Masters unite for rare nationwide filmfest

CEBU, Philippines - Cineastes who gripe about the Metro Manila Film Festival held every December for failing to be a showcase of Philippine film gems or the Cinemalaya indie masterpieces that seldom reach theatres outside Manila, now have the rare chance to view the recent magnum opus of the country’s most accomplished directors in one film festival.

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), along with SM Cinema, organized the Sineng Pambansa National Film Festival (NFF) 2013 All-Masters Edition, featuring 12 directors who were each given a P1.5 million-grant to pursue a project that’s closest to their heart.

NFF gathered the works of Tikoy Aguiluz, Mel Chionglo, Peque Gallaga, Lore Reyes, Joel Lamangan, Elwood Perez, Gil Portes, Jose Javier Reyes, Maryo J. Delos Reyes, Chito Rono, Romeo Suzara and Celso Ad Castillo for at all SM Cinemas --- bumping off the more popular Hollywood offerings for a good seven days.

“This is a very laudable project of SM Cinemas because for the first time, they committed to show for an entire week all Filipino films. We hope the Filipino audience will patronize this endeavor. It’s a great honor to be selected in this festival along with these great directors,” Lamangan said.

Lamangan’s entry, “Lihis,” is set in the 70s Martial Law era where two male members of a rebel organization, share an intimate relationship. This one stars Jake Cuenca and Joem Bascon with Isabelle Daza, Lovi Poe and Ms. Gloria Diaz.

“I peddled this story since 2002, before ‘Brokeback Mountain.’ So it’s not true that I copied that movie’s concept. No producer wanted to bite because the material does not have commercial appeal. They were afraid because of the homosexual angle. But since ‘My Husband’s Lover’ became a hit, they changed their mind,” Lamangan shared.

Maryo J. Delos Reyes’ “Bamboo Flowers” tackles the “rousing beauty of the Bohol Island and the lives of the people in it.”

“When we were commissioned by FDCP to work on our projects, we were encouraged to shoot in our hometowns. I went to Bohol. At first, I didn’t know what story to tell. So I immersed myself in Bohol again, as I haven’t been there in a long time, and I also did not have good memories of my childhood there,” said Delos Reyes, adding that he has the most child-friendly material among the line-up. The Boholano director was responsible for Jiro Manio’s “Magnifico,” which won the Crystal Bear Award in the Berlin International Film Festival.

Gil Portes, director of the Gawad Urian-winning “Mga Munting Tinig” directed “Isang Tag-araw ni Twinkle”, an account of a drug addict who seeks rehabilitation and in the process reconnects with her dying father. The film features Cebuana actress Ellen Adarna in her first starring role.

Other films in exhibition are Elwood Perez’s “Otso,” Lore Reyes and Peque Gallaga’s “Sonata,” Jose Javier Reyes’ “Ano Ang Kulay ng mga Nakalimutang Pangarap?,” Tikoy Aguiluz’ “Eman,” Mel Chionglo’s “Lauriana” and Chito Rono’s “Badil.”

NFF will also feature a Masters’ Master Tribute to the late great Celso Ad Castillo with the screening of his last film “Bahay na Lagim.” The festival, in honor of two other Philippine cinema legends Lino Brocka and Manuel Conde, will also screen the late directors’ films namely the restored versions of “Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag” and “Genghis Khan,” respectively.

“We were asked if we will hold an awards night. We decided to do away with the competition and just hold an exhibition because at our age and this time of our lives, we no longer want to compete with each other. We think we have proven ourselves already. This is a chance in a lifetime that film buffs shouldn’t miss watching, because we don’t know if we can gather in one festival in this same manner ever again,” Delos Reyes said.

All film entries weren’t subject to any censorship, as they were not obliged to submit to the MTRCB for review and classification.

Each film is priced at P100. Proceeds of the festival will be used to support the projects and endeavors of the National Film Archives of the Philippines.

Sineng Pambansa National Film Festival 2013 will run from Sept. 11 to 17 at all SM Cinemas nationwide.

Glee cast taking Cory Monteith’s death a day at a time

The cast of the hit television series Glee is adjusting to Cory Monteith’s tragic death one day at a time, says Naya Rivera who plays the sultry Santana Lopez in the show.

"We're definitely taking it day by day… Everybody's really just leaning on each other and trying to do good work,” Rivera tells E! Online.

Monteith, one of the show’s pioneer stars, passed away last July 13 due to drug overdose. He was 31 years old. Production for the show’s tribute episode began less than two weeks ago.

Fox Entertainment Chairman Kevin Reilly also tells E! Online that the third episode in the new season will “directly deal” with Monteith’s troubled past. The episode will reportedly leave viewers crying “from beginning to end,” E! quotes an insider.

E! Online says, nevertheless, that the show’s fifth season won’t be filled solely with sadness, as it welcomes Demi Lovato who will play the character Dani, a struggling artist in New York who befriends Rachel (Lea Michele) and Santana.

Lovato, a judge in “The X Factor” will reportedly play Rivera's new love interest.

Meanwhile, Rivera also tells E! Online that she is honored to represent a gay character on TV.

"There are very few ethnic LGBT characters on television, so I am honored to represent them," she said. "I love supporting this cause, but it's a big responsibility, and sometimes it's a lot of pressure on me."

Rivera, 26, says she hopes to emulate fellow Latina Jennifer Lopez in her continued quest for Hollywood stardom.

"Jennifer Lopez is a perfect example of what it means to be a mogul and have longevity, but still have people like you," she gushed. "She can do this until she chooses not to anymore. I hope I can say that one day," she says.

GMA-7 pulls off ensemble cast in “Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas”

Another compelling drama masterpiece is primed to dominate the airwaves and captivate the hearts of Filipinos via GMA Network’s “Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas.”

The drama series features the country’s most respected and talented artists headlined by Kapuso’s Premiere Actress, Lovi Poe, as she takes on a winning lead role as Lovelia Villacorta, a woman who turns vengeful against the people who betrayed her. Lovelia is out to prove that everyone deserves equal rights for genuine and real love despite being born out of wedlock.

Lovi has quickly earned her laurels with the recognition and awards from different award-giving bodies in the industry and established herself as one of the country’s most in-demand and finest actresses in film and television. She is hungry to make it far and ready to showcase her depth and versatility via her meaty role in the series.

Leading man Rocco Nacino reunites with Lovi as he portrays the role of Jerry, a man who will be trapped in a game of lies and deceit orchestrated by his childhood love, Agatha, played by Charee Pineda.

One of the industry’s most versatile actors, Cesar Montano, joins the powerhouse cast as Conrad Alperos, most trusted lawyer of Lovelia’s father, Roel Villacorta, to be played by Gary Estrada. Conrad Alperos will eventually fall in love with Lovelia and will become her protector. Cesar is very happy to be back in GMA and feels very excited working alongside some of the network’s finest artists via the primetime series.

Playing equally important roles are two of the industry’s most esteemed veteran actresses: The Original Queen of Philippine Movies, Gloria Romero, as Cristina Alperos, mother to Conrad Alperos, and Liza Lorena as Beatrice Villacorta, mother of Roel Villacorta.

Solenn Heussaff is set to show a new dimension to her acting ability in the series as Jade, the girlfriend of Conrad Alperos. Jade is out to take revenge after being ditched by Conrad.

GMA Network is proud to present a cast of the country’s most prized artists: Ina Feleo as Emma Ignacio; Glenda Garcia as Jenny; Tia Pusit as Nanay Selya; Steven Silva as Tisoy; Kier Legaspi as SPO 2 Brando Morales; Ruru Madrid as Junior and Freddie Webb as Jaime Villacorta.

And to helm this primetime masterpiece is one of Philippine Cinema's all-time best actresses and directors, Laurice Guillen.

In “Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas,” viewers will witness how Lovelia will reclaim what’s rightfully hers after being deceived by the people close to her. She will learn how to take matters into her own hands and seek revenge against Jerry and Agatha who destroyed her life and acquired all her possessions.

With Conrad on her side, will Lovelia’s love for Jerry eventually fade away? Will Lovelia succeed in her quest for vengeance?

“Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas” will premiere this Monday, Sept. 9, replacing “Mundo Mo’y Akin” on GMA Telebabad. (PR)(FREEMAN)