“The history of [Philippine] cinema tells the history of our country,” says 25-year-old experimental filmmaker Raya Martin.
“Movies become historical accounts of a people’s struggle in a particular period. When a movie studio ceases to exist, it marks the death of an historian. What we are left with are the memories of a memory maker. We only stand before what was there that was not ours,” says Martin, who made Philippine cinema history by being the first Pinoy to be accepted at the prestigious Cinefondation Residence of the Cannes Film Festival and having two entries at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.
The Japan Foundation in Manila celebrates Philippine-Japan Friendship Month with a film festival, “Eigasai ’09,” that aims to enhance Filipinos’ understanding and appreciation of Japanese arts and culture.
Kicking off at the Shang Cineplex Cinema 3 on July 2, 2009, the festival features one anime and seven contemporary films in 35mm format. An invitational screening of Always–Sunset on Third Street (Always San-chome no yuhi, 2005) by director Yamazaki Takashi will be held on July 2, 2009, Thursday, 7 p.m. at the Shangri-La Plaza Cinema 3, Edsa, Mandaluyong City.
Eighteen-year-old Chase Vega is set to conquer the big screen as he stars in Peque Gallaga’s newest film entitled Agaton & Mindy. Inspired by the classic story of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” the film is a coming-of-age story about two 15-year-old dance scholars. There are no feuding families at all, except for the two star-crossed lovers whose hearts fight the complexities and craziness that love brings them.
Agaton & Mindy, which will open in Philippine theaters on May 27, is one of the six films to be showcased under the Sine Direk Series project through the partnership of the Directors Guild of the Philippines Inc. (DGPI) and APT Entertainment Inc.
The recently released official soundtrack of the first Pinoy full-length digital film Dayo features tunes from some of the best performers of the Pinoy music industry.
World-class performer and Broadway star Lea Salonga sings the inspirational theme song “Lipad,” which speaks of the desire to reach new heights. The film’s score was recorded by the FILharmoniKA with Gerard Salonga conducting.
A more upbeat version of “Lipad,” played in the Edsa flying scene in the movie, is performed by upcoming band Roots of Nature, newly launched by music label Sony BMG. Dayo executive producer Jessie Lasaten observes that the appropriately named Roots of Nature is the most logical choice for the song as a new band trying to break out and fly.
Mabuhay ka, Pilipino!
Spread Love not Spam
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