Ma' Rosa Gets July 6 Release Date

The award-winning film "Ma' Rosa" finally gets a scheduled Philippine release date which is to be set on July 6, 2016. It was originally set to be released as an entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival in December. [hit the jump to continue]

"Taklub" is the Philippines' entry to the Cannes Film Festival

Brillante Mendoza and Nora Aunor are once again taking the Philippine banner to the Cannes Film Festival this year. [hit the jump to continue]

Brillante Mendoza and Nora Aunor filming a Yolanda Typhoon Movie entitled "Taklub"

The Nora Aunor and Brillante Mendoza team-up proved to be a great blend with the movie "Thy Womb". Now both superstar actress and award-winning director are once again working on a new movie entitled "Taklub" which is about the tragedies caused by super typhoon Yolanda when it hit several Philippine provinces last year.

"Taklub" will chronicle what has transpired on Tacloban, including several other provinces affected during the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda (Hai Yan). The title of the film --"Taklub" may refer to the name of the place, Tacloban. I also connotes 'takluban' (to cover, to be covered in) [hit the jump to continue]

"Thy Womb" to be shown this week

As far as international awards go, and international reputation, Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza stands as the current reigning master auteur. Among many other awards and achievements, he won the award for Best Director for his film “Kinatay” at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival. One of his multi-awarded films "Thy Womb" is set to be screened this coming week (only from May 13, 2014 to May 18, 2014), at the FDCP Cinematheque, B & C Building, Solis Street, Iloilo City. [hit the jump to continue]

Lav Diaz & Brillante Mendoza included in the Venice Film Fest's "Venezia 70 - Future Reloaded"

The 70th anniversary of the Venice International Film Festival will be held in Italy this Aug. 28, 2013 to Sept. 7, 2013. Filipino filmmakers Brillante Mendoza (Kinatay, Serbis, Lola) and Lav Diaz (Batang West Side, Melancholia) are set to join in on the Festival's “Venezia 70 - Future Reloaded” program which features 70 Directors and their short films. Lav Diaz's short film “The Firefly” (which runs 83 seconds short) and Brillante Mendoza's short "Kamera" (which runs 90 seconds) are included in the "Venezia 70"
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Brillante Mendoza delves into Horror Genre with "SAPI"

Brillante Mendoza, one of the Philippine's most respected and internationally-prestigious filmmakers, delves into the genre of horror with his new movie "SAPI"

The film's first trailer has been released [see the trailer after the paragraph] As part of pre-production, Direk Brillante conducted research on various sectors of society regarding this phenomenon. Meryll Soriano, Dennis Trillo and Baron Geisler are among the cast that star in the film. The film is currently in post-productions phase. No release date or other release details have been announced as of yet. The Synopsis for the movie has been posted in the movie's official website: sapithemovie.com [full article after the jump]

GMA Network and Brillante Mendoza's CAMERA JUAN Project

The GMA Network launches an interactive movie project series with renowned Filipino filmmaker and Cannes award-winning director Brillante Mendoza, entitled CAMERA JUAN. This project will involve video submissions from just about anyone who is willing to participate, and is designed, not only to let us view real life settings and events, but is designed to bring into the public's consciousness national issues that need to be addressed.
[READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW]

CAPTIVE brings the Dos Palmas Kidnapping Story to the Silver Screen

CAPTIVE BRINGS THE DOS PALMAS KIDNAPPING STORY TO THE SILVER SCREEN
by Reymundo Salao

One of the grim (and embarrassing) episodes of our nation's recent history is when in May 2001, the terrorist bandit group the Abu Sayyaf abducted several hostages from the upscale Dos Palmas resort on Palawan island, and taken by speedboat to southern Basilan island. Among the kidnapped group were American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham, which prompted the rescue missions to be aided by American forces. That story is now being brought to the silver screen by director Brillante Mendoza in a movie entitled "Captive"

The movie has altered the names of the actual persons involved in the real life event, and possibly altered the story itself. Its cast includes French actress Isabelle Huppert as  the main character Thérèse Bourgoine (which is probably the character that represents Gracia Burnham), Angel Aquino, Mercedes Cabral, Joel Torre, Maria Isabel Lopez, Sid Lucero, Raymond Bagatsing, Mon Confiado, Baron Geisler, and Ronnie Lazaro which is cast as a character that obviously represents Abu Sabaya (leader of the kidnappers).

Auraeus Solito's 'Busong' is going to Cannes

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."