Direk Jeffrey Jeturian headlines FDCP Cinematheque Director Series

Film enthusiasts gathered to celebrate Philippine Film Industry Month with a retrospective honoring acclaimed director Jeffrey Jeturian at the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Cinematheque Centre Manila last September 10.

Organized as part of the FDCP’s monthly Cinematheque Director Series, the event offered audiences an intimate look into the director’s impactful body of work.

Jeturian, a Broadcast Communication graduate from the University of the Philippines Diliman, started his career in the industry as a production assistant and worked his way up to being a script continuity supervisor, art director, production designer, and assistant director, before finally having his big break as a director.

The director has carved a distinct legacy in Philippine media, as he comfortably navigates the space between mainstream television and hard-hitting social realism. Audiences recognize him for the massive hit “Be Careful With My Heart” (2012-2014) and the critically acclaimed film “Ekstra” (The Bit Player, 2013) starring Vilma Santos.

At the same time, Jeturian’s cinematic legacy is equally defined by his uncompromising gaze into everyday life. From his debut features “Sana Pag-ibig Na” (Enter Love, 1998) and “Pila Balde” (Fetch a Pail of Water, 1999) to award-winning works like “Tuhog” (Larger than Life, 2001) and “Kubrador” (The Bet Collector, 2006), his films consistently peel back the polished layers of society to reveal the complex dynamics, systemic flaws, and quiet struggles embedded in Filipino households and working-class livelihoods.

The Manila showcase featured “Kubrador” and “Tuhog,” two of Jeturian’s iconic works. “Kubrador” is a gritty portrait of an illegal numbers game collector navigating urban poverty and personal loss, while “Tuhog” is a dark, interconnected satire exploring human struggle, fate, and exploitation.

The screenings were followed by a talkback session moderated by film educator and advocacy filmmaker Seymour Sanchez. A professional lecturer at Far Eastern University and part-time faculty member at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Sanchez brought an academic and practical perspective to the discussion.

Adding extra resonance to the event was a poignant coincidence, as both films featured the handiwork of the late Found Story pioneer Armando “Bing” Lao, who was recently proclaimed National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts. He wrote “Tuhog” and served as creative consultant on “Kubrador.”

Through its monthly lineup of curated screenings and director Q&As, the FDCP Cinematheque Director Series continues to connect local audiences directly with the masterminds shaping contemporary Filipino cinema.