Kaleldo premieres at the 1st Rome Int’l Filmfest

In the end, producer-director Brillante "Dante" Mendoza (Masahista, Siquijor) has decided to have his long-kept film Kaleldo (Kapampangan for summer heat) shown at the first Rome International Film Festival on Oct. 13 to 21 instead of at the CineMalaya in December.

The Rome Filmfest is proving to be controversial because the half-century-old Venice International Filmfest, so far the only one of its kind in Italy, is grumbling because the schedules of the two filmfests are within two months of each other.

"It’s exciting to be part of an international film festival having its debut," said Dante who is flying to Rome tomorrow with Cherry Pie Picache, one of Kaleldo stars. "Kaleldo has a good chance of getting noticed in Rome."

I’ve seen a DVD copy of Kaleldo and I agree with Dante. Set in lahar-covered Pampanga after the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, Kaleldo (inspired by true incidents involving Dante’s family) is the story of a controlling wood-carver father (played with powerful intensity by Johnny Delgado) and how he rules the lives of his three daughters (played with equal passion by Juliana Palermo, Angel Aquino and Cherry Pie as the lesbian sibling).

For sure, cineastes in Rome (and in three other international filmfests Kaleldo is joining – Vienna on Oct. 13 to 25, Hawaii on Oct. 19 to Nov. 5 and Cairo on Nov. 28 to Dec. 8) will love how the film captures the local-color scenes (the wedding, the sweeping view of residents trying to make ends meet in lahar country, etc.) in visually-exciting style. It’s a very Filipino film with a universal appeal (you know, all families and the conflicts among the members are the same, regardless of race and location).

Catch Kaleldo when it opens in Metro Manila on Nov. l.

Incidentally, Dante has apologized to Siquijor Gov. Mark Ganhinhin who filed a petition for a restraining order and a complaint with the MTRCB, apparently judging the whole movie based on its trailer that unwittingly depicts Siquijor (where the film was shot, starring Assunta de Rossi, Ian Veneracion, Yul Servo, Angel Aquino, Criselda Volks, Rodel Velayo, Sid Lucero and Coco Martin) as aswang-infested. It’s one image of the island that the DOT wanted to promote as a tourist attraction (would you believe!).

Dante assured Gov. Ganhinhin that Siquijor (subtitled Mystic Island) is not about netherworld creatures but about the place’s "mystic" beauty.

"In fact," said Dante, "I hope to attract people to visit Siquijor after they see my film."

Here are more Filipino films in international filmfests:

• Aureaus Solito’s Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros), Jeffrey Jeturian’s Kubrador and John Torres’ Todo Todo Teros are showing at the ongoing Vancouver Filmfest. Vancouver-based reader Marisse Gaston happily reports that Todo Todo Teros has just been named VIFF’s Dragons and Tigers Awardee for Pacific-Asia (new director category).

•Mes de Guzman’s Ang Daan Patungong Kalimugtong was given a Special Mention citation at the Altadis New Director Section of the just-concluded San Sebastian Filmfest. Top honors went to France’s Fair Play (by Lionel Bailliu).

•Red Room Productions’ and University of Makati Film Society’s initial co-production venture, Lababo (Kitchen-Sink Drama), competed in the short-film category of the 8th International Panorama of Independent Filmmakers held in Athens Sept. 23 to 30.

•Eduardo Roy Jr.’s short film, Ang Pinakamahabang One Night Stand (The Longest One Night Stand) was accepted as entry to the Reeling 2006: The 25th Chicago Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival.

Will Dame Luck favor a Binibini twice over?

2006 Bb. Pilipinas-International Denille Lou Valmonte is leaving tomorrow to compete in the 2006 Miss International contest slated in Beijing on Nov. 11 with a "burden" on her shoulder.

You see, the reigning Miss International, Precious Lara Quigaman, is from the Philippines and it hasn’t happened yet in the history of the contest that the winner has relinquished her crown to a compatriot. (But it has happened in the Miss World contest a few years ago when a Miss India turned her crown over to another Miss India; and in the Miss Universe pageant where a Miss USA has taken over from another Miss USA in a few instances.)

Just the same, the 24-year-old college graduate (who loves art, drawing and painting) is hoping against hope, expecting the worst and praying for the best.

"I have been preparing these past weeks," said Denille (who stands 5’7.5" and measures 34-22-34) who is a cross between two former Binibinis, Miriam Quiambao (first runner-up in the 1999 Miss Universe pageant) and Carlene Ang Aguilar (semi-finalist in the 2004 Miss World contest). "I’ve been having lessons in Mandarin and taking pointers from previous Binibinis."

Will Dame Luck smile on a Filipina twice over?

"I’m keeping my fingers crossed," said Denille who is making a week-long stopover in Japan before joining more than 60-plus others in Beijing. "There’s always a first time, who knows?"

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