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]

Erik Matti's ON THE JOB is Jury's Choice in Korean Filmfest

Filipino Cinema has once again scored a success, this time at the 17th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival in South Korea last week, with Erik Matti’s indie movie “On the Job” which won the Jury’s Choice; while lead star Joel Torre, won Best Actor. “On the Job” was also an entry in the Directors’ Fortnight of this year’s Cannes fest in France last May.

ON THE JOB is scheduled to have a commercial release in local cinemas on Aug. 28. No information as of yet if the movie is scheduled to reach Iloilo theaters.

Cinemalaya 2013 will be July 26 to August 4, 2013

On its ninth year, the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival will once again grace the silver screens, at least in Metro Manila anyway. Cinemalaya 2013 will be held this July 26 to August 4, 2013 at the Greenbelt, Trinoma, and the Alabang Town Center Cinemas.

A total of 122 entries were submitted for the New Breed category but they were trimmed down to ten finalists. For the Directors Showcase category, 18 scripts were submitted but only five entries will compete in this year’s film festival. The selected finalists in the New Breed and Directors Showcase categories each received a seed grant of P500,000 to finance the production of their films.

[check out the list of entries and other details over at cinemalaya.org]

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

Farewell, Eddie Romero

A National Artist Passes Away
National Artist for Film Eddie Romero passed away at 9 p.m. Tuesday May 28, 2013, according to son and fellow director Joey Romero. Eddie was 88. He directed such acclaimed films as “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon,” “Aguila,” “Banta ng Kahapon,” "Noli Me Tangere" and “Kamakalawa.”

In a phone interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the young Romero said that the veteran director “fell into a coma. The doctor told us that he has a blood clot in the right side of the brain,” said the younger Romero.He had been in and out of the hospital for the past few weeks. He was first confined from May 18 to 19 and returned to the hospital on May 23 because of “health complications.”

“He died peacefully,” said the younger Romero. “Last time we talked, he said he wanted to go home.”
His son said the family were planning to hold the wake at Arlington Memorial Chapels on Araneta Avenue in Quezon City.

source: INQUIRER

Farewell, Bella Flores

Showbiz's queen villainess Bella Flores died at 84
Bella Flores, the iconic actress known for her villainess roles in movies and in television, died at 1:27 a.m., May 19. She was 84. Flores, whose real name is Remedios Papa Dancel, was declared dead at the Quezon City General Hospital where she was rushed after she complained that she couldn't breathe.

Imelda Papin, a friend of the actress, said that when they rushed Flores to the hospital, the latter was still breathing. Papin said doctors tried but failed to revive Flores three times. Papin said that Flores' daughter Ruby Arcilla called her up to say that her mother's blood pressure had gone down. It was at that point that they rushed the veteran actress to the hospital, but to no avail.

Flores' first movie was Balaraw which was shown in 1950. Her first big break was with Sampaguita Pictures, who gave her a four-year contract and a role in the move Roberta (1951). In the movie, she played the role of a cruel stepmother to then child actors Tessie Agana and Boy Alano. That role set the path and typecasted Flores as villainess in almost all projects she would undertook later on.

Animation Fest at the Cinematheque this Week

THIS WEEK at the Cinematheque Iloilo, Filipino Animated movies will be showcased in their GRAND ANIMATION FEST which runs APRIL 24 to MAY 2, 2013. The Features will include...

1. URDUJA (2008)
Urduja is a 2008 animated film adaptation of the legend of the warrior princess Urduja of Pangasinan. It is the first of two locally produced animated films. Voices of Regine Velasquez, Cesar Montano, Eddie Garcia, Michael V. and Jay Manalo.

2. KAPITAN TORPE (2011)
Kapitan Torpe is the code name of a reluctant superhero who fights crime and helps the oppressed. He is very unlike his alter ego, Manuel, a production assistant working under a dictatorial director whose only reason for not quitting his job is because he is in love with Mikki, the director’s assistant. As he is thrust deeper and deeper into the world of crime fighting, Miguel realizes that it is easier to be brave in the face of oppression than it is in the face of true love.
[READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE, CLICK HERE]

Pinoy horror movie The Road will haunt the US (starting today)

THE ROAD was one of the best Pinoy mainstream horror movies to come out of 2011. Well, actually, its one of the best Pinoy mainstream movies to come out in a long time. So much so that it received flattering reviews from probably any critic who have seen it. It even caught the attention of the New York Times [click here to see that New York Times review].
[Click here to see OUR review of the movie]

THE ROAD caught the eye of a midsize American film distributor: Freestyle Releasing, which is based in Los Angeles. Today, (May 11 in the US) THE ROAD will be shown in more than 50 theaters across North America. It will be released simultaneously on DVD and via the iTunes Store, Amazon.com and Netflix.

GMA Films president Annette Gozon-Abrogar said at a news conference in Manila announcing the film's US release:
“As far as we know, this is the first Filipino film to be commercially distributed in the United States. This will be distributed like a Hollywood-produced movie.”

Apart from the U.S., THE ROAD will also be shown in selected theaters in Singapore beginning May 15. Talks between GMA Films and other film releasing companies are also underway for possible distribution of the film in other countries.

THE ROAD was directed by one of the very few really good directors working in the Pinoy mainstream movie industry, Yam Laranas. Laranas directed Radyo, Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon, and Sigaw, which had a Hollywood remake entitled THE ECHO.