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

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

1995

Terminal Virus ... (Producer)

1994

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

1993

Firehawk ... (Director)
Kill Zone ... (Director)
Angelfist ... (Director)
Live by the Fist ... (Director)

1992

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

1991

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

1990

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

1989

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

1988

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

1987

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

1986

Future Hunters ... (Director)
Silk ... (Director)
The Devastator ... (Director)

1985

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

1984

Final Mission ... (Director)

1983

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

1981

Firecracker ... (Director)

1980

Gabi ng Lagim Ngayon ... (Director)

1979

Up from the Depths ... (Producer)

1978

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

1977

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

1976

The Muthers ... (Director)
Hustler Squad ... (Producer)
Once A Moth ... (Executive Producer)
Ebony, Ivory & Jade ... (Director)

1975

Cover Girl Models ... (Director)

1974

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

1973

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

1972

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

1971

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

1970

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

1966

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

1964

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

1963

Right Between The Eyes ... (Director)

1962

Masikip ang Daigdig ... (Director)

1961

Konsiyerto ng Kamatayan ... (Director)
Footsteps without a Trace ... (Director)

1960

Pagsapit ng Hatinggabi ... (Director)

1959

Anak ng Bulkan ... (Idea)

1958

Pepeng Kaliwete ... (Director)
Laban sa Lahat ... (Director)
The Day of the Trumpet ... (Producer)
Pusang Itim ... (Story)

1957

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

1954

Ifugao ... (Screenplay)