GMA Films

GMA Films (formerly known as Cinemax Studios) is a film production company and a film studio established in 1995 by GMA Network. Its movie productions have become both critical acclaim and commercial successes, among which are Jose Rizal, Muro Ami and Deathrow.

Theatrical feature films

History

Background

GMA tested the movie waters by co-producing films with Viva Films. Among the movies that were co-produced were Ober Da Bakod: The Movie, Forever and Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko. Although not credited in the opening and closing credits of the movies, the network's logo appeared in the aforementioned movies' posters in theaters and newspaper ads.

1995-2000

First founded in 1995 under the supervision of Jimmy Duavit and Butch Jimenez, GMA Films released certain films from 1995 to 1998 under its former title "Cinemax Studios", starting with Run Barbi Run. After its initial production, a co-production arrangement with OctoArts Films was made where OctoArts would produce and distribute the movies in theaters nationwide while Cinemax (through its mother network, GMA) will handle publicity and promotions for TV and radio. GMA Network holds the airing rights for the said movies. In 1998, it changed its name to "GMA Films" after international movie channel HBO created a separate movie channel called Cinemax. The same year, GMA received critical and commercial success for the following movies it produced, Sa Pusod ng Dagat and José Rizal, both directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. In 1999, GMA Films also produced Muro-Ami and in 2000, Deathrow, both were also critically acclaim.

When Felipe Gozon took over GMA Network, the film production outfit of GMA Network was placed on hiatus for about 5 years.

2005 onwards

After almost five years of hibernating, the film outfit made a comeback in 2005 with the romantic movie Let the Love Begin, which became the highest-grossing Valentine film in the Philippines on its release that year.

It later released other films that also became hits in the Philippine Box-office.

In 2007, the award-winning film Ouija co-produced with Viva Films was supposed to be its first film to be released internationally. However, the scheduled overseas premieres in four U.S. cities (Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego) were cancelled. Only the one in New Jersey pushed through.^[1] The movie is titled Seance internationally.

2010

From then on, all films were only released nationwide while selected films had selected screenings in key points worldwide such as When I Met U, starring Richard Gutierrez and KC Concepcion had various international screenings and You to Me Are Everything, starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes had a New Jersey showing in 2010 and its recent film to be released at least within US borders was In Your Eyes, starring Claudine Barretto, Richard Gutierrez and Anne Curtis, had an international screening in notable cities such as Los Angeles and San Diego.

2011

In September 2011, there are speculations going around as to whether the upcoming film, The Road, will be released internationally as the director Yam Laranas has expressed for the film to be released worldwide and he himself said that he will help finance the release worldwide.^[2]

GMA Films logo used from September 2011 to May 2014.

2012

On January 24, 2012, it was announced by GMA Films Producer Joey Abacan that The Road will be screened in cinemas in the U.S. and Canada. This marks the first time GMA Films premiered one of its films without any negotiations with co-produced because The Road is solely produced by GMA Films. It is scheduled to have a U.S. and Canada theatrical release on May 11, 2012.^[3]

2012 is the year that GMA Films has produced eight films in a year, the most it has ever done since its very start. This was part of GMA Films' resolution to produce one film per month. Even though that did not happen, they managed to produce eight films.

See also

• GMA Network
• GMA Network, Inc.

References