31st GAWAD URIAN Nominees

THE MANUNURI ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the society of respected film critics, has announced the nominees for the 31st annual Gawad Urian for excellence in filmmaking.

Independent digital features dominate the best picture race: “Confessional” (Creative Programs, Inc. through Cinema One Originals and Oddfield Productions), “Endo” (UFO Pictures Production), “Foster Child” (Seiko Films), “Death in the Land of Encantos” (Sine Olivia Pilipinas), “Tirador” (Centerstage Productions), and “Tribu” (8 Glasses Productions).

“Confessional” is about a neophyte documentary filmmaker and the explosive confession of a provincial mayor. Jerrold Tarog, its director, is nominated for best director (along with co-director Ruel Dahis), as well as best actor, screenplay (aka Ramon Ukit), editing (aka Pats R. Ranyo), and sound. Publio Briones III, who plays the mayor, is nominated for best supporting actor.

“Endo,” about the personal and economic struggles of a contractual worker in the retail industry, is also nominated for best actor (Jason Abalos), actress (Ina Feleo), director (Jade Francis Castro), supporting actress (Alcris Galura), screenplay (Castro, Michiko Yamamoto, Raymond Lee), and production design (Jhek Cogama).

“Foster Child,” about a surrogate mother to a boy set to be adopted abroad, is also nominated for best actress (Cherry Pie Picache), director (Brillante Mendoza), supporting actress (Eugene Domingo), supporting actor (Jiro Manio), screenplay (Joel Jover and Ralston Jover), production design (Benjamin Padero), cinematography (Odyssey Flores), and sound (Emmanuelle Clemente and Arnold Reodica).

Brillante Mendoza is also nominated for best director for “Tirador,” about petty criminal syndicates around Quiapo. Aside from best picture and director, the movie is also nominated for supporting actor (Kristoffer King and Benjamin Fileo), supporting actress (Angela Ruiz), screenplay (Ralston Jover), production design (Harley Alcasid and Deans Habal), cinematography (Mendoza, Jeffrey de la Cruz, Gary Tria and Julius Villanueva), music (Teresa Barrozo), and sound (Ditoy Aguila and Junel Valencia).

“Death in the Land of the Encantos,” about how people try to pick up the pieces after a devastating typhoon much like the one that hit Bicol in 2006, is also nominated for best actor (Roeder Camanag), direction and screenplay (Lav Diaz), and production design (Diaz again and Dante Perez).

“Tribu,” about Tondo rasta-street gangs, is also nominated for best director and screenplay (Jim Libiran), actor (O.G. Sacred), supporting actress (Malou Crisologo), production design (Armi Cacanindin), editing (Lawrence Ang), music (Francis de Veyra), and sound (Ditoy Aguila).

World-renowned Filipino filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik, whose internationally award-winning 1977 film, “Mababangong Bangungot” (Perfumed Nightmare) earned acclaim from Francis Ford Coppola and Werner Herzog, will receive the Natatanging Gawad, the critics’ lifetime achievement award.

Winners will be announced during colorful formal ceremonies next month to be produced by APT Productions.

The Manunuri is chaired by Mike Rapatan of the communications department of De la Salle University.

Members are Nicanor Tiongson, former artistic director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board; Bienvenido Lumbera, 1993 Ramon Magsaysay Award laureate; Gigi Alfonso, chancellor of the UP Open University; Mario Hernando, Sunday Malaya editor; columnist and television personality Butch Francisco; Roland Tolentino, professor of the UP College of Mass Communications; and Lito Zulueta, Inquirer editor and professor at the University of Santo Tomas.

Complete list of nominees:

PICTURE: Confessional (Creative Programs, Inc. thru Cinema One Originals and Oddfield Productions), Endo (UFO Pictures Production), Foster Child (Seiko Films), Death in the Land of Encantos (Sine Olivia Pilipinas), Tirador (Centerstage Productions), Tribu (8 Glasses Productions)

DIRECTOR: Adolfo Alix Jr. (Tambolista), Jade Francis Castro (Endo), Lav Diaz (Death in the Land of Encantos), Jim Libiran (Tribu), Brillante Mendoza (Foster Child and Tirador), Jerrold Tarog and Ruel Dahis Antipuesto (Confessional), Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos (Selda)

SCREENPLAY: Jade Castro, Michiko Yamamoto, Raymond Lee (Endo), Lav Diaz (Death in the Land of Encantos), Joel Jover and Ralston Jover (Foster Child), Ralston Jover (Tirador), Jim Libiran (Tribu), Jose Javier Reyes (Katas ng Saudi), Ave Regina S. Tayag (Tambolista), Ramon Ukit (aka Jerrold Tarog) (Confessional)

ACTRESS: Glaiza de Castro (Still Life), Ina Feleo (Endo), Cherry Pie Picache (Foster Child), Judy Ann Santos (Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo), Lorna Tolentino (Katas ng Saudi)

ACTOR: Jason Abalos (Endo), Jerrold Tarog (Confessional), Roeder Camanag (Death in the Land of Encantos), Jinggoy Estrada (Katas ng Saudi), Sid Lucero (Selda), Jiro Manio (Tambolista), Romnick Sarmenta (Prinsesa), O. G. Sacred (Tribu)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Malou Crisologo (Tribu), Eugene Domingo (Foster Child), Anita Linda (Tambolista), Liza Lorena (Katas ng Saudi), Ara Mina (Selda), Angela Ruiz (Tirador)

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Publio Briones III (Confessional), Benjamin Fileo (Tirador), Alcris Galura (Endo), Emilio Garcia (Selda), Sid Lucero (Tambolista), Jiro Manio (Foster Child), Coco Martin (Tambolista)

PRODUCTION DESIGN: Harley Alcasid and Deans Habal (Tirador), Armi Cacanindin (Tribu), Jhek Cogama (Endo), Lav Diaz and Dante Perez (Death in the Land of Encantos), Martin Masadao, Regie Regalado, Dante Garcia, and Endi "Hai" Balbuena (Pisay), Benjamin Padero (Foster Child), Danny Red (Selda), Baba Velasco and Vilma Velasco (Maling Akala)

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Rodolfo Aves Jr. (Kadin), Albert Banzon (Tambolista), Albert Banzon (Tribu), Jeffrey dela Cruz, Brillante Mendoza, Gary Tria and Julius Villanueva (Tirador), Odyssey Flores (Foster Child), Odyssey Flores (Selda), Larry Manda (Maling Akala), Dan Villegas (Still Life)

EDITING: Lawrence Ang (Tribu), Aleks Castaneda (Tambolista), Ray Defante Gibraltar (When Timawa Meets Delgado), Charliebebs Gohetia (Foster Child), Pats R. Ranyo (aka Jerrold Tarog) (Confessional)

MUSIC: Teresa Barrozo (Tirador), Vince de Jesus (Pisay), Francis de Veyra (Tribu), Khavn dela Cruz (Tambolista), Danny Gil (Maling Akala)

SOUND: Ditoy Aguila (Tambolista), Ditoy Aguila and Junel Valencia (Tirador), Emanuelle Clemente and Arnold Reodica (Foster Child), Mark Laccay (Tribu), Jerrold Tarog (Confessional)

SHORT FILM: Nominees be announced later.

Source: http://www.manunuri.com/

Aurora: A Double X-Rated Indie Film

Aurora, the Rosanna Roces comeback movie, has been slapped twice with an “X” rating by the MTRCB. Watch the trailer and decide for yourself if it’s an artfilm or porn.

The reviewers from the Movie Television Review and Classification Board or MTRCB ruled twice saying that the controversial rape scenes in the movie are not fit for public viewing. Director Adolfo Alix, Jr., on the other hand, stands by his cut of the film and is currently appealing the decision to Malacañang.

Alix, who also wrote the script for Aurora, was known for critically-acclaimed indie films such as Tambolista, Donsol (RP’s entry to the 2006 Oscars), Batanes and Adela.

Aurora stars Sid Lucero, Kristofer King, Angeli Bayani and Rosanna Roces. The film explores an intimate portrait of a captor and a captive as they both struggle to survive in the depths of a jungle.

A social worker named Aurora (Rosanna Roces) is kidnapped by members of the Lost Command. After a military raid in the middle of the night, she gets lost in the forest. She walks aimlessly in the thick forest, hoping to find her way out to freedom. She is found by Fadi (Sid Lucero), one of her captors. Aurora tries every way in order to run away. Will she see the break of dawn alive?

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2009/01/07/aurora-a-double-x-rated-indie-film/

Star Cinema And Viva Films: Working Girls

Anne, Angelica, Cristine, Toni at Kristine sa remake ng Working Girls
NALAMAN namin kay Viva Films Boss Vic del Rosario na sa January 29, 2009 na ang playdate ng Civil Status: Single, kung saan bida si Rufa Mae Quinto at kapareha ang sangkatutak na lalaki.

Sa press naman nalaman ni Boss Vic na interesado ang sexy comedienne na i-remake ang Working Girls.

Sa isa sa mga presscon ng Metro Manila filmfest entry na Desperadas 2, naikuwento ni Rufa Mae ang kagustuhang gawin uli ang movie ni Ishmael Bernal.

Kaya lang, nag-usap na pala si Boss Vic at ang Star Cinema at ire-remake nila ang nabanggit na pelikula. In fact, napili na ang cast.

Excited nga si Boss Vic sa cast na kinabibilangan nina Anne Curtis, Angelica Panganiban, Cristine Reyes, Toni Gonzaga at Kristine Hermosa.

Sa February na raw ang start ng shooting at director na lang yata ang kulang.

Nabanggit din ni Boss Vic na balak i-remake ng Star Cinema ang Bagets, pero mauuna sa TV bago ang pelikula.

Kumporme rito ang producer, dahil after 25 years, kailangan daw muling mapanood ang pelikula with a new cast.

Source: http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?s=8fdcc6974577a1c2e9c9846a83b8947c&t=378011

Richard Gutierrez Reunites with KC Concepcion in ‘When I Met U’

After the success of their first movie “For the First Time”, Richard Gutierrez will be reunited with mega-daughter KC Concepcion for the Valentines movie “When I Met U.”

When I Met U is co-produced by GMA Films and Regal Films as part of their exchange deal with Star Cinema in order to make the team-up of Richard and KC possible.

The first team-up of Richard and KC was with Star Cinema’s “For the First Time.” It was helmed by Dyesebel director Joyce Bernal. It became a monster hit to be the 3rd biggest pinoy movie of 2008 with a box-office gross of P134.7 million.

Can GMA/Regal surpass the amount hauled by the Star Cinema produced Richard-KC movie? Another obstacle that the film outfit recently faced was when the original director of When I Met U, Jose Javier Reyes, resigned due to tight schedule and creative differences. He was later replaced by Joel Lamangan.

The theme song of When I Met U was based on a classic Apo Hiking Society love song of the same title. It was revived by Sarah Geronimo in 2003 and now it was recorded by KC Concepcion for the music video of their movie.

When I Met U will hit theaters nationwide on February 11, 2009.

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2009/01/04/richard-gutierrez-reunites-with-kc-concepcion-in-when-i-met-u/

Butas (Loophole): The First Indie Film of 2009

Butas (Loophole) is a crime/mystery indie film starring Allen Dizon, Gwen Garci and Marco Morales.

Butas is about the elusiveness of truth in a crime of passion. It’s directed by Alejandro “Bong” Ramos, the one who helmed the award-winning indie film “Haw-Ang” (The Harvest).

Starring in Butas is former sexy actor Allen Dizon as the “weakling husband.” Viva Hot Babe Gwen Garci will play the role of Allen’s unfaithful wife.

Although Butas is a sexy movie, Allen does no undressing in this one. He is focused on making himself a serious actor.

“Tapos na ako sa paggawa ng sexy movie kaya pabayaan na lang ‘yan sa mga baguhan,” says Allen. “I really want to focus on having a more serious acting career.”

It’s newcomer Marco Morales (former member of SOP’s Showboys) who did all the bold scenes in Butas along with Mercedes Cabral who did full frontal nudity in “Serbis.”

Marco’s first movie role was a macho dancer in the Joel Lamangan film “Walang Kawala” where he did one scene of full frontal nudity. In “Butas”, he has no less than 12 revealing scenes showing his manhood.

Also starring in Butas are Dodie Dizon, Dinky Tibon and Froilan Moreno.

Butas (Loophole) will be screened at the Robinson’s IndieSine on January 15, 2009 with a special screening (Director’s cut) at the U.P. Cine Adarna on January 12.

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2009/01/05/butas-loophole-the-first-indie-film-of-2009/