Pinoy Indie Film BABAGWA to compete in Canada, Hawaii, and Poland

The indie film BABAGWA was an entry in this year’s Cinemalaya New Breed section. It is all set to go international, vying for film festivals in Canada, Hawaii, and Poland. On September 28 to October 4, 2013, it will be at the Dragons & Tigers Award for Young Cinema at the Vancouver International Film Festival. It will also be competing in the 29th Warsaw International Film Festival in October 11 to October 20, 2013. And finally, it will also be competing for the Halekulani Golden Orchid for Best Narrative award at the Hawaii fest on October 13 to October 23, 2013. BABAGWA is written and directed by Jason Paul Laxamana, and stars Alex Vincent Medina, Joey Paras, Alma Concepcion, Kiko Matos, Nico Antonio, Chanel Latorre, Marx Topacio, Raqs Regalado, Garry Lim, Sunshine Teodoro. BABAGWA is about an Internet scammer who falls in love with a wealthy old maid while trying to swindle her using a fake Facebook profile.

Sharon Cuneta is looking for a Screenplay

Inquirer reports that Megastar Sharon Cuneta is inviting independent filmmakers to submit screenplays for an indie movie. She was not looking for a vanity project, she clarified, but merely asking filmmakers, “What type of movie do you see me in?” From the tone of the report, it seems that Sharon is trying to tap the indie population, or at least those probably not connected with the mainstream film companies. It should be remembered that Sharon has indeed supported the indie scene in many instances, and I wouldn't be surprised if she cracked at pushing the indie scene again into the limelight.
Screenplays may be e-mailed to: megascripts2013@gmail.com

source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Graceland is Now Showing in Selected US Cities

SYOWING OVERSEAS: GRACELAND

After screenings in Miami, Los Angeles, San Diego, New York and Austin theaters, Filipino-American Ron Morales’ second film, “Graceland,” is showing in other US key cities. It will be shown at the Magic Lantern Theater in Spokane, Washington from May 9 to May 16, at ; and from May 17 to 23, at Grand Illusion in Seattle, Washington.

It follows a driver (Arnold Reyes) out to save his daughter (Ella Guevara) from a kidnapper (Leon Miguel) out to settle old scores with the hapless driver’s boss, a corrupt politician (Menggie Cobarubbias).

[CHECK OUT THE FULL ARTICLE AT INQUIRER]

New Ilonggo Film "Pangyaw" Coming Soon

Ronny Poblacion, the director of the Ilonggo indie film "Beadworks" has recently revealed in his facebook page posters and minor details for his new movie entitled "Pangyaw"

"PANGYAW" is a romantic comedy, culture and historical Ilonggo film by Ronny Poblacion, partly shot in Hongkong. The film was shot in various locations which included Morisson Hill, Wanchai where Marcela Agoncillo had sewn the Philippine Flag. "Pangyaw" is for international release with the participation of OFW and the Philippine consulate. The official release date is yet to be announced.

New Ilonggo Film entitled "Iskerda" being developed

TM Malones and Independent Film Production Group Dark Media Creations, the group responsible for the indie short film SALVI and the music video for the Diet of Wormz song 'Apocalypse' has recently announced that their next project will be an Ilonggo feature film entitled "ISKERDA"

Not much has been revealed about the details of what the storyline is all about, but the group has recently been holding auditions for the upcoming project. This is certainly something for the Iloilo film scene to look forward to. Syowing will be watching over the progress of this project.
[look for Iskerda on their facebook page HERE]

A Scandal in CineMalaya & How the Indie Film Industry is being Corrupted

by Reymundo Salao

Controversy is burning up in the Indie Film Scene when Cinemalaya Festival’s Monitoring Head Robbie Tan disqualified the film entry “MNL 143” from the list of the 8th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival New Breed category finalists, after the film’s director Emerson Reyes did not heed the advice of Tan with regards to the casting of the movie.

Reyes wanted to cast Allan Paule and Joy Viado on the lead role for the movie; on the other hand, Robbie Tan allegedly wanted Reyes to cast semi-retired actors Victor Neri and Francine Prieto instead. Reyes and his producer Abrogena stood their ground and did not compromise, reckoning that the material was written specifically for both Paule and Viado, and that it was part of his vision as the filmmaker. [CLICK HERE READ THE FULL ARTICLE BY RICK GALLARDO]

You may be familiar of who Robbie Tan is; he is the owner of Seiko Films, a film production company which has produced a gazillion awful movies that have contributed to the reason why Pinoy movies are generally regarded as “buki”, “bakya” or simply; lousy.

This kind of sh1t always happens when dealing with local mainstream TV and movie producers. It doesn’t matter if you are Martin Scorsese, as long as you are working with a producer of a Tagalog mainstream TV and movie production, your movie will be just as awful as a metaphorical rugby for an unhealthy masa audience.