Barber’s Tales competes at Tokyo fest

BREAKING NEWS: Jun Robles Lana’s Barber’s Tales is competing at the 26th Tokyo International Film Festival which will be held Oct. 17 to 25.

This good news was relayed to me by Funfare’s roving correspondent Ferdy Lapuz who got the story at a presscon in Tokyo yesterday.

Based on a story by Elmer Gatchalian, Peter Ong Lim, Benedict Meque and Jun himself, Barber’s Tales won four awards in the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum last March including Best HAF Project, Technicolor and Arri Awards. It stars Eugene Domingo (in her first full-length dramatic role), Iza Calzado, Gladys Reyes, Shamaine Buencamino, Nonie Buencamino, Daniel Fernando, Sue Prado, Nicco Manalo, Jess Mendoza, Malou Crisologo, Lui Manansala, Mengie Cobarrubias and Eddie Garcia. The film was shot on location last June for three straight weeks in the provinces of Rizal and Quezon.

According to Ferdy, Barber’s Tales is the story of newly-widowed Marilou (Domingo) who inherits the town’s only barbershop from her husband, a business that has been passed by generations of men in her husband’s family. With no other means of support, she musters the courage to run the barbershop. Despite the skills she gained from years of assisting her husband, as a female barber she fails to attract any customers. Nevertheless, things take an unexpected turn when Marilou discovers what she is truly made of in the midst of mockery from men, and the support of an unexpected circle of sisters.

“It is Jun’s second film at the Tokyo Filmfest,” noted Ferdy. “His film Bwakaw was honored with a Special Mention in the Winds of Asia-Middle East section last year. This year’s president of the competition jury in Tokyo is Chinese director Chaine Kaige who won the Palme d’Or at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival with Farewell My Concubine. Other members of the jury are Korean actress Moon So-ri, award-winning producer Chris Brown, Academy Award nominee Chris Weitz (writer of About a Boy) and Japanese actress Shinobu Terajima.”

Barber’s Tales will compete for the following awards: Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix US$50,000; Special Jury Prize US$20,000 Award for Best Director US$5,000; Award for Best Actress US$5,000; Award for Best Actor US$5,000; Award for Best Artistic Contribution US$5,000; and The Audience Award US$10,000.

Barber’s Tales is produced by Tony Tuviera, Mike Tuviera, Rams David and Jojo Oconer for APT Entertainment; and Perci Intalan, Ferdinand Lapuz and Lana for Octobertrain Films, supported by the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum.

Gloria and Isabelle (photo): perfect casting in Lihis

Like her mom, Gloria Diaz, Isabelle Daza is proving some cynics wrong that she’s just a poster girl for beauty. When Gloria ventured into acting after her reign as 1969 Miss Universe, launched in Celso Ad. Castillo’s Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa which kicked off the wet-look trend, people kept a close watch on how well she could act. Of course, since then, Gloria has amply proven her acting mettle by acquitting herself in serious roles and winning awards along the way.

Isabelle is obviously following in her mom’s footsteps. Her hosting skill has been honed in Eat, Bulaga! which she co-hosts. In Joel Lamangan’s Lihis, her acting debut, Isabelle plays Gloria’s daughter tracing her roots. She’s a natural actress, so effortless especially in her scenes with Gloria. Perfect casting! Keep up the good work, Isabelle, and prove to us that you can equal if not surpass your mom’s record as an actress.

Incidentally, Isabelle will launch at Trinoma this afternoon her Univers cologne by Bench of which Isabelle is an endorser.