Foster Child, Tirador to compete in international fests

Brillante Mendoza’s Foster Child and Tirador are slated to compete at the Entrevues Festival du Film Belfort in France and the Marrakech International Film Festival in Morocco, respectively.

Foster Child’s French distributor Ad Vitam is handling Belfort which will be held from Nov. 24 to Dec. 2.  It will compete for the Grand Prix award. John John (Foster Child’s French title) will open in French cinemas on Feb. 23, 2008. 

Direk Brillante will go to Geneva and Paris in February next year. He will attend the Black Film Festival in Geneva where John John is screening (Ad Vitam is also handling this festival) and will proceed to Paris to do interviews to promote the theatrical opening of John John. From Paris, he will attend the Berlin International Film Festival where Tirador is screening in the Forum section along with Jim Libiran’s Tribu.

Produced by Seiko Films, Foster Child stars New Delhi Best Actress Cherry Pie Picache, Eugene Domingo, Jiro Manio, Alwyn Uytingco, Dan Alvaro and Kier Segundo. 

Next week, direk Brillante and I are attending the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Greece. Foster is screening in the Independence Days Section. The festival provided us free tickets and accommodations. Meetings have been arranged with the heads of Taiwan’s Joint Entertainment and Spain’s Eurocine for possible acquisitions.

Tirador (Slingshot) will vie for the Gold Star Award at the Marrakech International Film Festival from Dec. 7 to 15. Tirador’s French distributor Swift Distribution is handling this festival.

Before attending Marrakech, direk Brillante will first present the film at the Dubai International Film Festival with lead actors Kristofer King and Coco Martin. 

Brillante will also be one of the recipients of the Someone to Watch Award from the Cleveland International Film Festival next year. Foster Child, Tirador, Manoro and Kaleldo will be screened during the festival.

Tirador is produced by Centerstage production and also features Jiro Manio, Nathan Lopez, Julio Diaz and Jaclyn Jose. Both films were written by Ralston Joel Jover with Armando Lao as creative consultant.

Aside from French distribution, both Foster Child and Tirador have been acquired by Peccadillo Pictures for distribution in the UK and Ireland. 

Neil Tan’s Ataul (Casket for Rent) is competing for the Golden Pyramid Award at the Cairo International Film Festival from Nov. 27 to Dec. 7.  Director Tan, Ronnie Lazaro and producer Anthony Gedang are presenting the film in Cairo. It will then compete at the 12th Kerala International Film Festival in India.  

Aside from Lazaro, Ataul also stars Joel Torre, Jaclyn Jose, Irma Adlawan, Pen Medina, Noni Buencamino and Coco Martin.  It is the first production of Artiste Entertainment Works International and written by Tan and Gedang.

Jade Francis Castro’s Cinemalaya award-winning entry Endo will compete at the Nantes International Film Festival in France for its international premiere. The movie stars Cinemalaya Best Actress Ina Feleo, Ricky Davao, Alchris Galura, CJ Javarata and Jason Abalos. Endo is produced by UFO pictures and written by Castro. Lino Brocka’s Angela Markado won the Grand Prix Award in 1980.

Roni Bertubin’s Sikil (Unspoken Passion) has been invited to the First Cancun International Film Festival this month and at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January. It had its world premiere in Valencia, Spain last month.  It stars Ken Escudero, Will Sandejas, Ashley Silverio and with the special participation of Sylvia Sanchez and Anita Linda.  It is produced by New Life Cinema and written by Romualdo Avellanosa.

Sikil has been acquired by Water Bearer Films for North America and Salzgeber Edition for Germany and Austria.

The Film Development Council of the Philippines chaired by Jacky Atienza and FDCP Film Festival committee headed by chairperson Christine Dayrit and executive director Lali Suzara have supported the participation of these films. 

Foster Child, Tirador, Sikil and Ataul (non exclusive) are represented by Ignatius Films Canada.