This year, Pop Up expands its presence in Southeast Asia through a partnership with the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) and QCinema Industry, launching two new residency awards aimed at empowering Filipino filmmakers and production designers while strengthening international collaboration.
The Pop Up Film Residency × FAP Project Award will be granted to one Philippine project officially selected for the 2025 QCinema Project Market (QPM). Designed to support filmmakers with projects showing strong potential for European collaboration or co-production, the award offers a three-week international residency at one of Pop Up’s global host locations. Participants will receive tailored mentorship from international experts, accommodation, travel support, and networking opportunities with local industry professionals.
In parallel, Pop Up introduces the FAP Skill Up Award, its first residency dedicated to Filipino production designers. Open through a national call, the award aims to nurture emerging designers who seek to elevate their craft and engage in creative exchange with international peers. Applicants must have worked on at least one feature or two short films and be developing a new feature project. The selected resident will also embark on a three-week residency abroad, focusing on creative growth, cross-cultural collaboration, and professional development.
Both awards are spearheaded by Tatino Films, the global company behind the Pop Up Film Residency network, and supported by the Film Academy of the Philippines and QCinema Industry. Applications for QPM projects open through internal selection on October 24, while production designers may apply publicly from October 30, 2025. Final selections will be announced during the QCinema Project Market in November 2025, with residencies taking place between March and August 2026.
“The partnership between the Film Academy of the Philippines and Pop Up Film Residency reflects a shared commitment to capacity building—preparing Filipino filmmakers and film workers to meet international standards while nurturing excellence at home,” said Liza Diño, Executive Director of the QCinema Film Commission.
“We are delighted to deepen our collaboration with QCinema and FAP through two new residency awards that embody Pop Up’s mission to foster international collaboration and nurture creative talent,” added Antonia Girardi, Managing Director of Pop Up Film Residency.
Paolo Villaluna, Director General of the Film Academy of the Philippines, emphasized the alignment with the Academy’s goals: “This residency empowers Filipino filmmakers by providing world-class mentorship and exposure, ensuring that uniquely Filipino stories resonate far beyond local shores.”
Through this partnership, Pop Up Film Residency continues to build bridges between Southeast Asia and the wider film world, creating space for new voices and stories to thrive on the global stage.