Netflix to stream five more PH movies in June
Netflix continues to give local filmmakers and actors a global platform. The company partnered recently with production studios Viva, ERJ Found Films, Black Cap Pictures, and Changhe Films to offer more Pinoy movies to the world.
“We are constantly amazed by the creativity of storytellers and the quality of talent coming out of the Philippines,” said Raphael Phang, Manager of Content Acquisition at Netflix.
He added that the company has always been committed in providing content that cross cultural borders, and their decisionmaking on what to offer is partially based on consumer insight.
“More importantly we look at the strength of the story too. There should be uniqueness, universality in the themes and how our audience will resonate with the story.”
Several Filipino films are already on the platform. These include “Eerie,” “The Girl Allergic To Wi-Fi,” and “Miss Granny,” all among the top ten most popular titles in the Philippines in 2019. The first Filipino Netflix film “Dead Kids” by award-winning director Mikhail Red is also there.
The next five Filipino films soon in Netflix’s catalogue are:
“Pinoy Sunday” (Changhe Films Ltd)
“I think the underlying story and the premise of this film speaks to us all regardless of nationality or background. We all have commitments, burdens, temptation and struggles, friendship, passions and dreams. So in short, just like them, we have sofas in life to carry but what is important and what we need to know is when to live, when to push and when to just sit down for a moment and catch our breath,” Phang said.
Synopsis: Inspired by a 1958 Roman Polanski short, this lighthearted examination of modern life in Taipei follows two Filipino immigrants, Manuel and Dado, during their day off from work, when the chance discovery of a discarded couch leads to adventure.
Director: Widing Ho
Cast: Bayani Agbayani, Jeffrey Quizon, Nor Domingo, Dave Ronald Chang, Meryll Soriano, Alessandra de Rossi
Release date: June 5, 2020
“I never thought the feature debut I made 10 years ago can have a second life and finally get shown to the Philippine audience, thanks to Netflix. It is a tremendous honor to have my second movie after ‘Cities of Last Things’ to be included on a platform which has done so much to promote filmmakers’ works from around the world to a global audience. I am lucky to be part of the family, “said Ho.
“Sunod” (Black Cap Pictures Inc)
“What’s more important in this horror film is the underlying premise on the mother’s love and that you would do anything necessary to make ends meet. You’ll see the powerful performance of Carmina (Villaroel) in this particular film and how much her character cares more of her daughter who is terminally ill,” Phang said.
Synopsis: As the medical expenses for her daughter stack up, a mother takes a demanding call center job where the building’s sinister secrets begin to haunt her.
Director: Carlo Ledesma
Cast: Carmina, Mylene Dizon, JC Santos, Kate Alejandrino, Krystal Brimner, Rhed Bustamante, Susan Africa
Release date: June 14, 2020
“Having ‘Sunod’ screen theatrically during the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival was an incredible experience, and now I’m excited for the film to find a new audience online, especially on Netflix, which has the best streaming. Speaking on behalf of myself and my crew, we took great pains to make the movie look and sound good, so it’ll be a rush to see it stream in high quality,” said Carlo.
“Lola Igna” (ERJ Found Film Production Co.)
“I guess what is interesting in this story is the premise which echoes the issues of being an old person because there is a sense of loneliness and longingness while talking about the values of communities and family. It has emotional elements reason why the audience will love this film,” said Phang.
Synopsis: An elderly woman finds her life disrupted when her family and village realize she has a chance at a world record for being the oldest grandmother alive. (Lola Igna was awarded Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Musical Score and Best Actress at the 2019 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino Awards Night)
Director: Eduardo W. Roy Jr.
Cast: Angie Ferro, Yves Flores, Meryll Soriano, Maria Isabel Lopez, Royce Cabrera, Jojo Riguerra, Armando A. Reyes
Release date: June 18, 2020 “I felt flabbergasted when I got the news from Netflix that the team loved my film, not just one but two of my films. I’m personally thankful to Netflix for introducing ‘Lola Igna’ and ‘Ordinary People’, to a larger audience, not only in the Philippines, but to the whole world. Now my films can be easily accessible anytime, and anywhere around the world,” said Roy.
“Untrue” (Viva Communications, Inc.)
Synopsis: Mara moves from the Philippines to the country of Georgia, where she meets a mysterious man, Joachim. They develop feelings for one another, until Joachim claims to hear peculiar sounds and see visions of a strange woman.
Director: Sigrid Andrea Bernardo
Cast: Cristine Reyes, Xian Lim
Release date: June 22, 2020
“Ordinary People” (ERJ Found Film Production Co.)
Synopsis: Barely making a living as pickpockets, a teenage couple in Manila resort to desperate measures when their onemonth-old child is kidnapped. (Ordinary People was awarded Best Film, Best Editing, Best Actress, Best Director at the 12th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, as well as Best Actress at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and FAP Awards)
Director: Eduardo W. Roy Jr.
Cast: Ronwaldo Martin, Hasmine Kilip, Maria Isabel Lopez, Sue Prado, Ruby Ruiz, Raymon Lee, Karl Medina, Erlina Villalobos, Menggie Cobrarrubias
Release date: To be announced