Cirio H. Santiago, a renowned producer and director, is the son of Dr. Ciriaco Santiago, a pioneering figure in the Philippine film industry who founded Premiere Productions in Manila in 1946. Cirio H. Santiago has two siblings and initially began his career as a producer before transitioning to directing English-language movies in the early 1970s.
Santiago's groundbreaking work in the "Blaxploitation" genre, which emerged in the 1970s, revolutionized the film industry by featuring black actors and actresses as strong action heroes. Movies such as TNT Jackson (1974) became instant cult classics and cemented Santiago's status as a trailblazer in the genre.
In the 1980s, Santiago established himself as a master of the Vietnam war genre with numerous low-budget films, including Firehawk (1993),which earned him widespread recognition. His long-standing partnership with Roger Corman ensured the proper distribution of his movies in the United States, paving the way for many young filmmakers to break into the industry.
Santiago's mentorship and guidance helped shape the careers of several prominent directors, including Jonathan Demme, Joe Dante, and Carl Franklin, who all got their start working with him. In 1995, he was appointed president of the Philippines Film Development Funds by President Ramos, a role that aimed to elevate the quality of Filipino filmmaking and encourage the production of foreign movies on location in the Philippines.
Premiere Productions, led by Cirio H. Santiago, remains one of the largest and most prominent studios in the Philippines, going public in 1997. Throughout his illustrious career, Santiago has left an indelible mark on the film industry, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of filmmakers.
