The Philippines has recently passed a new law that will impose a 12% value-added tax on overseas digital service providers operating in the country, such as Netflix, HBO, and Disney. This measure, signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., aims to level the playing field by ensuring that international digital platforms contribute to the growth of the digital economy in the country. The tax will cover a wide range of online services including search engines, media, advertising platforms, digital marketplaces, goods, and cloud services. It is expected to generate 79.5 billion pesos ($1.4 billion) in revenue over the next four years, according to the country’s finance department.
In other news, Chinese indie director Jia Zhangke has been appointed as the head of the competition jury for the upcoming Festival International des Cinemas d’Asie in Vesoul, France. The festival, scheduled for February 11-18, 2025, will also feature a retrospective of Jia’s films and showcase two seasons of films from Hong Kong and Myanmar.
On the film front, the trailer for “Holy Curse,” a short film directed by Snigdha Kapoor, has been released. The film explores unacknowledged forms of conversion therapy in Indian culture and will premiere at the 68th BFI London Film Festival, followed by screenings at the 19th Tasveer Film Festival and the 21st MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. “Holy Curse” follows the story of 11-year-old Radha, an immigrant in America, who grapples with gender identity and cultural practices that serve as conversion therapy during a family visit to India. The film stars newcomer Mrunal Kashid, alongside Adithi Kalkunthe, Shardul Bhardwaj, Anup Soni, and Prayrak Mehta. Co-produced by Neeraj Churi and Shweta Bolakani, “Holy Curse” promises to shed light on important societal issues through its compelling narrative.
Overall, these developments in the digital taxation landscape and the world of film festivals and cinema highlight the diverse and vibrant cultural landscape that continues to evolve and thrive in today’s globalized world.
