Marty Syjuco

Marty Syjuco is an Emmy® Award-nominated independent producer and documentary filmmaker. Originally from the Philippines, Marty moved to New York City in 2000 and worked in Business Affairs and Home Video at USA Films followed by Film Distribution at Focus Features, booking the theatrical releases of independent, commercial and Academy-Award-winning films. In 2004 he took a leap of faith to pursue his passion: documentary filmmaking. In 2005, he co-produced his first film, the one-hour documentary "Atrapado en la injusticia" (Caught in an Injustice), which was broadcast in Spain on Canal Cuatro and received a Special Jury Prize at the 15th International TV3/Actual Awards. The evolution of the story and the reception and acclaim from the Spanish public has spurred him to expand the short into a feature-length documentary. Together with filmmaking partner Michael Collins, Marty spent seven years in production on "Give Up Tomorrow", working to bring this striking story from his homeland to a broader Western audience. After celebrating its world premiere at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, "Give Up Tomorrow" went on to play in more than 70 festivals in over 35 countries, winning 18 international awards including seven audience awards, four human rights awards, and the Activism Award at Michael Moore's Traverse City Film Festival. The film was a co-production with ITVS and commissioned by Nick Fraser for BBC Storyville, with additional support from Sundance, Tribeca, CAAM, Fledgling Fund, Bertha and BRITDOC, among others. "Give Up Tomorrow" has enjoyed international broadcast in over ten territories, including BBC, Canal+ and PBS, as part of POV's 25th anniversary season. Additionally the film has received recognition from the Grierson British Awards, the Cinema Eye Honors, and Amnesty International's Media Awards. In 2013 "Give Up Tomorrow" was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Investigative Journalism and was a finalist for the Puma Impact Award.