16 Philippine Showbiz Today
16 Philippine Showbiz Today
October 8 - 21 , 2017
5 PH films take the spotlight at the Tokyo fest
Five Filipino films will be showcased at the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival in Japan , from Oct . 25 to Nov . 3 .
Two Filipino films are competing in the Tokyo fest ’ s Asian Future section . Loy Arcenas ’ big-screen musical adaptation of Nick Joaquin ’ s “ Ang Larawan ” ( The Portrait ) will make its world premiere at the Tokyo fest as part of the Asian Future section . The fest ’ s website describes Arcenas ’ film as “ a romantic family-themed musical with brilliant singing by world-renowned stars .”
Joanna Ampil , who played
According to the site , “ Pailalim ,” which debuted at this year ’ s San Sebastián fest , is “ a story of struggle , survival and love in a place nobody could call home .” Palacio ’ s film will be having its Asian premiere at the Tokyo fest .
Another Sinag Maynila film , HF Yambao ’ s “ Kristo ,” is featured in the Crosscut Asia : What ’ s Next Southeast Asia ? program .
Mendoza is slated to give a master class on the topic , “ working with actors ,” at the fest on Oct . 26 . The Tokyo event ’ s website commends Mendoza for “ leading Filipino cinema into its ripe Third Golden Age .”
A cinematic gem from the Second Golden Age of Philippine cinema , the restored version of Mike de Leon ’ s 1980 musical-comedy “ Kakabakaba Ka Ba ?” ( Will Your Heart Beat Faster ?), will be shown in the Discovering Asian Cinema program of the Crosscut Asia section .
The president of this year ’ s main competition jury is Oscar-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones . A special retrospective on the works of Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh will also be mounted this year . ●
Kim in the West End production of “ Miss Saigon ,” topbills “ Ang Larawan ,” along with Rachel Alejandro and Paulo Avelino .
Making its international premiere in the Asian Future section is Arnel Arbi Barbarona ’ s “ Tu Pug Imatuy ” ( The Right to Kill ). The Tokyo fest ’ s website calls Barbarona ’ s film “ a tense , multi-awardwinning ” work .
“ Tu Pug Imatuy ” won best picture at this year ’ s Sinag Maynila Film Festival , which is spearheaded by Cannes-winning Filipino director Brillante Ma Mendoza .
Daniel Palacio ’ s “ Pailalim ” ( Underground ), which is produced by Mendoza , is included in the World Focus section . The Tokyo fest ’ s website sums up Palacio ’ s film as “ a family drama that bridges the gap between the living and the dead .”
Filipino-American filmmaker Dean Devlin ( writer / producer , “ Independence Day ”) makes his feature film directorial debut with Warner Bros . Pictures ’ upcoming thriller “ Geostorm .”
In the film , after an unprecedented series of natural disasters threatened the planet , the world ’ s leaders came together to create an intricate network of satellites to control the global climate and keep everyone safe . But now , something has gone wrong – the system built to protect the Earth is attacking
Yambao ’ s movie centers on the struggles of a cockfight bet collector who moonlights as a market vendor . The Crosscut Asia section includes films chosen by different screen luminaries from the region and Mendoza recommended “ Kristo ” to the fest .
Fil-Am Dean Devlin makes directorial debut via Geostorm it , and it ’ s a race against the clock to uncover the real threat before a worldwide geostorm wipes out everything ... and everyone along with it .
“ Geostorm ” stars Gerard Butler , Jim Sturgess , Abbie Cornish , Alexandra Maria Lara , Daniel Wu , Eugenio Derbez , with Oscar nominees Ed Harris and Andy Garcia .
Devlin reveals that the idea for the story originated when his daughter , then six , asked him to explain climate change . “ In the simplest way , she asked me , ‘ Why can ’ t we just build a machine that fixes it ?’
As the story unfolds in the film , two years have passed since the complex web of interconnected satellites – dubbed Dutch Boy – went online . The years have been tranquil ones , until now . “ For me , entertainment should be just that – entertaining – and not necessarily hit you over the head with a message ,” Devlin observes .
” We ’ ll take audiences on a roller coaster ride across the planet and off into space , and leave them having had a fantastic time . ” ● - Malaya