In Conversation With: Cathy Garcia-Sampana

You may have missed her at this year's Big Screen Symposium, but in our eyes she was the hidden gem of the conference.

Cathy Garcia-Sampana is the most successful filmmaker in the Philippines (A population of 117.7 million!). Nine of her films have been the highest-grossing Filipino film of their year, and six have gone on to become the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time. She also happens to spend half her year here in Aotearoa.

What sets Cathy apart is simple. She knows exactly who she's making films for. Over more than three decades with ABS-CBN and Star Cinema, she has built an audience that turns up for her, film after film. They feel a real personal connection to her, and bring that loyalty with them to the cinema.

Her films include Us In The End (2026), Meet, Greet & Bye (2025), and Hello, Love, Again (2024), all of which are available to watch on Netflix. They explore family, love, ambition, migration and starting over, stories her audience recognises as their own.

Truly knowing one's audience and how to reach them is something the NZ industry is still working out. Cathy has spent 30 years getting it right, and we'd like to know how.

WIFT & PASC are delighted to host Cathy for a kōrero about her journey as a filmmaker, working within her values, how she builds a relationship with her audience, and what the Asian screen industry does differently from ours.

The session will be moderated by Marc Laureano.

Date: Wednesday 21st October

Time: Drinks from 6pm | Panel from 6:30pm - 8pm

Location: St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby, Auckland.

Drinks & nibbles provided.

FREE for WIFT & PASC Members | $20 for non-members