Cirio H. Santiago

Born: 1936-01-18 in Manila, Philippines

Died: 2008-09-26

Known For: Directing

Biography

Producer/director Cirio H. Santiago is the son of Dr. Ciriaco Santiago, who founded Premiere Productions in Manila in 1946. He has two siblings. After starting out as a producer he started directing english-language movies in the early 70s. Santiago became one of the pioneers of the "Blaxploitation" genre by being one of the first to cast black actors and especially actresses as strong action heroes. Movies like TNT Jackson (1974) became instant cult classics. In the 80s, Santiago became known for his numerous low-budget Vietnam war movies such as Firehawk (1993) which gave him a reputation as the "master of the Vietnam war genre". A long running production partnership with Roger Corman assured proper distribution of his movies in the USA. Many of today's hottest filmmakers such as Jonathan Demme, Joe Dante or Carl Franklin got their first directing jobs with Santiago. In 1995 he was named president of the Philippines Film Development Funds by President Ramos. The organization strives to uplift the quality of Filipino filmmaking to new, higher standards and to encourage production of foreign movies on location in the Philippines. Premiere Productions, headed by Cirio H. Santiago, still remains one of the biggest studios in the Philippines and went public in 1997.

Filmography

2014

Water Wars ... (Director)

2010

Machete Maidens Unleashed! as Self

2006

The Hunt for Eagle One ... (Co-Producer)

2005

Bloodfist 2050 ... (Director)

2003

Operation Balikatan ... (Director)
Captain Barbell ... (Executive Producer)

1998

Ama Namin ... (Executive Producer)

1997

Vulcan ... (Director)
Wild Grass ... (Executive Producer)

1995

Terminal Virus ... (Producer)

1994

Angel of Destruction ... (Producer)
Stranglehold ... (Director)
Caged Heat II: Stripped of Freedom ... (Producer)
One Man Army ... (Director)
Ultimatum ... (Director)

1993

Live by the Fist ... (Director)
Angelfist ... (Director)
Kill Zone ... (Director)
Firehawk ... (Director)
Terror in Paradise ... (Producer)

1992

Blackbelt ... (Producer)
Raiders of the Sun ... (Director)
Beyond the Call of Duty ... (Director)

1991

Dune Warriors ... (Director)
Field of Fire ... (Director)

1990

Silk 2 ... (Director)
Bloodfist II ... (Line Producer)

1989

Last Stand at Lang Mei ... (Director)
Blackbelt II: Fatal Force ... (Executive Producer)
Bloodfist ... (Line Producer)
Eye of the Eagle 2: Inside the Enemy ... (Producer)
Nam Angels ... (Director)

1988

The Expendables ... (Director)
Future Hunters ... (Director)
The Sisterhood ... (Director)
Equalizer 2000 ... (Director)
Killer Instinct ... (Director)
Fast Gun ... (Director)

1987

Eye of the Eagle ... (Director)
Demon of Paradise ... (Director)

1986

Silk ... (Director)
The Devastator ... (Director)

1985

Wheels of Fire ... (Director)
Naked Vengeance ... (Director)

1984

Final Mission ... (Director)

1983

Stryker ... (Director)
Caged Fury ... (Director)

1981

Firecracker ... (Director)

1980

Gabi ng Lagim Ngayon ... (Director)

1979

Up from the Depths ... (Producer)

1978

Vampire Hookers ... (Director)
Death Force ... (Director)
Hell Hole ... (Director)
Doble Kara ... (Director)

1977

Tinimbang Ka, Bakit Husto? ... (Producer)

1976

The Muthers ... (Director)
Once a Moth ... (Executive Producer)
Hustler Squad ... (Producer)
Good Evening to Everybody ... (Executive Producer)
Ebony, Ivory & Jade ... (Director)

1975

Cover Girl Models ... (Director)

1974

TNT Jackson ... (Director)
Bamboo Gods and Iron Men ... (Producer)
Happy Days Are Here Again ... (Director)
Fe, Esperanza, Caridad ... (Director)

1973

Fly Me ... (Director)
Impossible Dream ... (Director)
Savage! ... (Director)

1972

The Big Bird Cage ... (Producer)
The Hot Box ... (Producer)

1971

The Big Doll House ... (Producer)
Women in Cages ... (Producer)
Lollipops and Roses ... (Producer)

1970

The Arizona Kid ... (Producer)
A Time for Dying ... (Writer)

1966

7 Gabi sa Hong Kong ... (Producer)
Wanted: Johnny L ... (Director)

1964

The Blood Drinkers ... (Producer)
Darna At Ang Babaing Tuod ... (Director)

1963

Right Between The Eyes ... (Director)

1962

Masikip ang Daigdig ... (Director)

1961

Pitong Gabi sa Paris ... (Producer)
Footsteps without a Trace ... (Director)
Konsiyerto ng Kamatayan ... (Director)

1960

Pagsapit ng Hatinggabi ... (Director)

1959

Anak ng Bulkan ... (Idea)

1958

Cavalry Command ... (Producer)
Pusang Itim ... (Story)
Laban sa Lahat ... (Director)
Pepeng Kaliwete ... (Director)

1957

Tokyo 1960 ... (Producer)
Bicol Express ... (Director)

1954

Ifugao ... (Screenplay)