Foster Child going to Cannes Filmfest

Brillante Mendoza’s next film, Foster Child, produced by Robbie Tan of Seiko Films, has been officially invited to the Directors Forthnight of the 2007 Cannes Film Festival next month (May 17 to 27) where it will have its world premiere.

This piece of good news was relayed to The STAR by Funfare’s international correspondent Ferdy Lapuz who got the information from Jeremy Segay, member of the Cannes Filmfest selection committee.

"Olivier Pere, the Cannes Filmfest artistic director, has confirmed the invitation," said Ferdy.

Foster Child stars Cherry Pie Picache, Eugene Domingo, Alwyn Uytingco, Dan Alvaro and Jiro Manio. Ralston Joel Jover wrote the screenplay. It was also Jover who wrote the screenplay for Kubrador, directed by Jeffrey Jeturian and starring Gina Pareño, which has won several awards in local and international film festivals.

Foster Child is Mendoza’s fourth feature film, following Masahista, Kaleldo and Manoro.

Other Filipino films have been shown at the Cannes Filmfest’s Directors Forthnight, including Lino Brocka’s Insiang (1978) and Bona (1981); Mike de Leon’s Kisapmata and Batch ‘81, both in 1982; and Mario O’Hara’s Babae sa Breakwater (2004).

Ferdy recalled that Brocka’s Jaguar (1980) and Kapit sa Patalim (1984) were in the main competition of the same filmfest. (Brocka’s Orapronobis was shown out-of-competition in 1989.)

Raymond Red’s Anino won the Golden Palm in the short film category also of the Cannes Filmfest in 2000.

"Robbie Tan might attend the Cannes Filmfest," said Ferdy, "together with direk Dante, Cherry Pie, representatives from the Film Development Council of the Philippines."

Ferdy (who used to be based in Toronto and is in touch with filmfest-organizers around the world) is joining the Philippine delegation.

Ignatius Films Canada has sent the following Filipino films to international film festivals where they have won awards: Maryo J. delos Reyes’ Magnifico (Crystal Bear, Grand Jury Prize, Kinderfilmfest Berlin 2004), Dante Mendoza’s Masahista (Golden Leopard, Locarno 2005), Aureaus Solito’s Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (Golden Zenith, Montreal 2005; Crystal Bear, Teddy Award, Kinderfilmfest Berlin 2006) and Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil’s Mga Pusang Gala (Best First Feature Award, San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 2006.