SINENG PAMBANSA RETURNS TO ILOILO THIS JANUARY
The Second Sineng Pambansa Iloilo Film Festival is set on January 18 to 20, 2012. Last November 28, 2011, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and USec Briccio Santos of the Film Development Council of the Philippines has already signed an agreement for the conduct of the upcoming festival. It will once again showcase the best in quality cinema. This festival is bent to revitalize both local filmmakers and local audiences by introducing trends and directions in cinema, through nationwide screening of Filipino films. See you in the theaters on January 18 to January 20, 2012!!!
SAMURAI X, or RUROUNI KENSHIN is being made into a movie. It is currently in production, and will have its Japanese release date on August 2012. The plan is to release the film internationally and eventually make a series.
[updated 17 December 2011. WATCH THE TRAILER at the end of the ARTICLE]
It was, and actually still is, one of the most popular anime series that was widely loved in the Philippines around the early 2000s was SAMURAI X, originally titled RUROUNI KENSHIN. This anime series which is set in feudal Japan (Specifically, the Meiji Period), about a former skilled assassin who has sworn to never kill again, instead, use his fighting skills to help people and do good. This TV series is based upon the manga (comics) series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. There were also OVAs (Original Video Animations, usually they equate into full-length movies) of Rurouni Kenshin namely "Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal" which is a very seriously-toned story about Kenshin's past as an assassin, how he got his X mark, and how he was led to a path of redemption. And the other was "Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection" which tells the story of an older Kenshin and how we witness his full redemption and the bittersweet end of his days.
RUROUNI KENSHIN is being adapted into a live-action film, with Warner Brothers Pictures Japan producing. The cast features Satou Takeru (Kamen Rider Den-O, Beck) in the lead, Takei Emi as Kamiya Kaoru (or simply Kori, in the english-dubbed TV series) with Keishi Otomo (Ryomaden) directing. Production stills have recently been released.
Other members of the cast include:
Aoki Munetaka as Kenshin's ass-kicking buddy Sanosuke Sagara
Aoi Yuu as the alluring & oftentimes teasing Megumi Takani
Kikkawa Kouji will play the villainous assassin Udou Jine, or as the dubbed series would call him Jenai
and, Veteran TV actor Eguchi Yosuke will portray the former Shinsengumi Captain, turned government agent, Saitou Hajime or as in the dubbed series, simply Sato
updated 17 December 2011. The teaser trailer has now been released. CHECK IT OUT...
Looks like the IMMORTALS have once again postponed their Philippine invasion YET AGAIN. December 7, 2011 is the new release date of the Tarsem Singh movie about Theseus, the Minotaur, and the War of the Titans. The Philippines was not included in IMMORTALS' original international release date (November 11, 2011), and was pushed to November 30 (READ THE EARLIER REPORT HERE), which was a bad move to do to a country that is one of the biggest Hollywood-patronizing countries in the world, and also the biggest torrent active countries, at the same time. It's easily a calculated guess to assume that the large numbers of potential box office numbers the movie could have gained, if it was released on the film's original international release date, are already lost to those who have already watched it online.
In its place, the Bonifacio Holiday week was greeted with 2 other great movies.
One is THE ROAD, which is directed by Yam Laranas, one of the every few excellent directors working in Tagalong mainstream cinema. The ROAD is a horror ghost story about a haunted road and the horrifying killings that occurred there years before. Read the full article about The Road and Yam Laranas here.
The other movie opening this week is THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN which is directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by Peter Jackson, and written by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish. This movie is based upon the classic European comic book series set during a largely realistic 20th century (set around the 1940s), the hero of the series is Tintin, a young Belgian reporter. He is aided in his adventures from the beginning by his faithful fox terrier dog Snowy. The Adventures of Tintin is like a combination of Hardy Boys and Indiana Jones. THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN has had its UK release back in October 2011. It is set to be released in the US on December 21, 2011. And is now showing here in Iloilo and Philippine theaters this week.
The Bourne series continue on "The Bourne Legacy" with Jeremy Renner on the lead, and to be set in Manila
The Bourne movies, based upon the Bourne books from master spy novelist Robert Ludlum, that starred Matt Damon and directed by Doug Liman and Paul Greengrass are probably one of the best and most spectacular espionage movies ever made. All three movies "Bourne Identity", "Bourne Supremacy", and "Bourne Ultimatum" was a great trilogy that had a relatively decent apparent ending.
Or so we thought it ended there. In January 2010, Matt Damon said that there would "probably be a prequel of some kind with another actor and another director before we do another one just because I think we're probably another five years away from doing it." The Bourne series shall continue with "The Bourne Legacy", but Matt Damon will not be the central character of this sequel; it will be a different character, and Jeremy Renner would be this main character in the movie. Although, it's a different character, it will be a story that will be set around the continuity of the first three movies.
The Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival 2011 was held last November 12, 2011 at the RCBC Plaza, Makati City. And it was the movie "Ka Oryang" which won the award for Best Picture and Best Director for Sari Lluch Dalena. Ka Oryang is about the suffering and the hardships of a woman who was a victim of torture during the Martial Law Era. It also won Best Cinematography for Neil Daza and Kiri Dalena.
On the other hand, the movie which bagged the most awards (including the Audience Choice Award, Special Jury Prize, Best Screenplay for Antoinette Jadaone) was "Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay". This semi-documentary chronicles the career of Lilia Cuntapay, the veteran actress who has appeared in countless local movies and TV appearances playing the almost same roles of aswang, yaya, or creepy old lady. She also won the award for Best Actress on the festival (shared the Best Actress award with Maricar Reyes for "Anatomiya ng Korupsyon").
The Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival 2011 was held last November 12, 2011 at the RCBC Plaza, Makati City. And it was the movie "Ka Oryang" which won the award for Best Picture and Best Director for Sari Lluch Dalena. Ka Oryang is about the suffering and the hardships of a woman who was a victim of torture during the Martial Law Era. It also won Best Cinematography for Neil Daza and Kiri Dalena.
On the other hand, the movie which bagged the most awards (including the Audience Choice Award, Special Jury Prize, Best Screenplay for Antoinette Jadaone) was "Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay". This semi-documentary chronicles the career of Lilia Cuntapay, the veteran actress who has appeared in countless local movies and TV appearances playing the almost same roles of aswang, yaya, or creepy old lady. She also won the award for Best Actress on the festival (shared the Best Actress award with Maricar Reyes for "Anatomiya ng Korupsyon").
DOCTOR WHO to regenerate into the silver screen by Reymundo Salao
Unbeknownst to many, it is actually the longest running sci-fi TV series and the most successful science fiction series of all time, in terms of its overall broadcast ratings, DVD and book sales, iTunes traffic, and "illegal downloads". Many of you may probably think that Star Wars and Star Trek hold that title. Well, it's actually being held by a British TV series that many of you may not be too familiar with: DOCTOR WHO.
DOCTOR WHO is about to be made into a movie, and BBC is eyeing director David Yates to helm its adaptation. Yates has directed the last four Harry Potter movies which were well-made enough to make the entire Harry Potter film series arguably become the most successful film saga since Star Wars.
Yam Laranas returns with the movie "The Road". The cast includes Jacklyn Jose, John Regala, Marvin Agustin, Allan Paule, Barbie Forteza, Carmina Villaroel, Rhian Ramos, TJ Trinidad, Alden Richards, Wendell Ramos, and with Laranas writing the screenplay alongside Aloy Adlawan, this project has the markings of what should have been the proper follow-up to Laranas' first hit "Sigaw"
The story goes: when three teens disappeared in an abandoned road, the investigation to search for them led to the reopening of a twelve-year-old case. And as the investigation grew further, deep into deep dark secrets, it is revealed that the road is haunted by a brutal crime that occured almost thirty years ago.
"The Road" is set to be released this November 30, 2011.
Tarsem Singh's IMMORTALS (no relation to the Angel Locisn, John Lloyd TV series) has been recently released internationally. And during recent interview, he revealed that he is very interested in creating a live-action version of Genndy Tartakovsky's 'Samurai Jack.' The series, which follows a samurai from feudal Japan thrust into the future by a demon and forced to find a way to return to his own time. Singh admitted that while he's not a big fan of what he calls "comic strip films," he loves the pacing and the animation of 'Samurai Jack.' He's gone so far as to publicly request that Cartoon Network execs give him a call.
Tarsem Singh, with his extremely stylized visual style (he also directed "The Cell" which starred Jennifer Lopez, and "The Fall"), is a perfect director which may be more than capable of recapturing the bizarre and utterly cool universe of Samurai Jack. Oh, how I wish the great actor and voice talent Mako was still alive to do his voice of Aku, or at least the narration of the movie, just like he did in the animated TV series.
A live-action version of Samurai Jack was actually set up at New Line in the early 2000s, with Brett Ratner attached to direct and produce, but THANK GOD, that did not materialize (since 'Jack is such a great concept only to be given to a hack like Ratner) and the rights have since reverted back to Cartoon Network.
Tarsem is currently in post-production on his movie "Mirror, Mirror" which is his take on the Snow White story (which is destined to rival "Snow White and the Huntsman"). "Mirror, Mirror" is set to be released in March 2012, while "Immortals" is set to have its Philippine release this November 2011.
ZOMBADINGS 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington will have an advance screening this Saturday August 20, 2011, 7 PM at the Cinema 2 of SM City Cinema Iloilo City. The film is originally set for official release on August 31, 2011.
ZOMBADINGS is directed by Jade Castro (who directed "My Big Love"). He is also the screenwriter of it, along with Raymond Lee
Iloilo City Government launches "Libre Pa-Sine" for Senior Citizens
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has signed a memorandum of agreement with the management of SM City Cinema regarding free movie showings to senior citizens in this city.
The Iloilo City Government in partnership with SM City Iloilo launched the “Libre Pa-Sine”, a project that will give the elderly free access to movies.
A Pinoy film entitled Busong, directed by Auraeus Solito was chosen to be among the 21 feature films that will be shown during the Cannes' Directors Fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival which will be held on May 11 to 22, 2011, in the resort town of Cannes, the south of France.
Festival director Frederic Boyer had this to say about the selection of the film: "I am thinking about a film we found from Southern Philippines... that transcends the border between documentary and fiction. The film deals with animism and is very close to nature. It has been shot without any apparent wish to be selected in Cannes or to be picked by a co-producer."
THE SINENG PAMBANSA Iloilo Film Festival 2011 report
by Reymundo Salao
The City of Iloilo and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) have launched, this week, the first major Philippine film festival outside Metro Manila, the Sineng Pambansa Iloilo Film Fest 2011, the first of what is destined to go on as an annual series. This film fest showcases the country's best films made by the "indie" film community. The screenings of the Film Fest is actually FREE ADMISSION, you don’t have to pay a single centavo to watch these movies. Regular audiences would get to watch internationally acclaimed Pinoy movies like Himpapawid, Bakal Boys, Yanggaw, and many more.
According to the chairman of the FDCP, Briccio Santos, there are plans to make this event an annual series, with a wider scope that would include short films and ilonggo films, additionally the next festival will also possibly one that would include international films, and would include workshops and symposiums to go along with it. He is very much happy that the FDCP has this mutual cooperation with the city government to make this event possible.
The Sineng Pambansa Iloilo Film Festival 2011 will be held from January 19, 2011 to January 21, 2011. The venue of the event will be on SM City Cinema (specifically Cinemas 2 and 3). Several Movies will be shown on the said dates, and on some specific dates, the screening will be coupled with a Question and Answer segment between the audience and the Director/Producer/Stars in attendance.
Here are the Screening Schedules of the Festival:
DAY 1 - January 19, 2011 Wednesday
Cinema 2
10:30 am - Lola
12:30 pm - Bakal Boys
2:30 pm - Red Shoes
4:30 pm - Halaw
Cinema 3
11:00 am - Sigwa
1:00 pm - Kano
3:00 pm - Himpapawid
6:00 pm - [Reception/Cocktails]
7:00 pm - Festival Opening Program (Filipiniana Attire) / Featured Film: Happyland
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DAY 2 - January 20, 2011 Thursday
Cinema 2
11:00 am - Red Shoes (Director/Star in Attendance + Q & A)
1:30 pm - Sigwa (Director/Star in Attendance + Q & A)
4:00 pm - Lola (Director/Star in Attendance + Q & A)
6:30 pm - Kano (Director/Star in Attendance + Q & A)
Cinema 3
10:30 am - Happyland (Director/Star in Attendance + Q & A)
1:00 pm - Sampaguita (Director/Star in Attendance + Q & A)
3:30 pm - Himpapawid (Director/Star in Attendance + Q & A)
6:00 pm - Yanggaw (Director/Star in Attendance + Q & A)
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DAY 3 - January 21, 2011 Friday
Cinema 2
11:00 am - Lola
1:00 pm - Red Shoes
3:00 pm - Yanggaw
5:00 pm - Sampaguita
Cinema 3
10:30 am - Bakal Boys (Director/Star in Attendance + Q & A)
1:00 pm - Halaw (Director/Star in Attendance + Q & A)
3:30 pm - Sigwa
5:30 pm - Festival Closing Film: Emir (Director/Star in Attendance + Q & A)
The Iloilo City government will host the screening of some eleven independent films for free in Cinemas 2 and 3 of SM City Iloilo starting January 19 to 23, 2011.
The critically acclaimed indie movies are the feature films in the “Sineng Pambansa Iloilo Film Festival 2011”, a project spearheaded by the city government in cooperation with Film Development Council of the Philippines which is under the Office of the President.
