzie; “The Boss Baby: Family Business,” starring Ariana Greenblatt, James Marsden, Jeff Goldblum; “Echo Boomers,” starring Michael Shannon, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Alex Pettyfer; “Land,” starring Robin Wright; “Promising Young Woman,” starring Carey Mulligan; “Girl,” starring Bella Thorne; “The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” starring Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb; “David Byrne's American Utopia,” directed by Spike Lee and starring David Byrne, Jacqueline Acevedo, Gustavo Di Dalva; and “Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical,” a live-action TV adaptation of the Broadway stage musical based on the Dr. Seuss classic "How The Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Aside from Hollywood blockbuster highlights from Universal Pictures and a vast array of genres from several local and international film productions, upstream.ph also makes it a point to showcase the best and brightest Filipino filmmakers thru their original works under UPSTREAM ORIGINALS.

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In celebration of Pride Month this June, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will hold the 2nd PelikuLAYA: LGBTQIA+ Film Festival online from June 4 to 30.

With the theme “Sama-Sama, Lahat Rarampa!”, this year’s PelikuLAYA aims to further empower the members of the LGBTQIA+ community through a lineup of local and international films, film talks and lectures, a drag yoga event, and musical performances.

Beginning June 4, a total of 23 subscription films can be viewed for only PHP 99 on the FDCP Channel (fdcpchannel.ph), including the seven PelikuLAYA titles that are available until June 30: “Masahista” by Brillante Mendoza, “I Love You. Thank You” by Charliebebs Gohetia, “Mga Gabing Kasing Haba ng Hair Ko” by Gerardo Calagui, “Miss Bulalacao” by Ara Chawdhury, “Ang Huling Cha-Cha Ni Anita” by Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo, “Best. Partee. Ever.” by HF Yambao, and “Ned’s Project” by Lem Lorca.

Available for rental starting June 4 is award-winning French film “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” by Céline Sciamma starring Adèle Haenel and Noémie Merlant, which will have its Philippine Online Premiere at PelikuLAYA 2021. The 2019 Cannes Awardee for the Queer Palm Prize and Best Screenplay will be available for rental for PHP 220 with a 7-day access that will expire 48 hours after the first play.

PelikuLAYA will screen four films for free throughout the festival: Rhadem Morados’ documentary “Budjang” and three shorts from CineSpectra 2019: A Film Festival for HIV/AIDS Awareness – “A” by Rod Modina, “Alex & Aki” by Dexter Paul de Jesus, and “Doon sa Isang Sulok” by Yong Tapang, Jr. In addition, one-time free screenings will be held: “Lihis” by Joel Lamangan for the opening program and “T-Bird at Ako” by Danny Zialcita for the closing program.

“The Film Development Council of the Philippines is relaunching PelikuLAYA this year as an annual LGBTQIA+ film festival organized by the national government as our way to express our continued support for gender equality and inclusivity by creating platforms to bring to light the struggles, celebrate the achievements, and champion the causes of the LGBTQIA+ community,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.