The Entertainment Producers of the Philippines (EPOP), formerly known as the Philippine Motion Pictures Producers Association (PMPPA), gathered on March 18 for its first general assembly in 2024 to hold a sitdown discussion on key issues surrounding the Philippine film industry, with particular focus on bringing the Filipino moviegoer back to the cinemas. 

The gathering was attended by esteemed producers and personalities representing different production outfits in the Philippines, led by EPOP chairman Roselle Monteverde of Regal, and its president, IdeaFirst’s Perci Intalan.

Also in attendance were Senior Vice President for Programming, Talent Management, Worldwide, and Support Group, and President of GMA Films Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, who is also the public relations officer of EPOP, as well as Senior Vice President for GMA Pictures Ms. Nessa Valdellon. ‘Asia’s Multimedia Star’ Alden Richards was also present on behalf of his own production company, Myriad Entertainment.

The film producers guild, composed of the country’s major production outfits, kicked off its assembly by formally introducing a new set of officers. 

Joining Monteverde, Intalan, and Gozon-Valdes as the organization’s newly minted leaders are vice presidents Vincent del Rosario of Viva,  and Atty. Joji Alonso of Quantum. Reality MM Studios’ Dondon Monteverde is the corporate secretary, while APT’s Jojo Oconer is the treasurer.

They also agreed on a resolution that adopts the name ‘Entertainment Producers of the Philippines’ as its new title. 

They believe that the shift to ‘EPOP’ from the previous ‘PMPPA’  makes for a more comprehensive organizational name that caters more appropriately to an expanding and evolving film and entertainment landscape in the Philippines.

The general assembly tackled pressing issues that the film industry is currently facing, as well as various key initiatives that will holistically improve the movie scene. 

Throughout the two-hour meeting, EPOP had brief but substantial discussions on a number of topics, including the amusement tax holiday for local films, some key developments in the proposed ‘Eddie Garcia Bill,’ the campaign for safeguarding against digital piracy, and the importance of revisiting the Film Academy of the Philippines. 

The group also spent time talking about the urgency for government support in order to strengthen the incentives for filmmakers and producers to create more meaningful and culturally significant films, which in turn would generate jobs for many Filipinos.

At the core of the assembly’s objectives is the united vision to bring back audiences to cinemas. As for GMA Senior Vice President Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, now is the perfect moment to come together and make a united front to address the issues that hinder the film industry from achieving this goal.

“This is the right time to relaunch the group because, I think, nagkakaisa na lahat ng movie producers and we have to really join forces para mapabuti ang industriya ng pelikulang Pilipino,” said Atty. Gozon-Valdes in an interview with GMA Integrated News.

“Nakakatulong na ang daming tumutulong… sumusuporta sila sa pagpapalaganap ng Filipino movie industry, nabubuhayan ang loob namin,” she added.