Cine Europa 17, Day 1, at the FDCP Cinematheque today

Today marks the opening day of the FDCP and FCEP's Cine Europa 17 film festival, with three films, from Spain, Norway, and the Czech Republic. This event is in cooperation with the European Union, European Embassies and Cultural Institutes accredited to the Philippines, and is schedules from September 30 to October 5 2014. Venue is at the Cinematheque Iloilo, and it is free of charge. The FDCP Cinematheque is located at the B&C Square Bldg., Solis St., Iloilo City (near BPI Iznart, East West Bank Iznart, and Landbank Iznart).[hit the jump to continue]

Cine Europa 17 to be held at the FDCP Cinematheque this week

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) through The Film Cultural Exchange Program (FCEP) in cooperation with European Union, European Embassies and Cultural Institutes accredited to the Philippines, is proud to present the CINE EUROPA 17 film festival commencing on September 30 to October 5 2014. This event will take place in the Cinematheque Iloilo, free of charge. [hit the jump to continue]

Lav Diaz's NORTE is Philippines' bet to 87th Academy Awards

Just last Monday, Iloilo had the opportunity to watch Lav Diaz's four-hour magnum opus "Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan". Now, it has just been announced that "Norte" has been selected as the Philippines' entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category for the 87th Academy Awards, otherwise known as the Oscar Awards. [hit the jump to continue]

The Original 1963 "The Pink Panther" screens at the UPV Cinematheque this Sunday

Cinema Exmundo and the UPV Cinematheque presents a screening of the original 1963 classic comedy "The Pink Panther" this coming September 28, 2014 Sunday, 2:30 PM at the UPV Cinematheque, U.P Visayas, Iloilo City Campus, Infante Ave., Iloilo City. The event will be RSVP to confirm your seats, to do so, contact the organizers via the number 0908-679-0363. [hit the jump to continue]

Syowing this week [September 24, 2014 to September 30, 2014]

There's a whole lot of interesting films out in Iloilo silver screens this week. And I'm not just talking about the big crowd-pleasing ones. Just as the week began with the screening of the Lav Diaz masterpiece "Norte, Hangganan Ng Kasaysayan" brought to us by the organizations Dakila Iloilo and Rock-Ed Iloilo, the week of cinema continues with awesome movies which promise top quality entertainment. [hit the jump to continue]

The highly-acclaimed “REKORDER” screens at the FDCP Iloilo Cinematheque this week

This week, one of the most highly-anticipated indie films finally gets a screening here in Iloilo; Mikhail Red's "Rekorder". The movie will be shown from September 23 to 28, 2014 at the FDCP Cinematheque.

"Rekorder" tells the story of a former 1980’s film cameraman who now currently works as a movie pirate operating in present day Manila. He routinely smuggles a digital camcorder into movie theaters in order to illegally record films. One night he records something else... And the footage goes viral.

Speaking of viral, one of the footage scenes in the movie indeed went viral on the internet. The scene is a CCTV video of a person withdrawing money from the ATM who suddenly gets robbed by armed robbers at gunpoint. Those who shared the video thought that the footage was authentic. [hit the jump to continue]

Mark Millar's STARLIGHT being Developed into a Movie

Mark Millar's six-part graphic novel mini-series "Starlight" is still ongoing (issue number five was just released last month), but Twentieth Century Fox is already picking it up for a movie adaptation. Gary Whitta, who has been hired to write one of the upcoming Star Wars standalone films to be directed by Godzilla helmer Gareth Edwards, has been hired to pen the script for this "Starlight" adaptation as well. No target release date has been announced yet.

"Starlight" taps on classic space opera sensibilities. Millar himself described it as a mash-up of Flash Gordon and The Dark Knight Returns. The story centers on Duke McQueen who, forty years ago, saved an alien world from destruction. Back on Earth, nobody believed his story. Now his kids are grown, his wife has passed on, and life has little to offer. Until the day a strange boy from the world he once saved makes an appearance, coaxing Duke to join him on one last adventure. Can Duke handle the leap from has-been to hero?

NORTE, HANGGANAN NG KASAYSAYAN hits Iloilo, for One Night Only

Some people have been asking about the upcoming screening of the Lav Diaz film "Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan" which will be shown at Robinson's Movieworld Iloilo this Monday at 6:00 PM.
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Warner Bros is developing a Suicide Squad movie

Warner Bros.has gradually been trying to build up their DC cinematic universe with their plans for Batman V Superman that will eventually lead to a Wonder Woman movie, an Aquaman Movie, and a Justice League movie. But there's another property that is planned to be included in that DC Cinematic Universe; The Suicide Squad. Yes, Warner Bros. are targeting to make a Suicide Squad movie with Fury director David Ayer at the helm. Justin Marks (who is also writing Top Gun 2) will pen the script. [hit the jump to continue]

The Deadpool Movie Finally Gets A Green Light

The studios finally gave in. Possibly, it was the entire geek and internet outcry that made them give in. Fox has now officially declared that the Deadpool movie is a go with Ryan Reynolds at the lead.
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Lav Diaz and Why Indie Cinema Deserves More

Indie Cinema and the Metaphor of Knowing Real Value
by Reymundo Salao

Those who have some knowledge about Philippine cinema must know who Lav Diaz is. Perhaps one may not have seen one of his movies, but surely one should have heard about him. He's that Filipino filmmaker who makes these long epic movies that have won numerous awards in international film festivals. Just last month, Lav Diaz took home the prestigious Golden Leopard for best film for “From What Is Before” (Mula sa kung ano ang noon). On the other hand of the tale, it's quite sad that even after he and his crew brought the biggest honor the country has received so far in an A-list film festival, there was no hero's welcome or parade to celebrate their victory when they arrived back. [hit the jump to continue]

Legendary announces King Kong Reboot with SKULL ISLAND

Legendary announced its plans to make a feature film based on the cinematic origins of King Kong, which is entitled "Skull Island" during this year’s San Diego Comic Con with an original draft of the script by Max Borenstein. Previous works have touched on the island, but staying on and exploring this mysterious and dangerous place offers Legendary the opportunity to take audiences deeper inside this rich world with a style and scope that parallels other Legendary productions. Jordan Vogt-Robers will helm the project, with Tom Hiddleston to star. Universal Pictures will distribute the film on November 4, 2016. [hit the jump to continue]

Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass reunite to bring back Jason Bourne

Universal Pictures is currently working on reuniting Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass for another Bourne movie. Initially, the plan was to make a follow-up to the Bourne Legacy, which starred Jeremy Renner, and to have it helmed by Justin Lin. The development of that follow-up was stalled when the studio focused on trying to get Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass on the Bourne franchise. But according to reports, the Renner spinoff is still in development with Lin. So does this mean that there will be two separate Bourne movies being developed side-by-side? Although I would want to see the Bourne universe to go back to the Philippines, sad to say that the Renner Bourne just felt like a filler episode, and will probably evaporate when the Damon/Greengrass Bourne movie will launch. [Hit the jump to continue]

Marvel Reveals Official Synopsis for The Avengers: Age of Ultron

Marvel's upcoming massive event movie is one of those big movies that everybody cant wait to see. For the past months, we've already seen all the production photos and the concept art. Now, Marvel has officially released the movie's synopsis. Directed by Joss Whedon, it stars stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Cobie Smulders, James Spader, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Avengers: Age of Ultron officially opens May 1, 2015. Hit the jump to continue...

FDCP Cinematheque Iloilo Teases Four Big Upcoming Movies

The FDCP Cinematheque has recently released a list of upcoming movies that many of us are surely looking forward to see.

Korean Movie I SAW THE DEVIL Gets a Hollywood Remake

"I Saw the Devil" was one of South Korea's finest movies, but at the same time one of the darkest and grittiest vengeance movies ever made. Now, thriller duo director Adam Wingard and writer Simon Barrett who are best known for movies like "You're Next" and "The Guest" will be doing a Hollywood remake of "I Saw the Devil" with  Keith Calder and Jessica Calder (who also collaborated with the duo with their previous films), and Dredd producers Adi Shankar and Spencer Silna, producing. Reports indicate that the deal has been in the works for some time now, as Barrett has already started writing the script and director Wingard has begun meeting with actors.

"I Saw the Devil" tells the story of a policeman who lost her girlfriend after a serial killer victimized her. The policeman begins a dark journey of tracking down this serial killer and instead of throwing him in jail, he savagely torments him. Hit the jump to check out the trailer for the original I SAW THE DEVIL...

Lav Diaz's “Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon” to be screened at the BFI London Film Festival

The BFI (British Film Institute) London Film Festival will be held this October 8 to 19, 2014. And among the movie that will be shown in this festival is Lav Diaz’s “Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon” a.k.a: "From What is Before". This five-and-a-half hour epic is set in 1972 Philippines. Mysterious things are happening in a remote barrio. Wails are heard from the forest, cows are hacked to death, a man is found bleeding to death at the crossroad and houses are burned. Ferdinand E. Marcos announces Proclamation No. 1081 putting the entire country under Martial Law. [hit the jump to continue]

Top Gun Sequel Being Developed

After several decades, it looks like the popular 80's iconic pop movie "Top Gun" will indeed be having a sequel after all. The project is still under a long overdue development phase, but sources say that "Top Gun 2" will have a a storyline that highlights the relevance of old fashioned pilots in a war environment loaded with high-tech drones. Tom Cruise will return as Maverick, perhaps we can expect the rest of the other cast to catch up to the project if it nears the greenlight. [hit the jump to continue]

James McTeigue set to direct Alien Sleeper Cell

James McTeigue (known for directing V for Vendetta, Ninja Assassin, and The Raven) has just signed on to direct the sci-fi thriller Alien Sleeper Cell which is being described as “a fresh and surprising take on the all-too-familiar alien invasion genre that features the tense tone of The Bourne Identity.”

According to the THR description, Alien Sleeper Cell has elements that “harken to Bourne Identity and TV’s The Americans but applied to an alien invasion scenario.” [hit the jump to continue]

"Terminator: Genisys" Reboots Terminator, Set for July 2015

Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions’ fifth installment in the rebooted Terminator franchise is going to bear the title Terminator: Genisys, and it's set to be released July 1, 2015. It's going to grace the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger to his iconic role. This new terminator movie is said to be a reboot and will be expecting two more sequels which will bear the title Terminator 2 and 3, and set for May 19, 2017 and June 29, 2018.

The plan is for the two sequels to film back to back, a plan which will likely hold true as long as the first film in the rebooted trilogy is a successful endeavor.  Alan Taylor directs Arnold Schwarzenegger in his return to the title role, along with Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, Jason Clarke, Matt Smith, J.K. Simmons, Dayo Okeniyi and Byung Hun Lee.

Ang Kwento Ni Mabuti at the FDCP Cinematheque this week

Mes de Guzman's Ang Kwento Ni Mabuti which topbills Nora Aunor will be screened this week at the FDCP Cinematheque, from September 9 to September 14, 2014. Admission is only at 100 pesos. The FDCP Cinematheque is located at B&C Square Bldg., Iznart-Solis Street (near BPI Iznart), Iloilo City. Admission is Free.

Ang Kwento Ni Mabuti, written and directed by Mes de Guzman, and stars Nora Aunor, is a morality tale about Mabuti, a faith healer who maintains a positive outlook in life despite her poverty. But that was until she found herself in a moral dilemma after accidentally finding a bag containing P5 million in cash that could bring an end to her family’s problems. [hit the jump to continue]

"Nikita" to be screened at the UPV Cinematheque

Cinema Exmundo and the UPV Cinematheque presents a screening of the classic action thriller "Nikita" directed by French director Luc Besson (The Professional, Fifth Element), this coming September 8, 2014 Monday at 6:00 PM at the UPV Cinematheque, U.P Visayas, Iloilo City Campus, Infante Ave., Iloilo City. The event will be RSVP to confirm your seats, so visit their facebook page first [CLICK HERE to go to the page] if you intend to go and watch it. [hit the jump to continue]

Disney's Frozen world returns for Disney Short: Frozen Fever

Disney Animation's 2013 smash hit was Frozen which definitely caused a phenomenon. Fans will soon be thrilled to catch up with Anna, Elsa, Krista and Olaf, because they are returning for "Frozen Fever" which is going to be a new Disney short, which we can expect in 2015. [hit the jump to continue]

A Tiyanak Remake is on the works. Simply titled: T'yanak

The original 1988 Tiyanak, which was directed by Peque Gallage and Lore Reyes, was one of the most unforgettable horror movies, and the Tiyanak itself became one of the most iconic movie monsters in Philippine cinema. Now, Peque and Lore will bring back the Tiyanak to terrorize a new generation of audiences with a new movie entitled: T'yanak. Shooting has just begun last Tuesday. [hit the jump to continue]

Dwayne Johnson is the villain Black Adam, for DC's Shazam

It's official; Dwayne Johnson will play the villain Black Adam for the upcoming DC movie Shazam. A month ago, Johnson announced that he was going to be part of the movie, but had not revealed whether he'd be playing the hero or the villain. Now, we get to see Johnson play the big mean villain. [hit the jump to continue]

Are Aquaman and Wonder Woman Up for a Movie?

We all know that Warner Bros and DC are trying to shape up and and create their own DC Cinematic Universe. The upcoming movie Batman V Superman intends to plant the seeds of this project and will surely continue on with a handful of movies that plan to give Marvel's Cinematic Universe, a worthy competition. Now, it looks like Wonder Woman and Aquaman are up for their own movie. It seems that Warner Bros has recently revealed their plans for its DC Cinematic Universe, by acquiring ang registering website URLS for a Justice League film, a Shazam movie (both movies we already know of), a Wonder Woman movie and an Aquaman movie. This is proof enough of what DC/WB has got planned.[hit the jump to continue]

Language Festival at the FDCP Cinematheque this Week

The Film Development Council of the Philippines, the West Visayas State University, Center for Foreign Languages in collaboration with Alliance Francais de Manille, Goethe Institut, Japan Foundation, Peoples Republic of China Embassy in Cebu, Korean Cultural Center, Spanish Embassy in Manila and the FDCP Cinematheque Iloilo present the Language Festival 2014 from September 2 to 7, 2014. 13 films from 6 countries France, Germany, Korea, Spain, Japan and China will be screened this week. The FDCP Cinematheque is located at B&C Square Bldg., Iznart-Solis Street (near BPI Iznart), Iloilo City. Admission is Free. [hit the jump to continue]

Filipino Actor Mark Gil Passes Away at 52

Filipino actor Mark Gil passed away at September 1, 2014 Monday. Gil died of liver cirrhosis. Raphael Joseph De Mesa Eigenmann in real life, the late actor would have been 53 years old this September 25.

Gil is best known for being in films like the 1982 classic by Mike De Leon "Batch 81", he also starred in "Zuma", "Afuang: Bounty Hunter", "Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum", "Ngayon at Kailanman", "Magnifico", and numerous other roles over the years.

He is the son of actors Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil, brother of actors Michael De Mesa and Cherie Gil. He is the father of singer/actor Gabby Eigenmann and Ira Eigenmann from actress Irene Celebre. He is also the father of Tim "Sid Lucero" Eigenmann and Maxene "Max" Eigenmann from actress Bing Pimentel, and of Andi Eigenmann from another actress, Jaclyn Jose. He has been married since 1996 to Maricar Jacinto-Eigenmann.