Lawmaker eyes minimum one-week run for local films

MANILA, Philippines – A senior administration lawmaker is seeking to require movie theater operators nationwide to run local films for a minimum span of seven consecutive days, regardless of their ticket revenues, to support local film producers.

Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, who also occasionally appears in local films, raised the proposal, saying the government and movie theater owners should support local movie producers to encourage and motivate them to make more films, which in turn create job opportunities. 

He said more local movies produced and shown in theaters would entice the younger generation to watch original Filipino movies that will foster patriotism and nationalism in them.

“Movie producers invest a lot of money to create a movie. Local movie producers are given the opportunity to get their return of investment. Unfortunately, local movies tend to lose their avenue over major foreign films,” Fernandez said. 

Fernandez’s House Bill 6300 or the proposed “Local Movies Act” also seeks to mandate movie theater operators to equally divide theaters screening slots between with 50 percent for local films and 50 percent for foreign films. 

It also seeks to compel movie theater operators to make Fridays the start of movie play dates, instead of Wednesdays, to give local movies a better chance in the box office.

The bill is pending at the House committee on public information.