It’s time for Filipinos to represent the country on the international stage again. This time, nine local films are to participate in the prestigious Osaka Film Festival in Japan, and three are competing!
The Osaka Film Festival is an annual film festival that celebrates “excellent Asian films.” The films selected for the Competition section are those that are previously unreleased in Japan, while those presented in the regular sections, Special Screenings and Indie Forum “feature a wide variety of excellent Asian films.”
Check out the Filipino films participating in the festival from March 3 to 12, 2017:
Competition Section
Bliss by Jerrold Tarog
This horror film, directed by the same guy who directed Heneral Luna, is about an unstable woman living at home. She’s taking medications, but she’s still hearing voices in her head. Bliss stars Iza Calzado, Ian Veneracion, and TJ Trinidad.
Kita Kita by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo
Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, who directed the hits Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita and Lorna, is back with Kita Kita, a romantic comedy starring Alessandra de Rossi and Empoy. No other information can be found about the film, but some of the producers are Piolo Pascual and Bb. Joyce Bernal. Interesting.
Tisay by Borgy Torre
Borgy Torre’s Tisay deals with the underworld that is game-fixing in basketball. The film stars Nathalie Hart, JC de Vera, and Joel Torre.
Special Program
Apocalypse Child by Mario Cornejo
This surfer film by Mario Cornejo revolves around the life of Ford, the supposed love child of famed director Francis Ford Coppola, who was in the Philippines to shoot the film Apocalypse Now. Apocalypse Child was first screened at the QCinema Film Festival, where it won Circle Competition Best Picture, Best Director for Cornejo, and Best Supporting Actress for Annicka Dolonius. It was also screened at the New York Asian Film Festival and the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, where it won the Fasken Martineau Best Feature Film Award.
New Action! Southeast Asia
Baka Bukas by Samantha Lee
Baka Bukas is director Samantha Lee’s debut film, and stars Jasmine Curtis-Smith as a lesbian in love with her best friend. It premiered at last year’s Cinema One Originals, and won Audience Choice, Best Sound, and Best Actress Curtis-Smith.
Birdshot by Mikhail Red
Birdshot follows the story of a farm girl who accidentally shoots an endangered Philippine eagle. When the authorities attempt to track down the killer, they uncover a deep secret.
Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo by Mihk Vergara
Patintero tells the story of Meng Francisco, a 10 year old girl dubbed as the neighborhood patalo (loser) because of her lack of skill in patintero, a modified version of tag. She gathers a group of “fellow losers” to challenge a group of kids who have staked a claim in a sari-sari store. It was first screened at the QCinema Film Festival, where it won the Audience Choice and Gender Sensitivity Awards at the festival.
Saving Sally by Avid Liongoren
Saving Sally is a romantic comedy about a comic book artist in love with his gadget inventor best friend. What sets this film apart is its use of quirky illustrations to deliver the story. It’s a film that’s 10 years in the making, and was successfully screened at last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival. Saving Sally stars Enzo Marcos and Rhian Ramos.
Singing in Graveyards by Bradley Liew
Singing in Graveyards stars Pepe Smith as Pepe, a long-time impersonator of legendary rock musician Joey Smith. He is finally given the chance to open for the rock star’s concert, but he is asked to write a love song, something he has never done before.
Have you seen any of these movies? Share your thoughts below!
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