international film festival - southbay pavilion · pdf filesweeney mae, marketing direct of...
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August 30, 2107 - Carson, CALI – The Los Angeles Philippine International Film Festival (LAPIFF)selection committee announced the ten (out of the 500+ submissions) narrative films selected tocompete in the film fest to be held on October 26-29 at SouthBay Pavilion Cinemark located at20700 Avalon Blvd., Carson CA 90746.
The ten films are: Area, Birdshot, Dagsin, EJK, Imbisibol, Laut, Seklusyon, Sakaling HindiMakarating, Of Sinners and Saints, and The Sun Behind You.
Pamela Reyes, producer of Birdshot, which won the Critic’s choice award in the recently concludedPistang Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) in Manila, said that she is glad that Filipino Americans in LosAngeles will be able to view Birdshot.
“We are very proud of our film. It has also an environment angle giving attention to theendangered Philippine eagle,” Reyes said. Birdshot, directed by Mikhail Red won in the Tokyo FilmFestival.
Area, starring AiAi delas Alas is directed by Louie Ignacio and produced by Baby GO.Seklusyon,a horror tale directed by Erik Matti and produced by Dondon Monteverde won sixawards in the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival.
The 10 short films chosen are: Back to One, Chapter X, Diliman, Instaland, Last Farewell, N.O.V.I.S,Sequins, Sins of Wasteland, Supot and RELEVE.
The three documentary films selected are: The Apology, Do You Remember the Philippines and WEWill Never play in Manila Again.
Abe Pagtama, chairman and founder of LAPIFF revealed that a special screening of short filmsmade by members of the FIlAm Creative’s Talent Network will be shown in the opening night.
Sweeney Mae, marketing direct of SouthBay Pavilion said htat the mall is proud to sponsor theinternational film festival on its second year.
For more information on how you can advertise and/or sponsor LAPIFF, visit www.lapiff.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
BIRDSHOT, AREA, SEKLUSYON IN THE 2017 L.A. PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
All films announced the first LAPIFF Press Conference
PR CONTACT:Fe Koons
Cell: 310-849-3509
SPECIAL THANKS TO: www.southbaypavilion.comwww.SuzetteSkincare.comwww.ShaleOakWinery.com
www.Chillhound.comPinoy Food Republic
Photos above by Ren Arrieta
For more information on the Board Directors and Selection
Committee visit www.lapiff.org
BIRDSHOT, Directed by Mikhail Red, TRT: 1hr 56min, 116minutes, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, PhilippinesTRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k8h_X3GjgMDiego Mariano (Ku Aquino) is the caretaker of the land surroundinga sanctuary; he is the father of 14-year-old Maya (Mary JoyApostol), whose mother died from childbirth. Maya wants toexplore the land beyond the family's isolated shack. Diego wantsher daughter to be self-sufficient, thus teaches her to fire a gun.After failing her first shooting lessons, Maya wanders of to theforest sanctuary with her father's rifle and accidentally kills aPhilippine eagle, an endangered animal.
Meanwhile, newly-recruited police officer Domingo goes to thearea to investigate the mysterious disappearance of farmers enroute to Manila on a bus, but was ordered to stop what he wasdoing. Domingo's partner Mendoza (John Arcilla) and theircommander Dela Paz (Dido dela Paz) believes that Domingo shouldfocus on finding the killer of the Philippine eagle instead.
Red and his cousin began writing the script in 2014[2]. ProducerPamela L. Reyes submitted it to the Doha Film Institute which inearly 2015 granted production funding for the film. After winningthe CJ Entertainment Award at Busan Film Festival's Asian ProjectMarket, other investors granted funding including TBA Studios. Thefilm project was selected at the Festival des 3 Continents' Produireau Sud workshop to improve Birdshot and its screenplay. Birdshot'sPelikulaRED studio (owner by Pamela L. Reyes and Mikhail Red)managed to co-produce the film with Tuko Film Productions andBuchi Boy Productions.[3]
The total budget of the film was ₱14 million.[2] Red was inspired by a shooting incident in 2008, where a three-year-oldPhilippine eagle was shot by a Bukidnon farmer in Mount Kitanglad who cooked the killed bird afterwards. Principalphotography lasted for 23 days.[4] Scenes were shot in the provinces of Isabella[2] and Rizal as well as the Philippine EagleSanctuary in Davao City.[3]
The color red is a prominent element in the film which signifies an important scene or pertinent detail that the audience isrequired to pay closer attention to.[4]
Birdshot was first screened at film festivals outside the Philippines before it was screened in the country. The film made its debut at the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival and was screened in 14 other film festivals before it made its local debut at the 13th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival August of the following year.[2]The film was also screened as one of the twelve official entries at the 2017 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
Film critic Richard Kuipers praised Birdshot in a review published in Variety describing the film as a "gripping combination ofpolice procedural and coming-of-age drama". He paralleled the film's commentary to the 2009 Maguindanao massacre and remarked on Apostol's performance in particular as "impressive". Additional praise was also given by Kuiper to Teresa Barrozo's"haunting soundscapes".[1]
The film won Best Picture in the Asian Future category at the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival and was selected for theIngmar Bergman International Debut Award at the Goteborg Film Festival.[5]
Birdshot is a 2016 Philippine thriller film directed by Mikhail Red, Produced by Pamela L. Reyes, and was co-produced by PelikulaRED, Tuko Film Productions, and Buchi Boy Productions.Music composed by: Teresa BarrozoProducer: Pamela L. ReyesCinematography: Mycko DavidCast: John Arcilla, Arnold Reyes, Mary Joy Apostol, Manuel AquinoScreenplay: Mikhail Red, Rae Rae
AREA, Directed by Louie Ignacio 1 hr 50 min • Drama, 2016,PhilippinesTRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSyxMe4M2EYStars: Ai-Ai de las Alas, Allen Dizon, Sue PradoA story of prostitution set in a regular community in Angeles City.
A short distance from the city’s red-light district is Area, aneighborhood of brothels where over-the-hill sex workers can be hadfor a can of sardines or even on credit. During its heyday, Area had upto 700 brothels servicing thousands of low-income men, hormonallyactive boys and society misfits--all taking advantage of the bargainprice of sex available only at Area. One of the last remaining brothelsis operated by Ben, whose family of former pimps and subversivesdepends on the brothel for survival.Hillary, one of the sex workers, keeps her life-savings to fulfill adream to travel to the United States to find a son she said she lostduring the panic caused by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. Herskeptical co-workers bully her by dumping on her all the clients theyreject, including a freak and a penniless old man who pays withstolen appliances.Hillary’s world collapses when her money is stolen and Ben refuses tofile charges, because the suspect is a village watchman whom Bencannot afford to displease.The story happens during the Holy Week, when the residents of Areaperform rituals of penitence to wash away their sins and be ready foranother year of business as usual.
IMBISIBOL, Directed by Lawerence Fajardo, 2hr 12min, Drama, (2015) PhilippinesTRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMzlSLYMHBAStars: Allen Dizon, Ces Quesada, Bernardo Bernardo
Imbisibol tells the tale of illegal Filipino immigrants in Japan and their plight to evade authorities.
SEKLUSYON | Directed by Erik Matti 1 hr 26 min • Horror, Thriller 2016 (Philippines)TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw5kUvIDePcStars: Rhed Bustamante, Neil Ryan Sese, Ronnie Alonte
In 1947 those aspiring to be priest, are sent to a remote convent to livein seclusion (Seklusyon) on the last day of their training. The purpose isto shield them from evil of the world. The plot thickens when amysterious young girl comes to the convent but the question iswhether she is really sent by God or by the Evil. This is the challengeawaits the candidates.
Seven days before ordination, four deacons enter a ritual house ofseclusion to escape worldly desires but things go awry when evil seepsin through the cracks disguised as an innocent child.
It is said that the last seven days before ordination is the mostdangerous for deacons. The devil will haunt and tempt them out ofpriesthood so the church sends them into a strict house of seclusionwhere they will be kept safe and far from worldly desires. But when alittle girl reputed to be a 'messenger of God' and a nun, serving as herguardian enters, rules of the house are broken one by one as eachdeacon faces their demons in a battle to guard their faith
It stars Rhed Bustamante, Neil Ryan Sese, Ronnie Alonte, Lou Veloso, Phoebe Walker, Dominic Roque, Elora Españo, John Vic DeGuzman, JR Versales, Jerry O'Hara, Sherry Lara and Teroy Guzman. It is an official entry to the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival,where it won 9 categories, including "Best Director" award for Erik Matti.The film is Erik Matti's third MMFF entry in recent years after his 2014 film Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2, and 2015 film HonorThy Father which was the subject of controversy that year when it was disqualified from the "Best Picture" category of thefestival's award.[5]
LAUT | Directed by Louie Ignacio | 1hr 23min | Drama | 2016(Philippines)TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD73NZ15WV8Starring Barbie Forteza, Ronwaldo Martin, Felixia Crysten Dizon, GabbiGarcia, Jak Roberto,
A sea gypsies from Zamboanga who are now living in Mabalacat,Pampanga, Nadia of the group called Sama d'Laut. She hopes to marry theman she loves but was forced to leave when things got really difficult forher home province.She ends up in Mabalacat where she is forced to live anew life.
Sakaling Hindi Makarating | a film by Ice Idanan 1h 30min | Adventure, Drama, Romance | 2017 (Philippines)TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTOom8G8zDoStars: Alessandra de Rossi, Therese Malvar, Pepe Herrera
A series of mysterious hand-illustrated postcards take a young woman on a journey throughout the Philippines in search of its anonymous writer.
Of Sinners and Saints; Directed by Ruben Maria Soriquez 1h 43min | Drama, Thriller | (Philippines)TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUojy-co4pMOf Sinners and Saints is a Philippine thriller film co-written and directedby Filipino Italian filmmaker Ruben Maria Soriquez on his directorialdebut. The film stars: Raymond Bagatsing, Lanie Martin Gumarang,Chantel Latorre, Sue Prado, Althea Vega, Geraldine Tan, Ruben MariaSoriquez, Richard Quan, Polo Ravales
Leonardo Rossellini is an Italian priest from Rome, assigned to a parishin Payatas, a poor area of Metromanila, Philippines. Leonardo's missionis to counsel battered women and teach poor children. But soon hispeace of mind is distraught by the encounter of a woman he used tolove when he was still a seminarian. This young woman, Merlinda, isnow married to a violent man. She also has a 6 years old child who ismissing. Leonardo decides to help her find her son
The film (which is technically an Italy-Philippine co-production) was theItalian entry to the 19th Cine Europa, the biggest European Film Festivaloutside Europe
The film was originally released on June 27, 2015 as an entry at the2015 World Premieres Film Festival. It has been released commerciallyfrom April 28 to May 4, 2017 under Cine Lokal, a joint project of SMCinemas and Cine Lokal of FDCP, meant to give more exposure toindependent Philippine films that won awards abroad
The Sun Behind You | Directed by Dominic Carlo p. Nuessa | 1 hr 30min • Drama, War, Action | 2017 | PhilippinesTRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4bxEu444TsStarring Ping Medina, Bong Cabrera, Mike Liwag. An elite team ofScout Rangers track down lawless Islamist elements in the Southerntip of the Philippines. In the middle of this conflict, two Muslimbrothers are caught up in their own Holy Wars. A young Muslimscholar, Omar, has followed his brother Jamiluddin’s footsteps intoradical Islam. Unbeknownst to him, Jamiluddin has turnedGovernment informant.
“Ang Araw sa Likod Mo (The Sun Behind You)” is a story about theheroism, redemption, and sacrifice of all sides of the conflict. FromMilitary to refugee camp, a 4-decade old war is brought to light andcasts a shadow to the question of what exactly we are fighting for,and who.
Dagsin (Gravity) | Directed by Atom Magadia 1h 59min | Drama |PhilippinesTRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE-kHyWwsR4"DAGSIN" (GRAVITY) is an indie film by Filipino Writer/Director AtomMagadia, Starring Tommy Abuel, Lotlot De Leon, Benjamin Alves, JanineGutierrez, Marita Zobel, Sue Prado and Alex Diaz. An Atom & AnneMediaworks production.
DAGSIN (Gravity) illustrates the endless cycle of war and tyranny,violence and greed, we all continue to struggle against from onegeneration to the next. It weaves through important chapters ofPhilippine History-- World War II (the American and JapaneseOccupation), and the Marcos' Martial Law years; but more than that, itis the story of one man who tried to make a difference and the love thatsaved him but threatens to destroy him in the end.
After surviving the Death March, Martial Law and the loss of his legs,Justino became an atheist. But when his wife dies, a part of him isyearning to believe in life beyond death; just for a chance to be with heragain. Searching for parts of her he can still hold on to, he devours herdiaries for information into their past --opening a Pandora's Box ofsecrets.
EJK (Extra Judicial Killing) | Directed by Rolando Sanchez 1h39min | Drama | 2016 (Philippines)TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN88UQGAbYoStarring Mon Confiado who has appeared in over 300 local filmsand more than 700 TV appearances since 1993. He won the BestSupporting Actor Award in the prestigious FAMAS (FilipinoAcademy of Movie Arts and Sciences) in 2008, equally regarded asthe Academy Award of America in the film of National Artist forFilm.
EJK is about the extra judicial killing that is happening in thePhilippines. It is a film that shows the disturbing details about drugabuse and drug trafficking that contribute mainly to manyunexplained and unabated killings in the Philippines.
“EJK” is not just about the dead bodies piling up on the street inthe Philippines but rather its a film that forces us to literallyexperience the evil of drug addiction and drug trafficking, asociety’s menace which resulted in many unexplained andunabated killings. The killings, the violence, the exploitative meansby which people are used and abused are brutally captured on thisfilm in a manner that spares nothing to unveil the atrocitiescreated by soul-less people who authored it.The story revolves around siblings BRYAN and JOSEPH RAMIREZ.After the violent death of their parents, the two struggled to liveon the street, amidst the dangerous, exploitative and almostinhuman condition. They eventually were separated by the dictateand force of painful circumstances.
Later on, Bryan became a police officer who would not hesitate to kill persons of interest who try to resist arrest . Joseph, onthe other hand, became a society’s menace who was exploited by a corrupt police officer named Rex Motabato.
The film will enable us to have a peek inside the world of drug trafficking . The sordid and fetid environment of drug victims anddealers. The drug that numb the pain of emotional, physical, mental and sexual trauma. The scenes of physical abuses andkillings is discomforting and shown in flat details that do not manipulate emotion.I’m sure that every one of us recognize the drug problem as a complex and deeply emotional issue that needs to be addressedholistically, with great understanding and compassion for both victim and perpetrator because the culture of deathdehumanizes us all. I'm sure that all of us would agree to help to care for the violated, the orphaned and the widowed in everypossible way we can.
“EJK” is not a political nor a propagandist movie. It is just a simple sibling’s story evolved into one compelling film.
Supot | directed by Phil Giordano, 13 min, 2016, PhilippinesStars John Arcilla, Mercedes Cabral, Andrei FajaritoTRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VisF1df51QQAfter refusing a ritual circumcision intended to usher him into manhood, Rene-boy (10), tries alternate methods to remove this mark of cowardice.
Director’s statement: Supot is a film about a young boy trying to impress his father. He doesn’t fare too well in the beginning- he brings shame, but this is more than a story about circumcision. It’s about rite of passage, redemption, and courageousness; courageousness to overcome fear of pain and to feel worthy of acceptance.
Many of us have had issues with our fathers growing up. It makes us who we are. Whether we seek their acceptance and are found wanting or if we always feel inferior. Supot is a story of redemption, where a boy finds his inner strength through spider fighting and standing up to his bully brother. By going through this conflict he’s able to gain the courage he lacked in the beginning. He’s able to become a man in his father’s eyes.
In provinces in the Philippines, to this day, boys around the age of 10 are circumcised. But they aren’t cut in hospitals, like in Manila, they are cut in a stream. The boys strip, jump into the water, line up, chew guava leaves, and then face the moment of truth: Will they be brave and become men or run away and be seen as cowards?
SUPOT follows Rene-boy, an introverted 10 year old who is the son of Itoy, the Mang Tutuli (performer of circumcisions). Everyone loves Itoy and he is the ultimate man’s man. Rene-boy’s brother is Kinopi, a ferocious bully, who following in his father’s footsteps as being tough and charismatic.
After Rene-boy runs away from his circumcision (he’s scared of the pain), a shadow of shame is cast on him. Which doesn’t seem like it will go away.
Rene-boy’s young mother, is tough yet tender to him. She doesn’t let him off the hook. She warns him that inevitably he will have to be cut and that he has to find courage. Based on his mothers words, and his extreme feelings of shame, Rene-boy embarks on the ultimate challenge: to prove to his father that he’s a man.
SUPOT had its World Premiere at the 21st Busan International Film Festival and will have its North American Premiere at the 2017 Florida Film Festival as well as screening at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE http://www.supotfilm.comSOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITES https://www.facebook.com/SUPOTbyPhilGiordano/
Sequins, directed by Dale Fabrigar,14 min 45 sec • Comedy, Musical,2015, USATRAILER:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi6-wg84gQsStarring Jess Amelia, Sheila Tejada,Joyce Fidler, Mariko Van Kampen,Michael Yama.Lucy, a 29-year-old Filipino-Americanwoman moves out of her childhoodhome in the lovely suburbs of Cerritosto the “mean” streets of Los Angeles.
Diliman | directed TJ Collanto | 13 min50 sec • Drama | 2017 | Denmark
Stars: Sofronia Gallanongo, AndreaColquhoun, Ramin FarahaniA Filipino family is caught in a long-winded catering delivery for their niece’swedding in London that seems to pullthem further and further from thereception itself.
SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITEhttps://www.facebook.com/dilimanshortfilm/
Sins of Wasteland | Directed PaulHalili | 21min | Short, Drama,Thriller | 2016 | USATRAILER:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wntPksoXnQStarring Mandy Gabucan, JeraldNapoles, Richard Manabat.The last remnants of humanityscavenge an apocalyptic world insearch for subsistence, security andsalvation.
Sins of the Wasteland is apsychological thriller about a younggirl's journey through a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Guided byher father's dream to restorehumanity, she sets out to find thebalance between good and evil inorder to survive.
SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITEShttps://www.facebook.com/sinsofthewasteland/
Instaland, 15 min • Directed by TimCruz, Comedy, Drama, Science Fiction,Fantasy, Adventure | USA
Stars: Kennedy Lea Slocum, EmilyBader, Tess AubertA teenage girl enters the social mediaworld of instaland and embarks on ajourney to recover a lost pictureposted by her now deceased brother.Instaland is a world where all thetropes of online / social media cultureexist in real life. Funded by the JohnTempleton Foundation exploringgratitude in a social media landscape.
Last Farewell, directed by JomzRamirez, 8 min, Drama,Romance, Action, History | 2016|PhilippinesStars: Nicole Blackman, MacMendozaSet during the Martial Law Era inthe Philippines, a young couplemust choose between the lovethat they have for each other orthe country they have pledgedtheir lives to.
Releve, Directed by Desirée V.Castro, 15 min, Short Drama |USA
Stars: Sean Cork, Szacha Dean,Mieko HillmanTRAILER:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OTbPxjCB08A ballet dancer struggles toovercome an abusiverelationship. To rise above it,she discovers she must followher passion and believe inherself.
SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITEShttp://www.facebook.com/relevefilm
N.O.VI.S, DIRECTED BY ArthurRodger "Harley" Maranan, 23min • Drama, Science Fiction |PhilippinesStars: Atul Khanna, Annika Velez,Allene De CastroThe line between dream andreality is blurred when asentiment-filled teenager inventsa device (N.O.VI.S.) that reuniteshim with the long lost love of hispast.TRAILER:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3g3rRnqrFMOFFICIAL WEBSITEhttp://www.facebook/novisfilm
Chapter X, Directed by JomzRamirez, 9 min 50 sec •Drama | 2017 | Philippines
Stars: Tads Obach, NatileighSitoyA young revolutionary writerescapes from the harshrealities of the real world onlyto be confronted with guilt bythe most unexpected personin the most unexpected place.
Back to One, Comedy, DIRECTED BY RommelAndaya, 6 min (USA)Stars: Tony Garbanzos, Michael Kuya, MariLaurenA man attempts to use his many chances to talkto the lovely, Alice Downing.
The Apology, Directed by TiffanyHsuing, 1h 44min | Documentary |2016 (Canada)TRAILER:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTtm2HIvwK4The Apology explores the lives offormer "comfort women", the morethan 200,000 girls forced into sexualslavery during World War II. Today,they fight for reconciliation and justiceas they struggle to make peace withthe past.
Do you remember the Philippines? |1 hr 22min | Documentary | 2016 (Spain)Ta acorda ba tu el Filipinas? Explores thetraces of overlapping waves of globalizationfrom the past and the present. In a multi-layered dialogue between Spain and its formerAsian colony, the Philippines, shadows offormer world empires and current post-colonial cross-hatchings emerge through thepluralism of language itself.
We will never play in Manila again. Directed by Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez, 47 minutes, Documentary (Philippines)
This CINEFILIPINO 2016 FINALIST for the DOCUMENTARY SECTION tackles about the 50th Anniversary of the infamous Beatles' concert in the Philippines in 1966.
We Will Never Play in Manila Again centers on the very same sentence uttered by a member of the rock band, The Beatles, after having a rough encounter in the country in 1966. Back then, the legendary British group was reported to have allegedly snubbed former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos' Malacañang invitation.
The makers of the documentary interviewed different people with different perspectives on the event such as concert-goers, music icons Jim Paredes, Pepe Smith, RJ Jacinto, and writer Pete Lacaba.
Another one of their interviewees is the Henyo Master himself, Joey de Leon! Watch the trailer for We Will Never Play in Manila Again below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SBkbmWaraA
