AFM 2018

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TBA Studios Continues Its Remit To Expand
The Appreciation Of Local Filmmakers Through
Its New Exhibition Venue Cinema ’76 Film Society
Whilst Growing An International Presence

L-R Co-founders of TBA Studios and Cinema ’76 - E.A. Rocha and Fernando Ortigas

Based in the Philippines and co-founded by E.A. Rocha and Fernando Ortigas in 2014, TBA Studios (Tuko Film Productions, Buchi Boy Entertainment, and Artikulo Uno Productions) is a Philippine independent film production company dedicated to making high quality films and a mission statement of promoting Filipino filmmakers domestically and worldwide.

The company made it mark in its home base producing a number of films including the award-winning, critically-acclaimed historical epic box office hit, Heneral Luna, directed by Jerrold Tarog, a rising and talented Filipino director supported by TBA Studios. Currently the highest grossing historical film in the Philippines, Heneral Luna was selected as the country's entry to the Oscars in 2016. After successful theatrical runs in the Philippines and in the US, Heneral Luna was released worldwide on Netflix October 31, 2018.

Goyo: The Boy General (Ang Batang Heneral)

TBA Studios enters its fifth year with the international division attending its third AFM with Vincent Nebrida its President, Tito Velasco, International Sales & Marketing, and Cindy Sison, Executive Sales Consultant.

TBA Studios became a member of IFTA this year, headlining at AFM, the critically acclaimed Neomanila directed by Mikhail Red, the award winning Women of the Weeping River, from writer director Sheron Dayoc and Goyo: The Boy General (Ang Batang Heneral). The second installment of Jerrold Tarog’s historical trilogy and the follow-up to Heneral Luna, Goyo: The Boy General is one of the biggest budgeted Filipino films made, and showcases the country’s wealth of talent in front of and behind the camera, both in production and post-production. The film opened in a few select cinemas in North America to critical acclaim, and will continue its theatrical run in other key U.S. cities later in the year.

L-R International Team, Vincent Nebrida, President; Tito Velasco, International Sales & Marketing; and Cindy Sison, Executive Sales Consultant

Expanding on its success in the production of a number of films that have performed well domestically and internationally and implementing its core focus to bring quality films to the Filipino audience; in February 2016 TBA Studios co-founders launched the first Cinema '76 Film Society. The venue, a new exhibition platform, has two locations in Metro Manila to promote the offerings of the local movie industry. Fernando Ortigas said: "We wanted a place where both filmmakers and audience can find a home. There are some gems out there from the film festivals. And with Cinema ’76, we can give them an opportunity.” E.A. Rocha, added: "We simply want to give the Philippine audiences the quality movies that they deserve."

Cinema ’76 Film Society is a new concept of micro-cinema dedicated to bringing Filipino independent films, as well as English and foreign-language films, to a discriminating movie audience with a hunger to see both local and international films that reflect similar sensibilities and to establish a deeper appreciation of the art of film and cinema.

E.A. Rocha believes that Cinema ’76 is a big step towards helping more regional filmmakers find a platform while at the same time gives the audience the chance to see a greater variety of films. He says: “We opened Cinema ’76, not for us, but for more people to understand films better. We want the audience to see and enjoy something new and exciting. Eventually, we will start trying new things with our programming and feature the works of great filmmakers like Bergman and Kurosawa to get people deeper into cinema.”

Cinema ’76 has become the prime venue for the commercial exhibition of films after exposure at independent Film festivals in the Philippines such as Cinemalaya, CineFilipino, Cinema One Originals, and QCinema Film Festival. Through strong word-of-mouth and rapid viral phenomenon that is social media, Cinema ’76 has quickly become a destination for fans of independent films.

TBA Studios’ slate of productions to date include films which have showcased internationally including K’Na the Dreamweaver, Sunday Beauty Queen, Neomanila, and Women of The Weeping River. The company is also known locally and regionally for its wide range of films from the crowd-pleasing hit romantic comedy I’m Drunk, I Love You to the film adaptation of F.H. Batacan’s best-selling crime novel, Smaller and Smaller Circles, and the controversial psychological thriller, Bliss.

The independent studio was also behind the landmark feature documentary Sunday Beauty Queen, which was the first documentary to win Best Picture in the Metro Manila Film Festival; and the crime drama, Birdshot, which was the Philippines’ official entry to the 90th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language in 2017. Birdshot, directed by Mikhail Red, was also a first for Filipino content, when it was released globally on Netflix.