Margie Templo Parks

With her life's work and love being in Film Production, Margie Templo Parks is a Director and Producer with twenty-five years of work experience in numerous media formats. As a Director in advertising in Manila, she has delivered commercial spots on food for well-known brands, and industrial films with narratives on family, love and kids. Early in her career, she worked as a Director-Producer in children’s television on shows like “Batibot" (Small But Strong), the Philippine version of “Sesame Street.” In 2000, she established her production company Arkeofilms where she continued to work steadily as a director while producing award-winning short, documentary and feature films. As a Producer, she has received training from prestigious international programs, including the Rotterdam Lab for Emerging Producers, Produire Au Sud in France, and the Berlinale Talent Campus, where she received the Talent Highlight Award. Career highlights include the U.S.-Philippines co-production of "Amigo" by world-renowned American writer-director John Sayles, the drama thriller adaptation "Child Of Grace" by independent filmmaker Ian McCrudden, the award-winning feature documentary "Kano: An American And His Harem" by Monster Jimenez, and short films of Joel Ruiz, including the award-winning "Mansyon" (The Mansion). After mounting John Sayles' "Amigo," she moved her career to Los Angeles in 2012, where she continues to pursue directing and do freelance work as a producer in advertising and film. As a commercial director, Margie Templo Parks directed three seasons of "Kusinabilidad" (Kitchen Ability), a series of food/cooking spots for client SAFI Heinz UFC under agency Harrison Communications (subsidiary of McCann Worldgroup Philippines), and an online how-to series for client Del Monte Kitchenomics. Earlier directorial work includes her short music narrative "Pananatili" (Stay) shot on 16mm film, and a music video for the popular song "Let The Pain Remain" by international artist Rachelle Ann Go (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Hamilton) for Viva Records. During the pandemic, she directed "Maging Akin Muli" (Come Back To Me), combining virtual choir performance and traditional animation. As a valued member of the independent film community in the Philippines, she founded the Manila Film Financing Forum (now adopted as the DGPI Film Pitch by the local directors' guild) under her organization the Philippine Independent Filmmakers Cooperative. Margie graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Film from the University of the Philippines and is a recent alum and scholar of the Sundance Co//ab. She once earned a gold medal competing with the Philippine women's team for underwater hockey and has recorded four albums with her choral group Hangad (Dream). She is married to American actor and writer, James Parks. Margie's first short film as a writer-director, Unlovables, developed under the Sundance Collab, is slated for production in 2022.