Warner Bros banks on PH movies' potential, inks deal with Pinoy film company

Hollywood giant Warner Bros. is banking on the potential of the Philippines’ movie industry as it expressed plans to co-produce local movies following a distribution deal with a Filipino movie company.

Warner Bros. recently entered into a distribution partnership with Mentorque Productions for the Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Mallari,” a movie, top-billed by actor Piolo Pascual, based on the Philippines’ first and only documented serial killer.

Warner Bros. distribution director Rico Gonzales said that the American film and entertainment firm is “definitely open” to the possibility of distributing more Filipino films.

“I’ve been talking to my boss before that one day… is for Warner Bros. to co-produce film movies… I hope this is the start,” Gonzales said.

But for now, he said that Warner Bros.’s partnership with Mentorque is its “first and exclusive,” while exploring the possibility of expanding partnerships with more film industry players.

For his part, Mentorque president John Bryan Diamante said that the local film company “would like to explore more because we know Warner Bros can open opportunities for Philippine cinema.”

“We have a lot of aligned projects. If we will release capital, we will do it with the number one distributor. Hopefully, the time will come for possible co-production,” Diamante said.

“Warner Bros. is very particular on their standard, and they have rules. To keep up with that, somehow we have to spend more. The film itself cost us P80 million,” Diamante added.

Moreover, Warner Bros. and Mentorque are eyeing distributing Filipino films to the Asian region as well as collaborations in streaming.—RF, GMA Integrated News