MANILA, Philippines - The Film Development Council of the Philippines is giving grants totaling more than P1.5 million to two filmmakers who will represent the country in this year’s prestigious Cannes International Film Festival in France.

Dante Mendoza’s “Serbis,” the only Filipino film chosen to compete for the Palme d’Or this year, will get over P1 million for the subtitling and printing of the film, according to FDCP vice chair Christine Dayrit.

Part of the grant is airfare and hotel accommodation for 10 members of Mendoza’s production team, who will attend the festival, Dayrit added.

The festival runs from May 14 to 25. “Serbis,” about a family living in an old theater in Pampanga, will be screened on May 18.

The FDCP is giving over P500,000 to Raya Martin’s “Now Showing,” to be featured in Director’s Fortnight, a section in the Cannes IFF that showcases works of new filmmakers. The five-hour film on piracy will be shown on May 22.

Dayrit said the council will bring six of Martin’s crew members to France and pay for their stay there.

This is so far the biggest amount that the FDCP has released to subsidize films competing in festivals abroad. Last year, the council handed over P800,000 to Mendoza, whose “Foster Child” premiered in Director’s Fortnight.

“The fact that we are competing is an honor worthy of national recognition,” FDCP chair Jacky Atienza said in a statement. “We thank the President (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) for her magnanimous support. Our funding is possible because of her.”

Mendoza is only the second Filipino filmmaker to compete in Cannes. The first was Lino Brocka, whose “Jaguar” and “Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim” were also shown in competition.

“Serbis” was picked from out of 1,792 entries from 96 countries, said the FDCP statement.

Martin, only 23, is the youngest and only the fifth Filipino director to be featured in the Fortnight section. Aside from Mendoza, the section has featured the works of Mario O’ Hara (2004), Mike De Leon (1982) and Brocka (1978, 1979).

Heading the Cannes IFF jury is actor-director Sean Penn.

(Email mcruz@inquirer.com.ph)