Martial Law film Katips gets more cinemas following FAMAS awards

MANILA, Philippines — Vince Tañada’s Martial Law film Katips got more cinemas and screening dates after emerging as a big winner at the recently-held 70th Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards Night.

Katips scored seven awards, including Best Picture and Best Director and Best Actor for Vince, a lawyer and veteran thespian who heads the theater company Philippine Stagers Foundation. Its other recognitions are Best Musical Score, Best Cinematography, Best Original Song for Sa Gitna ng Gulo and Best Supporting Actor for Johnrey Rivas.

“Siempre masayang-masaya ako kasi FAMAS ‘yan. It’s the oldest award-giving body in the Philippines,” said Vince of the accolades for his first film directorial job. He also served as its producer and writer.

The awards came as a surprise, he said, especially the acting honor since he was up against Dingdong Dantes, Christian Bables, Mon Confiado, Daniel Padilla and Katips co-star Jerome Ponce.

He also denied online rumors claiming he was live show director of the 2022 awards night, saying it was last year’s edition that he directed and he “inhibited” this year due to nominations.

The musical drama Katips follows the story of young activists during Martial Law under the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s regime. It also stars Jerome Ponce, Mon Confiado, Sazchna Laparan, Nicole Laurel Asensio, Dexter Doria and Lou Veloso.

Vince acknowledged that the awards helped raise awareness for the movie ahead of the opening day today (Aug. 3) and led to a wider theatrical release. Before the FAMAS awards event on Saturday night at the Metropolitan Theater, he said the film only had SM Cinemas and Aug. 3 and Aug. 4 as sure playdates.

By Sunday morning, he said he received calls from Robinsons, Ayala Malls, Rockwell Powerplant, EDSA Shangri-La Mall, SEDA and Gaisano. The film is also assured of provincial screenings, he further noted.

“Malaki ang ginawa ng FAMAS para sa pelikula. Whether I admit it or not, may manonood ng pelikula dahil sa FAMAS. At least, nagkaroon tayo ng mga movie houses na yan. ‘Yun ang pinaka-development because gusto talaga namin lumapit sa tao. Mahirap naman if SM lang at kung limitado (ang playdates), Aug. 3 and 4 lang. What about the weekend? Of course, siempre may mga pasok (people have work and classes on weekdays). Now, we have added screening days.

A scene from Katips, written, directed and produced by veteran thespian and lawyer Vince Tañada.

“Yung Gaisano, they just called up this (Monday) morning. They said they will release the film on Aug. 10. Because if we are pulled out early, at least in Gaisano, there’s still an Aug. 10 (screening),” he added.

Katips is going head-to-head with Darryl Yap’s Maid in Malacañang, a dramedy that depicts the final 72 hours of the Marcoses inside the Palace before fleeing to Hawaii during the 1986 People Power Revolution.

Vince clarified what came out in earlier reports about his choice of release date to supposedly challenge the star-studded Viva film. He said he was looking for a playdate where Katips wouldn’t have to face off against Hollywood movies but rather have a fighting chance at the box–office.

“Nagsabi na ako na ayoko muna i-play yung Katips. Sabi ko, mag-i-international (festival) na lang ako. Medyo natakot din ako. But it occurred to me na sige, i-play na rin ‘yan, sabayan na rin yung date na ‘yan kasi mag-ho-Hollywood films naman next week. Kung Pinoy (film) ang kasabay natin, maybe we have a chance… Actually, three (films) kami, puro Tagalog, (the other one is) Bakas ni Yamashita.”

He added, “My consideration really (is that) it will be watched by many, and of course, to be frank with you, to recover my investment because this is my hard-earned money. I mean, I’m not a big producer, I’m not Viva Films, I’m just a simple lawyer and I’ve been saving for 20 years just for this film to be made.”

Nevertheless, Vince agreed with the statement of veteran director Joel Lamangan about making a movie to “counter” Maid in Malacañang. “For me, parang product ‘yan… kelangan may ma-offer naman tayo na iba,” he told The STAR.

“Well, tsina-challenge tayong lahat na gumawa rin ng katapat ng pelikulang ito. Si direk Joel, gagawa pa lang. Eto ako meron na. It’s ready, ‘yun ang sinabi ko, pero siempre iba naman yung pagka-intindi ng iba.”

Meanwhile, he chose Katips for his movie directorial debut because it was his most awarded musical play in 2016, winning the Aliw Award for Best Play and Best Actor for Vince, among others.

He also denied using the film for political reasons. Based on his timeline, Katips was already in pre-production by June and July 2021, months before Pres. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declared his intention to run for the highest office in the country. He said it screened in select cinemas in Gateway and Fairview Terraces last November and December, but then the Omicron variant happened.

Vince said his film is partly based on his experiences as a child witnessing what his family went through when his grandfather, the late Sen. Lorenzo Tañada, was incarcerated during the Martial Law.

“I was born in 1974, 48 years old na ako ngayon at nung panahon ng Martial Law, bata na ako nun, lalo nung mga 1975, 1976 and 1977, formative years ko na ‘yun, may ulirat na ako nun. Sabi nila, ‘pag ka sinabi na victim ka, kelangan tinorture ka or kinulong. Hindi po mga kapatid, you can be a victim of Martial Law if you are a kid and if you see your grandfather being incarcerated,” he said.

“It’s very depressing and it’s terrorizing for the entire family. They said we were NPA. Totoo, mga NPA kami — no permanent address — kasi lipat kami ng lipat at mahirap ‘yun para sa isang bata. Natatakot ka kasi pinag-uusapan ng mga magulang mo at naririnig mo. So in a way, I’m also a victim of Martial Law.”

“Pinakamasakit ‘yun sa bata kasi nabubuhay ka sa takot because there were also talks during that time that all male members of the family ay gagawin kapalit ng lolo ko, because there was a public clamor to release him because he was incarcerated when he was already 72 years old. Of course, I feared for my father.”

He said he’s also emotionally invested in the film because he served as a lawyer for the Claimants 1081, a group of Martial Law victims.