Cirio H. Santiago
Directing
Born: January 18, 1936 · Manila, Philippines
Died: September 26, 2008 (aged 72)
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.
Known for
The Big Bird Cage
1972
The Big Doll House
1971
Women in Cages
1971
Machete Maidens Unleashed!
2010
Bloodfist
1989
TNT Jackson
1974
Up from the Depths
1979
Bloodfist II
1990
The Muthers
1976
Vampire Hookers
1978
Wheels of Fire
1985
Stryker
1983
Photos (2)
Self / Appearances (1)
Directing (59)
Vulcan
Director
Vampire Hookers
Director
Dune Warriors
Director
TNT Jackson
Director
Nam Angels
Director
Fly Me
Director
Equalizer 2000
Director
Angelfist
Director
Silk 2
Director
Death Force
Director
Wheels of Fire
Director
Naked Vengeance
Director
Live by the Fist
Director
The Expendables
Director
Silk
Director
Eye of the Eagle
Director
Stranglehold
Director
Final Mission
Director
Future Hunters
Director
The Sisterhood
Director
Cover Girl Models
Director
Kill Zone
Director
One Man Army
Director
The Devastator
Director
Raiders of the Sun
Director
Ebony, Ivory & Jade
Director
Operation Balikatan
Director
Bloodfist 2050
Director
Last Stand at Lang Mei
Director
Killer Instinct
Director
Aladdin and the Adventure of All Time
Director
Caged Fury
Director
Wanted: Johnny L
Director
Ultimatum
Director
Demon of Paradise
Director
Happy Days Are Here Again
Director
Firecracker
Director
Savage!
Director
Water Wars
Director
Masikip ang Daigdig
Director
Stryker
Director
Beyond the Call of Duty
Director
Konsiyerto ng Kamatayan
Director
Field of Fire
Director
Doble Kara
Director
Fast Gun
Director
Bicol Express
Director
The Muthers
Director
Fe, Esperanza, Caridad
Director
Pepeng Kaliwete
Director
Firehawk
Director
Caged Heat II: Stripped of Freedom
Director
Pagsapit ng Hatinggabi
Director
Hell Hole
Director
Footsteps without a Trace
Director
A Time for Dying
Director
Impossible Dream
Director
Laban sa Lahat
Director
Darna At Ang Babaing Tuod
Director
Writing (12)
Vulcan
Story
Death Force
Story
Silk
Story
Anak ng Bulkan
Idea
Home Alone da Riber
Writer
Demon of Paradise
Screenplay
Firecracker
Story
Firecracker
Screenplay
The Muthers
Writer
Hell Hole
Screenplay
A Time for Dying
Writer
Impossible Dream
Story
Producing (57)
The Big Doll House
Producer
Vulcan
Producer
Dune Warriors
Producer
TNT Jackson
Producer
Women in Cages
Producer
The Big Bird Cage
Producer
The Hunt for Eagle One
Co-Producer
Blackbelt
Producer
Equalizer 2000
Producer
Hustler Squad
Producer
Angelfist
Producer
Silk 2
Producer
Wheels of Fire
Producer
Bloodfist
Line Producer
Naked Vengeance
Producer
Live by the Fist
Producer
Silk
Producer
Silk
Associate Producer
The Hot Box
Producer
Bloodfist II
Line Producer
The Sisterhood
Producer
Ama Namin
Executive Producer
Once a Moth
Executive Producer
Angel of Destruction
Producer
Cover Girl Models
Producer
Pitong Gabi sa Paris
Producer
Kill Zone
Producer
One Man Army
Producer
Harold Robbins' Body Parts
Producer
The Devastator
Producer
Raiders of the Sun
Producer
Ebony, Ivory & Jade
Producer
Up from the Depths
Producer
Operation Balikatan
Producer
Bloodfist 2050
Producer
Tokyo 1960
Producer
The Blood Drinkers
Producer
Tinimbang Ka, Bakit Husto?
Producer
Good Evening to Everybody
Executive Producer
Demon of Paradise
Producer
Firecracker
Executive Producer
Stryker
Producer
Terror in Paradise
Producer
Beyond the Call of Duty
Producer
Lollipops and Roses
Producer
Captain Barbell
Executive Producer
Eye of the Eagle 2: Inside the Enemy
Producer
Blackbelt II: Fatal Force
Executive Producer
Bamboo Gods and Iron Men
Producer
The Muthers
Producer
Wild Grass
Executive Producer
Pepeng Kaliwete
Producer
Firehawk
Producer
7 Gabi sa Hong Kong
Producer
Cavalry Command
Producer
Caged Heat II: Stripped of Freedom
Producer
Hell Hole
Executive Producer