Noel Ferrer calls out awards groups over piracy risks as PH film awards season ramps up

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) recently reported a 63% increase in the seizure of pirated goods, emphasizing the high stakes of content security in the digital age.

Talent manager Noel Ferrer is urging film award-giving bodies to be more responsible in handling screeners, warning that negligence could fuel piracy and harm the local industry.

In a recent social media post, Ferrer reminded awards organizations that they “should be active viewers of cinema — not passive recipients of screeners,” emphasizing that access to films comes with accountability.

“If screeners are provided, safeguard them. Uploading copies is not a mistake; it’s complicity in piracy,” he wrote, adding that there have also been reports of lost screeners. Ferrer stressed that awards are meant to “honor and sustain the film industry,” cautioning that enabling piracy ultimately undermines the very films being recognized.

The cost of complicity

His statement comes as the Philippine film industry enters its annual awards season, with major bodies gearing up to recognize the year’s best in cinema. These include the Gawad Urian, Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd)’s EDDYS, PMPC Star Awards for Movies, the FAMAS Awards, the Luna Awards, and the Young Critics Circle, among others.

As screeners remain a standard practice for awards voting—especially with busy schedules and limited theatrical runs—Ferrer’s reminder highlights a growing concern in the digital age: the thin line between access and abuse.

With more Filipino films gaining traction locally and internationally, industry insiders say protecting content has never been more critical—especially from within the very circles meant to celebrate it.

 

 

If screeners are provided, safeguard them. Uploading copies is not a mistake; it’s complicity in piracy.

Noel Ferrer

 

 

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