Female-led action films head Phl contingent at NY Asian Filmfest
Action-packed movies with strong female leads are among the roster of six Filipino films featured in this year’s New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF). Richard Somes’ We Will Not Die
Tonight starring Erich Gonzales served as the opening film, while Erik Matti’s
BuyBust, topbilled by Anne Curtis and Fil-Am mixed martial arts world champ Brandon Vera, will be the closing film of the US film festival.
Other films in the 2018 NYAFF, which opened on June 29 and ends tomorrow, July 15, are Mikhael Red’s
Neomanila (2017) about a teenage orphan recruited by a notorious death squad; Matti’s On The Job (2013) about inmates temporarily released from jail to become hired killers for corrupt politicians; Treb Monteras II’s Respeto (2017) about an aspiring but destitute rapper befriending an older poet after vandalizing his bookstore; and Irene Villamor’s Sid & Aya (2018), an unconventional “romance” between an insomniac and a woman he employs to keep him company in his sleepless nights.
The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) held a send-off presscon for the six films last Tuesday. FDCP chair and CEO Liza Diño said, “The programmers chose the films.
Ang mga pinili nila na films ay more genre. In the international market, the most saleable right now (are) action and horror kasi pag rom-coms sometimes their humor is very local. It might not be something that other countries may understand. When it comes to genre, like action and horror, it’s quite universal.” Worth noting also is how We Will
Not Die Tonight and BuyBust have gone against type by casting actresses in the lead roles.
In BuyBust, Anne, who’s more known for romantic dramas, plays a rookie police officer who joins an anti-narcotic elite squad set to conduct a buy-bust operation in a notorious slum area.
“The totality of the film was challenging in itself. (But) if there was one scene (that was most challenging) it would be the three-minute scene which took 57 takes and five days of rehearsals until we got that one shot. It was really hard! When you see it in the big screen, nakakapagod siya,” shared the 33-year-old star on some of the toughest aspects of doing BuyBust. In addition to NYAFF, direk Erik and
BuyBust producer Dondon Monteverde confirmed that their film was acquired during the last Berlin filmfest in February by an American film distribution company, Well Go USA Entertainment, which “usually picks up Asian genre films” like Train To Busan to be shown in the US and Canada. BuyBust will have a US and Canada theatrical release on Aug. 10. It will also be screened in South Korea, while its trailer will be seen at the San Diego Comic Con also this month with Brandon sitting on a panel on Asian genre films.
Meanwhile, Erich didn’t just star in Somes’ film but also agreed to produce it because of the unique story and the director’s different approach to film-making.
“It’s gritty, gore, suspense, action, streetfight, brutal kung brutal, rambol kung rambol,” the 27-year-old actress said. “But no complaints. I wanted to experience all the difficulties (of doing an action film). I had no stunt double… Ang daming firsts para sa akin. The experience of doing the film from Day 1, everything was unforgettable.”
In We Will Not Die Tonight, Erich plays a stuntwoman, a wannabe ac- tress and all-around racketeer whose values and skillset will be put to a test after a deal goes haywire.
“It’s a film about survival so it has heart,” Erich said. “It’s timely and it’s happening in real life. It’s also our tribute to our underpaid stuntmen and stuntwomen, doubles in the cinema and other unsung heroes in the industry.”
She gave special mention to the late actor, screenwriter and “one of the country’s greatest stuntmen” Baldo Marro, who played her father in the film, but didn’t live long enough to see the finished film. “Sobrang grateful kami nakatrabaho namin siya.”
For Anne, the timing is right for female-fronted actioners. “I think it’s about time that we have some female action stars back in Philippine cinema. I think it’s awesome that there are two films with strong female leads, and it’s about time,” she said.
“And even in the recent Cannes Film Festival, it was heavily female nominated. It just goes to show that, you know, it’s our time as well. I think it’s just great, kinaya namin, so maybe this will open bigger doors and windows for other actresses out there,
other producers, na kaya din ng female lead na mag-action films.”
Erich also believes their film is a form of women empowerment. She said, it sends the message of not belittling the ability of women “because ‘she’s just a woman.’ You’ll be shocked by what women can do that others may think men can only do. Maybe, this will pave a way that will change thinking that it’s not just men who should be doing stunts or action scenes. We can also do it.”
According to Liza, the film line-up is a good representation of Philippine cinema.
“It’s really intentional that they are looking for films that will give Philippine cinema a different perspective in the international market. Unfortunately kasi, and this is just being honest about my experience going around, yung image natin in other countries is very mixed. In terms of accolades, in terms of ingenuity, bravery in tackling stories that sometimes or not normally tackled in other countries, we are able to tackle. But, of course, we have a lot of films on the slums, poverty and as much as it is true and a reality in the Philippines, it’s not just the Philippines. There are so many facets about the Philippines that are unexplored and are really not seen in the international platform that’s why this (NYAFF participation) is very special,” she said.
The send-off event formed part of the support that FDCP has given to the selected films. Under the lead government agency for film’s International Film Festival Assistance Program (IFFAP), Liza said, “We give assistance in terms of flights, accommodations, and if A-list film festivals, we give per diems. Then, we hold the Philippine Night, a networking event where we feature our filmmakers and producers to meet industry stakeholders in those festivals. We invite around 200 people; it’s an opportunity to create relationships.”
“We always have a difficult time getting funding to go to festivals and it’s OK that now, FDCP is there to support the filmmakers and actors in going there,” said
direk Erik who also became part of the NYAFF in 2015 for his film
Honor Thy Father, but didn’t get government assistance.
The strong Pinoy contingent in this year’s NYAFF is hoped to also boost awareness and interest in Philippine cinema in the NorthAmerican market.
Vhong Navarro returns to the big screen with his brand of comedy in Unli
Life, Regal Entertainment Inc.’s upcoming movie offering.
The film is also Regal’s official entry to the forthcoming Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino film festival.
With Unli Life, the comedian is sure to tickle funny bones once more. In Unli Life, Vhong’s character is given a chance to mend the breakup with his girlfriend, played by Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez, by going back in time through the help of a magic wine, called “wishkey.”
By drinking “wishkey,” Vhong’s character is transported to different time periods, such as the Dinosaur Era, Magellan, and the ‘70s Era, in an effort to correct his mistakes and prevent his girlfriend from breaking up with him in the current time.
The film shows how much one is willing to go to great lengths to get back the one person you love the most.
After making the country proud by being the first-ever Filipina crowned Reina Hispanoamericana 2017, Teresita happily returns to acting.
Teresita, together with her fellow beauty queens from Miss World Philippines, signed up with Regal Entertainment, Inc. last October 2017. Unli Life also marks Teresita’s first major role as a leading lady in the movies.
The movie is directed by Miko Livelo. His credentials include being the writer and director of the 2013 indie film Blue Bustamante and as a writer for a number of TV series.
Unli Life also stars Joey Marquez, Ejay Falcon, Donna Cariaga, Jon Lucas, Isabelle de Leon, Alex Calleja, Kamille Filoteo, Red Ollero with James Caraan, Anthony Andres and Jun Urbano. Special participation includes those of Dimples Romana, Joem Bascon, Jun Sabayton, Epi Quizon and Jhong Hilario.
Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino opens Aug. 15.