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.
Directed 59
2010s
- 2014
2000s
- 2005
Bloodfist 2050
Director
- 2003
Operation Balikatan
Director
- 2000
1990s
- 1997
Vulcan
Director
- 1994
Ultimatum
Director
One Man Army
Director
Caged Heat II: Stripped of Freedom
Director
- 1993
Live by the Fist
Director
Firehawk
Director
- 1992
Raiders of the Sun
Director
- 1991
Dune Warriors
Director
Field of Fire
Director
- 1990
Silk 2
Director
1980s
- 1989
Last Stand at Lang Mei
Director
Nam Angels
Director
- 1988
Future Hunters
Director
The Expendables
Director
Killer Instinct
Director
Equalizer 2000
Director
The Sisterhood
Director
Fast Gun
Director
- 1987
- 1986
The Devastator
Director
- 1985
Naked Vengeance
Director
- 1984
- 1983
Caged Fury
Director
Stryker
Director
- 1981
Firecracker
Director
1970s
- 1978
Doble Kara
Director
Hell Hole
Director
- 1976
Ebony, Ivory & Jade
Director
- 1975
Cover Girl Models
Director
- 1974
Happy Days Are Here Again
Director
Fe, Esperanza, Caridad
Director
- 1973
Impossible Dream
Director
Savage!
Director
- 1970
A Time for Dying
Director
1960s
- 1966
Wanted: Johnny L
Director
- 1964
Darna At Ang Babaing Tuod
Director
- 1962
Masikip ang Daigdig
Director
- 1961
Footsteps without a Trace
Director
Konsiyerto ng Kamatayan
Director
- 1960
Pagsapit ng Hatinggabi
Director
1950s
- 1958
Laban sa Lahat
Director
Pepeng Kaliwete
Director
- 1957
Bicol Express
Director
Produced 56
2000s
- 2006
The Hunt for Eagle One
Co-Producer
- 2005
Bloodfist 2050
Producer
- 2003
Captain Barbell
Executive Producer
Operation Balikatan
Producer
- 2001
Harold Robbins' Body Parts
Producer
1990s
- 1998
Ama Namin
Executive Producer
- 1997
Wild Grass
Executive Producer
Vulcan
Producer
- 1994
Angel of Destruction
Producer
One Man Army
Producer
Caged Heat II: Stripped of Freedom
Producer
- 1993
Live by the Fist
Producer
Firehawk
Producer
- 1992
Raiders of the Sun
Producer
- 1991
Dune Warriors
Producer
- 1990
Bloodfist II
Line Producer
Silk 2
Producer
1980s
- 1989
- 1988
Equalizer 2000
Producer
The Sisterhood
Producer
- 1987
- 1986
The Devastator
Producer
- 1985
Naked Vengeance
Producer
- 1983
Stryker
Producer
- 1981
Firecracker
Executive Producer
1970s
- 1979
Up from the Depths
Producer
- 1978
Hell Hole
Executive Producer
- 1977
Tinimbang Ka, Bakit Husto?
Producer
- 1976
Once a Moth
Executive Producer
Ebony, Ivory & Jade
Producer
Hustler Squad
Producer
Good Evening to Everybody
Executive Producer
- 1975
Cover Girl Models
Producer
- 1974
Bamboo Gods and Iron Men
Producer
- 1972
- 1971
Women in Cages
Producer
Lollipops and Roses
Producer
1960s
- 1966
7 Gabi sa Hong Kong
Producer
- 1964
The Blood Drinkers
Producer
- 1961
Pitong Gabi sa Paris
Producer
1950s
- 1958
Pepeng Kaliwete
Producer
Cavalry Command
Producer
- 1957
Tokyo 1960
Producer
Wrote 11
2000s
- 2002
Home Alone da Riber
Writer
1990s
- 1997
Vulcan
Story
1980s
- 1987
- 1986
- 1981
Firecracker
Story, Screenplay
1970s
- 1978
Hell Hole
Screenplay
- 1976
- 1973
Impossible Dream
Story
- 1970
A Time for Dying
Writer
1950s
- 1959
Anak ng Bulkan
Idea
Appearances1
2010s
- 2010
Machete Maidens Unleashed!
Self