MANILA – The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is set to reopen the Cinematheque Centre Manila in a new location within the historic walled city of Intramuros.

The original Cinematheque Centre Manila, located along T.M. Kalaw Street in Ermita, closed last year after a decade of operations. Its relocation coincides with the opening of the new Philippine Film Heritage Building, which will also house FDCP offices and the Philippine Film Archive.

The Intramuros site will feature a museum, a film script library, a media archive, and facilities for film restoration and preservation.

FDCP operates other Cinematheque Centres in Iloilo City, Davao City, Bacolod City, and Nabunturan in Compostela Valley, although the latter is currently inactive. Future locations are being considered in Cebu City, Naga City, Baguio City, Dumaguete City, Cagayan de Oro City, or any local government willing to provide venues.

A teaser video released by the FDCP showed the Intramuros cinematheque interior, which includes nearly 100 seats and Dolby Atmos speakers.

The new Cinematheque Centre Manila is scheduled to open in March with a special screening of Jun Robles Lana’s “Sisa,” marking Hilda Koronel’s return to film after more than a decade. Other planned screenings include the restored 1951 version of “Sisa” by National Artist Gerardo de Leon starring Anita Linda, a documentary on National Artist Eddie Romero by Baby Ruth Villarama, and Michele Josue’s documentary “Nurse Unseen” about Filipino nurses during the pandemic.