The Philippine Cinema has a long and fascinating history. As Spain and America's colony at the turn of the century, the Philippines had been exposed to so many cultural and social changes. The arrival of the "moving pictures" in the Philippines in 1897 was, at that time, a thing of curiosity. But the curiosity somewhat developed into fascination, and later obsession. Some of the earliest movies produced anywhere in Asia were made in the Philippines. Since the cinema's inception in the Philippines, the movies had been composed of foreign and locally produced movies. Different movie genres has been made and even Filipino filmakers have already ventured into indie film-aking. With various awards and nominations gathered from different international award giving bodies, it is not an exaggeration to say that Filipinos can now compete in the international arena story wise.
The youngest of the Philippine arts, film has evolved to become the most popular of all the art forms. Introduced only in 1897, films have ranged from silent movies to talkies; black and white to color. Outpacing its predecessors by gaining public acceptance, from one end of the country to the other, its viewers come from all walks of life. Nationwide, there are more than 1000 movie theaters. Early in the 1980s, it was estimated in Metro Manila alone, there were around 2.5 million moviegoers. As an art form, it reflects the culture and the beliefs of the people it caters to and most times, is the one who shapes their consciousness.
- La Vida de Rizal- First Filipino-produced film
- Salon de Pertierra- First Movie Theater
- Jose Nepomuceno- Father of Philippine Film
- Atang de la Rama- First star of Philippine Cinema
