Tanging Ina, Iskul Bukol Top MMFF’s 1st Day Earnings

According to the box-office report from the festival insider, Star Cinema’s entry to this year’s MMFF - “Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat” - leads 1st day earnings.

Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat is the sequel to the no. 1 all-time box-office hit “Ang Tanging Ina” which was shown in 2003. The movie is topbilled by Ai Ai delas Alas and Eugene Domingo among others and directed by Wenn de Ramas for Star Cinema.

There are early predictions that the Ai Ai delas Alas-starrer will lead the box-office race and it looks like it’s heading to reality as tickets for the Star Cinema movie were sold out in some SM Cinemas. The said comedy film is rated G by the MTRCB for the whole family to enjoy.

Running in second place is Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After. Tito, Vic and Joey reprises their role in the film adaptation of their hit tv sitcom 20 years ago. Directed by Tony Reyes, expect to catch several stars making a cameo in the movie including Bong Revilla Jr., Manny Pacquiao and Sharon Cuneta.

In 3rd place is the 10th installment of the popular horror franchise Shake, Rattle and Roll. The Regal Films entry is topbilled by Gerald Anderson, Kim Chiu and Marian Rivera.

On the other hand, two entries received the highest grade of “A” for excellence in filmmaking from the Cinema Evaluation Board. The Viva Films entry “Baler” and the Jinggoy Estrada-Christopher de Leon starrer “Magkaibigan” will be exempted from paying amusement tax to the government for receiving the “A” grade. Apparently, “Baler” badly needed the tax exemption because according to reports, it is the highest-budgeted film among the 8 entries of the Metro Manila Film Festival this year.

The Awards Night is happening on December 27. Among the 8 entries, Magkaibigan and Baler are expected to haul trophies including Best Picture. Unless, another surprise is in store.

The Metro Manila Film Festival will run from December 25, 2008 to January 7, 2009 in theaters nationwide.

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2008/12/26/tanging-ina-iskul-bukol-top-mmffs-1st-day-earnings/

'Ploning' director wins Asian Festival award

"Ploning", the independent movie starring Judy Ann Santos, continues to reap accolades after its director, Dante Nico Garcia, won an award in the annual Asian Festival of 1st Films Wednesday.

Garcia won the best director award in the annual film fest, which saw over 600 submissions from 26 countries.

"Firaaq," told through the eyes of ordinary people after deadly communal riots in India's Gujarat in 2002, won its director Nandita Das best film, best screenplay/script and the Foreign Correspondents Association award for best film.

Das, an actress known for her roles in bold, unconventional productions, said she took three years to write a script that was continually influenced by real life events, including bombings.

Various Indian and Pakistani films were nominated for awards at the festival, but other honors went to Bosco Francis (best male actor) for Singapore's "My Magic" and China's Jia Xuhua as best actress in "The Mountain and the Song."

Female leads were nominated for their portrayals of suffering Asian women, from transvestites in Iran's "Khastegi" (Sex My Life) to a sexual predator wearing painfully tight outfits in South Korea's "Miss Gold Digger."

Source: http://perfect10movies.blogspot.com/2008/12/ploning-director-wins-asian-festival.html