Reyna Films was a Filipino film production company managed by

Armida Siguion-Reyna Armida Siguion-Reyna (born Armida Liwanag Ponce Enrile; November 4, 1930February 11, 2019) was a Filipina singer, film and stage actress, producer and television show host. She was the chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classific ...

and her son Carlitos Siguion-Reyna in 1991. It was known for its critically acclaimed and award-winning films such as ''Hihintayin Kita sa Langit'' and '' Ligaya Ang Itawag Mo Sa Akin''. Reyna Films produced 13 films from 1991 to 2000. Armida Siguion-Reyna also appeared as actress, aside from being a producer, in three of her productions: ''Ikaw Pa Lang Ang Minahal'', ''Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin'' and ''Ligaya Ang Itawag Mo Sa Akin''. The company has been defunct since 2000, after ''Azucena''.

History

Prior to this production company,

already established Aawitan Kita Productions, known for the Filipino musical program ''Aawitan Kita''. She also established PERA Productions in 1977, with only three films produced. After which, Siguion-Reyna worked as line producer with different film productions from 1979 to 1983. In 1988, Siguion-Reyna co-produced with

Viva Films Viva Films is a Philippine film production company established under Viva Communications. It was founded on November 11, 1981, by Vic del Rosario Jr. History Veering away from the Sharon Cuneta-Gabby Concepcion tandem, Viva became home to qual ...

a film ''Misis Mo, Misis Ko'' which turned out to be a success. After its successful venture with Viva Films, Armida and her son Carlitos (director of ''Misis Mo, Misis Ko''), together with writer Bibeth Orteza, decided to establish a film production company. The debut production ''Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit'', starring

Richard Gomez Richard Frank Icasiano Gomez (; born April 7, 1966) is a Filipino actor, television presenter and director, politician, and épée fencer. He has been serving as the Representative of Leyte's 4th district since 2022, and was mayor of Orm ...

and

Dawn Zulueta Marie Rachel Salman Taleon-Lagdameo (born March 4, 1969), known professionally as Dawn Zulueta (), is a Filipino actress, host and commercial model. She was recognized as the only Filipino actor to win two different major accolades in acting cat ...

in one of their first team-up appearances, became a success and is award-winning with 18 combined awards received from FAMAS, Urian, and FAP. The next film ''Ikaw Pa Lang Ang Minahal'' in 1992 won 27 awards from the mentioned award giving bodies and YCC. Almost all films produced by Reyna Films were proven to be a critical success, and brought honor for the Philippines in several international film festivals. ''Inagaw Mo Ang Lahat sa Akin'' won Best Picture in the 1996 Nortel Palm Springs International Film Festival as well as Best Picture in the 1996 FAMAS awards. ''Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya'' won the Special Jury prize in the Teddy Awards of the 1998 Berlin International Film Festival, the Best Asian Film award at the 1999 Newport Beach International Film Festival, and the Special Jury prize in the 1998 Turin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival. ''Kahapon, May Dalawang Bata'' took home the Best Foreign Film prize at the

Newport Beach International Film Festival The Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) is an annual film festival in Newport Beach, California, typically held in late April. In 2022, it was announced that the festival have permanently changed its date to be held in October, as the festival be ...

as well as the second runner-up prize in the "

Air Canada Air Canada is the flag carrier and the largest airline of Canada by the size and passengers carried. Air Canada maintains its headquarters in the borough of Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec. The airline, founded in 1937, provides scheduled and ...

" People's Choice awards in the 1999 Toronto International Film Festival. ''Azucena'' was adjudged Best Picture at the 2001 San Diego Asian-American Film Festival. While the first two productions in 1991 and 1992 were money-makers, '' Ligaya Ang Itawag Mo Sa Akin'' turned out to be a blockbuster. However, as with local producers in the 1990s, Reyna Films encountered major problems in taxation and censorship. Most of the films produced by Reyna Films (including co-productions with Star Cinema) are digitally restored and remastered by the

ABS-CBN Film Archives The ABS-CBN Film Archives, also called ABS-CBN Archives, is a state-of-the-art film archive in the Philippines located at the basement of ELJ Communications Center in Eugenio Lopez Drive, Diliman, Quezon City. It was a member of the Southeast ...

. ''Hihintayin Kita sa Langit'' was the first film of the currently semi-active company to be restored by the Sagip Pelikula campaign headed by Leonardo P. Katigbak.

Filmography

All of the films but one were directed by Carlitos Siguion Reyna. The film ''Kailangan Kita'' (not to be confused with the movie with the same title produced in 2002) was co-produced with

Regal Films Regal Entertainment, Inc. (formerly and more commonly known as Regal Films) is a Philippine film production company based in Pasig. It was founded by Lily Monteverde on August 19, 1962. It has produced movies of all genres; and is the oldest s ...

. The Christmas-themed family drama ''Kung Mawawala Ka Pa'' is directed by

Jose Mari Avellana Jose Mari Hontiveros Avellana (May 6, 1941 – June 26, 2011) was a Filipino actor, screenwriter, director, and production designer. Biography Avellana was the son of National Artists director Lamberto V. Avellana and actress Daisy Avella ...

, an entry for the 1993 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Maricel Soriano Maricel Soriano (; born Maria Cecilia Dador Soriano; February 25, 1965) is a Filipina film and television actress, occasional host and dancer. With a career spanning of over 50 years, Soriano is one of the most celebrated artists and popularly ...

and

Tonton Gutierrez Eduardo Antonio Winsett Gutierrez, Jr. (born March 20, 1968), professionally known as Tonton Gutierrez, is a Filipino film and television actor best known for his role as Governor Eduardo Buenavista in the original hit teleserye ''Pangako Sa ...

, being in the lead credits, have each appeared in three Reyna Films movies. Rosanna Roces,

Ricky Davao Frederick Charles Davao, professionally known as Ricky Davao (born May 30, 1961) is a Filipino actor, television director, and industrial management engineer (graduated from Mapua Institute of Technology. He is the husband of actress Jackie Lou ...

and

Ara Mina Ara Mina (born Hazel Pascual Reyes-Almarinez; May 9, 1979) is a Filipino people, Filipino actress, singer, endorser, and entrepreneur. Career Mina became part of the Philippine entertainment industry at 14 years of age via the youth-oriented ...

followed with two movies each. While no longer producing mainstream feature films, Reyna Films (now through the management of Armida's son Carlitos) made an indie film on the lives of the Tondo District in Manila. ''Hari ng Tondo'', an independent film co-produced with APT Entertainment and M-Zet Films, is one of the entries for Cinemalaya 2014 Festival. The said film is also set to its theatrical release in late 2014.

References

External links

Reyna Films on IMDB Reyna Films on Manunuri.com Armida Siguion-Reyna Biography on Manunuri.com
{{Philippine production companies and film studios Philippine film studios Mass media companies established in 1991 Film production companies of the Philippines Companies based in Manila 1991 establishments in the Philippines