‘Manila’ is opening film of 2009 Cinemalaya film Festival
“Manila” directed by prize-winning directors Adolf B. Alix Jr. and Raya Martin, will open the 2009 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition on July 17, 7:30 p.m. at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater).
This will be the film’s Philippine premiere after it’s successful screenings in the 62nd Festival de Cannes and the 31st Moscow International Film Festival. Piolo Pascual co-produced and stars in this film which pays tribute to great Filipino directors Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal.
The film features Pascual in two different roles. In the first episode, he plays William, a drug addict, who tries to reconnect his ties with people close to him – a fair-weathered girlfriend, an unforgiving mother who has a secret past, and a comatosed matron lover he wants nothing to do with. Slowly, as night falls, he learns that there is no one left to trust, not evenb his own self, in the second part, he essays the role of Philip who works as a bodyguard for the mayor’s son. He thinks his boss considers him family but after a shooting incident discovers his real worth to his boss. As he struggles to hide, he is slowly being consumed by the claws of darkness lurking in the city. In between the two episodes, Lav Diaz shoots a romantic film.
“Manila” boasts of a powerful cast— a mix of some of the country’s best actors including Rosanna Roces, Jay Manalo, Alessandra de Rossi, Baron Geisler, Iza Calzado, Angelica Panganiban, Jiro Manio, William Martinez, Anita Linda, Marissa Delgado, Menggie Cobarrubias, John Lapus, Katherine Luna, Aleck Bovick and Jon Avila. The film’s screenplay was written by Ramon Sarmiento and Alix, who opened last year’s Cinemalaya with “Adela”. Alix’s first film, “Donsol”, and “Kadin” were both past Cinemalaya finalists. Raya Martin, whose other film “Independencia” was also screened in this year’s Cannes Film Festival, is also honored as one of the 13 Artists of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
The Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition, now on its fifth year and billed Cinemalaya Cinco, will unveil 20 new digital films that will compete from July 17-26 at the CCP. Competing in the full “24K” by Ana Agabon, “Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe” by Alvin B. Yapan; “Astig” by GB Sampedro; “Colorum” by Jon Steffan Ballesteros; “Dinig Sana Kita” by Mike E. Sandejas; “Engkwentro” by Pepe Diokno; “Last Supper No. 3” by Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel; “Mangatyanan” by Jerrold Tarog; “Nerseri” by Vic Acedillo, Jr. and “Sanglaan” by Milo Sogueco. Competing in the short film category are: “Behind Closed Doors” by Mark Philipp Espina, “Blogog” by Rommel “Milo” Tolentino, “Bonsai” by Alfonso “Borgy” K. Torre III, “Hulagpos” by Maita Lirra Lupac, “Latus” by John Paul S. Seniel, “Musa” by Dexter B. Cayanes, “Si Bok at ang Trumpo” by Hubert Tibi, “Tatang” by Jean Paolo “Nico” Hernandez, “Ugat sa Lupa” by Ariel Reyes and “Wat Floor Ma’am” by Mike Sandejas and Robert Sena.—O
Tempo, July 8, page 11.
This will be the film’s Philippine premiere after it’s successful screenings in the 62nd Festival de Cannes and the 31st Moscow International Film Festival. Piolo Pascual co-produced and stars in this film which pays tribute to great Filipino directors Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal.
The film features Pascual in two different roles. In the first episode, he plays William, a drug addict, who tries to reconnect his ties with people close to him – a fair-weathered girlfriend, an unforgiving mother who has a secret past, and a comatosed matron lover he wants nothing to do with. Slowly, as night falls, he learns that there is no one left to trust, not evenb his own self, in the second part, he essays the role of Philip who works as a bodyguard for the mayor’s son. He thinks his boss considers him family but after a shooting incident discovers his real worth to his boss. As he struggles to hide, he is slowly being consumed by the claws of darkness lurking in the city. In between the two episodes, Lav Diaz shoots a romantic film.
“Manila” boasts of a powerful cast— a mix of some of the country’s best actors including Rosanna Roces, Jay Manalo, Alessandra de Rossi, Baron Geisler, Iza Calzado, Angelica Panganiban, Jiro Manio, William Martinez, Anita Linda, Marissa Delgado, Menggie Cobarrubias, John Lapus, Katherine Luna, Aleck Bovick and Jon Avila. The film’s screenplay was written by Ramon Sarmiento and Alix, who opened last year’s Cinemalaya with “Adela”. Alix’s first film, “Donsol”, and “Kadin” were both past Cinemalaya finalists. Raya Martin, whose other film “Independencia” was also screened in this year’s Cannes Film Festival, is also honored as one of the 13 Artists of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
The Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition, now on its fifth year and billed Cinemalaya Cinco, will unveil 20 new digital films that will compete from July 17-26 at the CCP. Competing in the full “24K” by Ana Agabon, “Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe” by Alvin B. Yapan; “Astig” by GB Sampedro; “Colorum” by Jon Steffan Ballesteros; “Dinig Sana Kita” by Mike E. Sandejas; “Engkwentro” by Pepe Diokno; “Last Supper No. 3” by Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel; “Mangatyanan” by Jerrold Tarog; “Nerseri” by Vic Acedillo, Jr. and “Sanglaan” by Milo Sogueco. Competing in the short film category are: “Behind Closed Doors” by Mark Philipp Espina, “Blogog” by Rommel “Milo” Tolentino, “Bonsai” by Alfonso “Borgy” K. Torre III, “Hulagpos” by Maita Lirra Lupac, “Latus” by John Paul S. Seniel, “Musa” by Dexter B. Cayanes, “Si Bok at ang Trumpo” by Hubert Tibi, “Tatang” by Jean Paolo “Nico” Hernandez, “Ugat sa Lupa” by Ariel Reyes and “Wat Floor Ma’am” by Mike Sandejas and Robert Sena.—O
Tempo, July 8, page 11.
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