PHILIPPINES IN FULL FORCE AT HONGKONG FILMART ONLINE AND HAFF 2020

 

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, AUGUST 26, 2020 — Fourteen companies from the Philippines are part of the 24th Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) while four Filipino film projects are included in the 18th Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).

The virtual Hong Kong FILMART will take place from August 26 to 29 and the online HAF will be held from August 27 to 29. The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will have a Country Session webinar at the HK FILMART upon the invitation of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

The FDCP has sponsored production companies for the Philippine Pavilion in the HK FILMART to provide them opportunities to find project collaborators, seek project funding, pursue sales and distribution possibilities, and expand their network of contacts in the international film circuit. 

This year, the FDCP's Virtual Philippine Pavilion will have 11 production companies: Philippine Film Studios, Inc., Project 8 Projects,  Betsy D. Film Productions, Epicmedia Productions Inc., Atom & Anne Mediaworks Corp., Indiego Productions, CMB Films, Sisu Productions, Beginnings At Twenty Plus Inc., VY/AC Productions, and Blindwill Pictures. 

Pavilion meetings will take place on all four days of the FILMART, and these will be concluded by the FDCP’s “Let’s Create Together!” webinar on August 29. Through the live one-hour event, the FDCP will promote three FilmPhilippines incentives to international productions. These are the Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP), International Co-production Fund (ICOF), and Film Location Engagement Desk (FLEX).

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño-Seguerra will lead the “Let’s Create Together!” presentation together with the FilmPhilippines Office. The Country Session will premiere two video collaborations of the DOT and FDCP for the “Let's Create Together!” campaign. The 11 companies in the Philippine Pavilion will also be introduced during the webinar.

Department of Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones will be in attendance together with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) Assistant Director Anthony Rivera, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Danilo Lim, and League of Cities of the Philippines National President Evelio Leonardia.

Other attendees are Consorcio Olivan of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Maria Teresa Loring, Rodrigo Aguilar, and Gliceria Cademia from the DTI. Representatives from the DOT include Woodrow Maquiling, Jr., Sharlene Batin, Howard Lance Uyking, Elisa Jane Camunggol, Ernesto Teston, and Dee Mandigma. National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman and Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) President Arsenio Lizaso and NCCA National Committee on Cinema Head Rolando Tolentino are also confirmed attendees. 

The Film Academy of the Philippines will be represented by Director General Vivian Velez, Director for Business Development & Communications Ed Totanes, Director for Programs and Events Peter Serrano, and Harlene Bautista and Njel de Mesa of the Project Advisory Committee. Meanwhile, other participating companies in the HK FILMART are GMA Network, VIVA Communications, and Rocketsheep Studio. 

As for the HAF, “Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah Vs. The Amazonistas of Planet X” by Avid Liongoren and “Some Nights I Feel Like Walking” by Petersen Vargas are among the 24 fiction projects featured alongside nine documentaries. Liongoren and Vargas wil get to seek international support and cooperation for their projects at the HAF. 

Other projects in the HAF lineup are productions or co-productions from Taiwan, China, Canada, Hong Kong, Afghanistan, South Korea, Israel, Mexico, Bangladesh, Thailand, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam, Singapore, the Netherlands, and France. 

The Filipino-French project “Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah Vs. The Amazonistas of Planet X” is fresh from its success at the Open Doors Locarno where it won the Development Support Grant. The project is co-produced by Liongoren of Rocketsheep Studio and Franck Priot of Ghosts City Films in France. 

The action-comedy animated full length feature is about a shy gay hairdresser who transforms into a flamboyant female superhero after he swallows a magical space rock. In July, it won the B.I.G (BIFAN Industry Gathering) Award from the Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) Project Market of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) in South Korea.

The Philippine project “Some Nights I Feel Like Walking” by Vargas is a drama about a wealthy teenage runaway who joins street hustlers on a road trip. The street hustlers want to fulfill the final wish of their friend who passed away, which is to go home. At the 2019 Southeast Asia Fiction Film Lab (SEAFIC), the project bagged the SEAFIC Award and SEAFIC-HAF Award. “Some Nights I Feel Like Walking,” produced by Alemberg Ang and Jade Francis Castro, is under VY/AC Productions.

Two more Philippine projects made it to the HAF in the Works-in-Progress (WIP) platform that aims to help filmmakers get post-production funds, sales agents, and film festival support. These are the documentary project “Last Days at Sea” by Venice Atienza, who is also the producer alongside Wu Fan, and fiction project “The Double” by Adolf Alix, Jr. The project with elements of drama, horror, and suspense is produced by Alix, Jericho Rosales, and Kim Jones. There are 12 documentaries and 10 fictions in the WIP.

The HK FILMART and HAF were supposed to take place early this year concurrent with the 44th Hong Kong International Film Festival slated from March to April. The latter was cancelled due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, while it was decided for the HK FILMART and HAF to proceed online.

FDCP'S FULL CIRCLE LAB PHILIPPINES ANNOUNCES UPCOMING ONLINE EDITION THIS SEPTEMBER

 

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, AUGUST 24, 2020 -- Full Circle Lab Philippines, a collaboration between Film Development Council of the Philippines and Matthieu Darras, current director of Full Circle Lab and former Artistic Director of the internationally renowned Torino Film Lab will take place via an online edition. Full Circle Lab Philippines will push through with its expanded program featuring four different film labs to benefit 20 projects from the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia.

Initially scheduled for April until it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s edition of Full Circle Lab Philippine will take place from September 15 to September 30 as we celebrate the official closing of the Philippine Cinema Centennial . During this period, it will hold three film labs for projects in development across the genres of fiction, series, and animation. 16 projects will be supported through these development labs, with eight projects under fiction and four projects each under series and animation. Additionally, Full Circle Lab Philippines will hold First Cut Lab which targets feature films at the editing stage. Four projects in the editing stage will participate in this year’s edition of First Cut Lab.

The Full Circle Lab Philippines will also be featured in online masterclasses and public sessions preceding the two-week film lab through the FDCP Film Industry Conference (FIC). The Full Circle Lab joins FIC in its aim to bring together international experts and stakeholders to share and discuss the latest trends, opportunities, platforms, and cooperation that Filipino producers and filmmakers can explore for the development, production, and distribution of their projects with the intent of crossing over beyond local borders. Scheduled from September 12 to 14, FIC will feature various mentors from Full Circle Lab as they share their areas of expertise and how the international film industry is adapting to the new normal in light of the pandemic. 

Discussing the new platform and participants of FCL, FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño said, “We are proud that as a continuation of the First Cut Lab last year, the Full Circle Lab this September pursues its empowerment and development of Filipino projects and filmmakers, while also expanding the participation of Southeast Asian filmmakers as well. This is in fulfilment of our commitment to our ASEAN partners to encourage collaboration in the region among our filmmakers as supported by the government’s film commissions that would lead to stories and narratives that are proudly our region’s own and can be shared among our countries’ markets and audiences.”

“We are also grateful to the mentors of the Full Circle Lab who will be reaching a broader audience as they will participate in the FDCP Film Industry Conference masterclass and sessions so that they may share to more of our filmmakers, students, and enthusiasts the current state of the global film industry and how they envision it adapting to the new normal during and post-pandemic,” she added.

Speaking to FDCP, Full Circle Lab director Matthieu Daras discussed the program’s move to an online platform saying, “Most exciting with Full Circle Lab’s move to an online platform is the opportunity to involve a very large scope of industry advisors from different parts of the world, who would not necessarily be available in the case of a physical event. For instance, we will have the privilege to have the participation of Nashen Moodley, Sydney Film Festival director, or Mike Goodridge, artistic director of Macau FF, in the First Cut Lab for films at editing stage.”

Mentors from this year's edition of Full Circle Lab will also participate in the online edition of FDCP's Film Industry Conference.

This will be Full Circle Lab’s second year in the Philippines, where it aims to support local filmmaking talent by bringing in international film industry veterans to lead film labs meant to tap into a project’s creative potential. This year’s edition features 12 mentors across the four separate film labs. 

The mentors for the fiction lab will be script consultants Ayman El Amir and Helen Beltrame-Linne as well as producers Giovanni Pompili and Meiske Taurisia. Series lab will be led by script consultant Mmbatho Kau and producer Naomi Levari. Animation lab, by writer and script consultant Aleksandra Swierk and producer Juraj Krashonorsky. And First Cut Lab by Full Circle Lab director Matthieu Daras and editors Benjamin Mirguet, Matthieu Taponier, and Maya Maffioli. 

FDCP’S FILMPHILIPPINES AWARDS FIRST CYCLE OF APPLICATIONS TO ITS BRAND NEW FILM INCENTIVES

 

The first cycle of application of the Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP)and the International Co-production Fund (ICOF), since their launch in January 2020, leads to four awardees.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, AUGUST 21, 2020 — Four international productions, with two shot in the Philippines and another two co-produced with a Philippine company, are the first recipients of incentives from the FilmPhilippines Office (FPO) of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

Through the Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP), the Filipino line producers of “Almost Paradise” and “Survivor Russia” will receive a 20% cash rebate on their Qualified Philippine Production Expenses (QPPE). The minimum spending requirement is PHP 8 million. 

The US television/video on demand (VOD) series “Almost Paradise” is the first FLIP recipient. It wrapped up production in Mactan Island, Cebu province just before the community quarantine was imposed nationwide. Directed by awarded director/producer Dean Devlin (“Independence Day”, “Geo-Storm”, “Universal Soldier”, etc.), the action-drama on the adventures of a former US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agent who moved to the Philippines had 10 episodes that aired on WGN America. The US production under Electric Entertainment had Philippine broadcasting giant ABS-CBN Corporation as its line producer.

Even before the creation of FLIP, the Philippines is no stranger to the “Survivor” reality TV series, with several episodes and editions filmed in the Southeast Asian country’s pristine beaches. This year, “Survivor Russia” filmed 13 episodes in El Nido, Palawan province. Mastiff Russia, with Managing Director Anton Goreslavsky and General Producer Cyril Lounkevitch, partnered with Philippine Film Studios, Inc., which was involved in “Survivor Finland,” “Survivor Israel,” and “Born on the Fourth of July,” which won the Academy Awards for Best Film Editing and Best Director for Oliver Stone.

As for the select International Co-production Fund (ICOF), full length feature films can receive up to PHP 10 million. Filipino companies in a co-production agreement with international counterparts with at least PHP 5 million worth of QPPE are qualified to apply for the ICOF.

The supernatural thriller “Nocebo” by Lorcan Finnegan will get PHP 6.5 million from the ICOF. Set in Ireland and the Philippines, the film revolves around the revenge story of a Filipino helper against an Irish family. It is a co-production among Wild Swim Films from the UK, Epicmedia Productions, Inc. from the Philippines, and Lovely Productions from Ireland. Wild Swim’s filmography includes BAFTA Outstanding Debut by a British Writer winner “Under the Shadow” while Epicmedia produced the Venice Orizzonti Prize recipient “Engkwentro” by Pepe Diokno. Lovely Productions, which Finnegan set up with Steven Courtney and Brunella Cocchiglia, produced Finnegan’s “Without Name” and “Vivarium” which had a Cannes premiere.

Epicmedia is a co-producer for another ICOF recipient, “Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon (When The Waves Are Gone)” by Lav Diaz, the acclaimed Filipino auteur recognized by the Berlin, Locarno, and Venice International Film Festivals. Snowglobe from Denmark and Films Boutique from France are also producers. Diaz’s latest film, a revenge drama with locations in Lisbon, Portugal and Manila and Tagaytay in the Philippines, will receive PHP 6 million. Snowglobe produced “BezBog” which made it to Locarno and Toronto while Films Boutique produced the Academy Awards-shortlisted film, “Bird of Passage.” Diaz and Epicmedia worked together on Berlinale Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize Winner “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis (A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery).”

FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño-Seguerra is grateful for the support of international production companies that took a chance on FilmPhilippines and trusted the Filipino film and audiovisual industry. “The goal of these incentives is to open up the industry for collaboration with the rest of the world, for people to discover how talented we are, how good we are in providing service, and how the Philippines can be a global creative hub for films,” she remarked.

“We need to highlight what sets the Philippines apart from the rest of Asia: English is a second language to us. That's a significant advantage. We are also flexible when it comes to accommodating sudden changes in production. We certainly make things happen,” added Diño-Seguerra.

On top of the financial incentives provided by FLIP and ICOF, the FPO has a third incentive called Film Location Engagement Desk (FLEX), which assists local and foreign productions in all government transactions. FLEX also endorses international productions to Filipino producers and production companies that are duly registered with FDCP’s National Registry.

Among the projects that have received assistance from the FLEX incentive are “Survivor Europe” and feature film “CounterPlay.” “Survivor Europe” is produced by Banijay with local line producer Philippine Film Studios, Inc. while the action thriller “CounterPlay,” directed by Pedring Lopez and starring Hollywood actor Sam Worthington, is produced by MAM Media (Pte.) Ltd. of the US with BlackOps Studios Asia, Inc. as the local line producer.

To be the next FilmPhilippines incentive recipient, enter the Cycle 3 application that will run from September 1 to November 27, 2020. The application period remains up and running amid the pandemic to provide support for filmmakers affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The Cycle 3 is the last chance for productions to apply for the FLIP, ICOF, and FLEX this year. Grab the chance to shoot or work in the Philippines or be in a co-production with a Filipino company, and experience the ease and wonder of filmmaking with the incentives of FDCP’s FilmPhilippines.

 

PRIMA DONNAS STARS THRILLED TO BE BACK ON

 

Due to insistent public demand and in celebration of its first anniversary, GMA Network brings back to Filipino homes the favorite and well-loved drama series ‘Prima Donnas’ beginning Monday, August 17, on the Afternoon Prime block.

The all-star cast gifts its loyal fans and followers with a recap of the heartwarming series which they have consistently followed since its pilot airing. 

As the top-rating drama airs anew, the cast members expressed what they feel about the recap, their unforgettable experiences on set, and what’s in store for the Kapuso viewers in the coming episodes.

Veteran and award-winning actress Ms. Chanda Romero, who breathes life into the sophisticated matriarch Lady Primarosa Claveria, believes that the recap will reintroduce the show back into the viewers’ lives, “Because of this pandemic, parang the whole world stopped. Our taping had to stop. The telling of the beautiful story of Prima Donnas stopped. Ngayon, with the airing of the recap, we can refresh everyone's memory. So this is our way to reintroduce our show to the viewers, bring back to mind what some may have forgotten bago namin ituloy ang kwento na naging part na of their everyday life.”

Multi-awarded and one of the industry's formidable actresses Ms. Aiko Melendez who portrays Kendra, the main antagonist in the series, is delighted with their return and teases fans on what to anticipate in the series, “Happy and excited that we are finally airing again. We know our viewers have missed us so much. They should look forward sa mangyayari sa kasal ni Kendra kay Jaime pati na rin kung saan hahantong ang bangayang Kendra at Lilian.”

On the other hand, excellent character actress Katrina Halili who plays Lilian Madreal, mother of the Donnas, is also elated with the retelling of the story, “Happy ako kasi mari-refresh ang aming viewers para maka-keep up sila kapag may fresh episodes na. Hindi dapat palampasin dahil mapapalapit na ang Donnas sa mga Claveria at mapapatunayang sila ang totoong nawawalang mga tagapagmana.”

Bannering the show and playing equally vital roles are three of GMA's brightest and sought-after teen stars: Jillian Ward as Donna Marie, Althea Ablan as Donna Belle, and Sofia Pablo as Donna Lyn. The three of them shared what their fondest memories are while taping for the soap.

“I think it’s whenever Direk Gina (Alajar) and our acting coach guide us for each scene. I learned so much as an actor and as an individual, and that alone, is unforgettable for me po,” says Jillian.

“I had a hard time with my character during our first taping day and I’m very thankful to our director, acting coach and co-actors for giving me tips hindi lang sa pag-arte pati na rin sa personal life. I’m very blessed and honored dahil part ako ng show na ito,” adds Althea.  

“Syempre po, ‘yung first taping day namin. Nag-aadjust pa po kami sa kanya-kanya naming character since kailangan namin masundan kung paano ‘yung naging attitude at kilos ng mga younger Donnas,” shares Sofia.

Elijah Alejo, who has done justice to her kontrabida role as Brianna, is also grateful for the memories she shared with her co-stars, “’Yung tips po na binibigay sa amin ng senior stars para po magampanan namin nang mas maayos ‘yung characters namin. Ang hinding-hindi ko po makakalimutan is ‘yung lagi po kaming nagpe-pray before we start the day po.”

Take a trip down memory lane and don’t miss the highly-anticipated recap of ‘Prima Donnas’ – under the helm of esteemed director Gina Alajar – beginning August 17, weekdays at 3:25PM, only on GMA Network.

JOHN REGALA, NAKALABAS NA NG HOSPITAL

 

Nakalabas na ang veteran actor na si John Regala sa National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) pagkatapos na ma-confine ito nang walong araw. Ito ay ayon sa post ng kanyang friend/publicist Aster Amoyo sa Facebook.

Si John ay nagkaroon ng severe gout at liver cirrhosis kaya siya dinala sa hospital noong August 4, sa tulong na rin ng mga kasamahan niya sa industriya, ni Raffy Tulfo at ng religious group na kinaaaniban niya.

Bagama't hindi pa totally recovered ang aktor, inuwi na siya sa bahay para doon na lamang magpagaling habang patuloy na umiinom ng kanyang mga gamot.

Gusto pa sana nina Aster at mga kaibigan niya na mag-stay pa si John sa hospital subalit nag-insist daw ang huli na lumabas na siya. Kaya noong August 12 ay nag-checkout sila.

Si John ay nakakuha ng sympathy mula sa mga kasamahan sa trabaho  at mga supporter pagkatapos na  maispatan siya ng isang netizen na humihingi ng tulong at ipost ito sa FB page. Ni-rescue siya Pasay City kung saan siya nakita na hilong-hilo at nanghihina dahil ilang araw nang walang laman ang tiyan dahil bawat kainin nito ay isinusuka at bunga na rin sa pagbagsak ng sugar.

Sa interview sa kanya, sinabi nitong nagiisa na lamang siya sa buhay pagkatapos na layasan ng kinakasama. At simula nang mamatay ang kanyang inang si Ruby Regala ay nawalan na siya nang komunikasyon sa kanyang mga kamag-anak.

Sina Amoyo, Chuckie Dreyfus at Nadia Montenegro ang nag-initiate ng fundraising para sa aktor upang matulungan ito sa medical bills at iba pang expenses.

SHERATON MANILA BAY NOW OFFERS DUCK A 1' ORANGE AND CHICKEN POT PIE

 

Sheraton Manila Bay offers classic French cuisine Duck a l’orange and savoury Chicken Pot Pie on its Gourmet Takeaway menu.

While traveling, as we know it, may still be limited, you can still embark on a gastronomic journey around the world with our Culinary Courier. Sheraton Manila Bay’s new food-to-go offers brings the classic and familiar flavors of French cuisine with Duck a l’orange and all-time family favorite Chicken Pot Pie to the comfort of your homes.

A delightful and filling treat for those working from home or celebrating special occasions with your loved ones, our crispy and tenderly roasted  Duck a l’orange available in whole portion at Php 2800 net and in premium breast cut at Php 2900 net is served with luscious, sweet, and tangy orange sauce come with steamed rice and good for sharing up to 4 persons. Meanwhile, our classic Chicken Pot Pie available in medium size at Php 950 net and large at Php 1400 net, is baked to perfection with its flaky, buttery crust, creamy sauce and hearty mix of chicken.

Tempting as it is to save these gustatory offering for only special occasions, we make it easy for foodies at home order these for your daily indulgence by calling +632 5318 0788, 09175837294, 09175837326 or email sh.mnlsb.fnb@sheraton.com.

24 hour advance order is required. Diners shall arrange pick-up with their courier of choice. Cash and credit card payments are accepted. The hotel will strictly implement a No Mask, No Pick-up Policy and has designated a pick-up point at the hotel main entrance canopy area to ensure social distancing measure are followed and health and safety precautions are met.

For a full listing of gourmet takeaways menu, please visit http://bit.ly/ccmnlsb

Sheraton Manila Bay is located at M. Adriatico cor. Gen. Malvar Streets, Malate, Manila. Like us on Facebook and Instagram @sheratonmanilabay and Twitter at @sheratonmnlbay.