The Berlin International Film Festival has just released the titles of the first five films entered in the Competition section of the festival, along with five more films for the Berlinale Special. One of the films in competition is Brilliante Mendoza's Captive. The prestigious festival runs from February 9-19.
The last time a Filipino film competed in the main section of Berlin was 29 years ago, with Ishmael Bernal's Himala, which won the Viewer's Choice Award for the Best Film of all Time from the Asia-Pacific Region, beating out nine other outstanding movies. The ten finalists were chosen by critics, industry insiders and actors
Based on a real-life event that occurred in 2001, Captive is about Therese Bourgoin (French actress Isabelle Huppert), a French woman who works for a humanitarian organisation on Palawan island in the Philippines. She is kidnapped by mistake with a colleague while transporting relief to Palawan by Abu Sayyaf, a terror group fighting for the secession of Mindanao from the Philippines.
How does it feel being considered for the competition section of the Berlinale?
Very happy. It's an honour to have my work included in competition along with highly regarded film-makers. There are other great works being showcased in the festival from such acclaimed directors as Zhang Yimou (The Flowers of War) and Stephen Daldry (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close).
The Berlin filmfest, if I'm not mistaken, is also one of the biggest film markets in the world, second only to Cannes, so it is important to be here. Captive and the Philippines will gain the attention not only of festival-goers, but also of film distributors and producers from all over the world.
How does the cast feel about the announcement? (Captive, which also stars Filipino actors Ronnie Lazaro, Raymond Bagatsing, Angel Aquino and Sid Lucero, will compete with Antonio Chavarrias' Dictado from Spain and Edwin's Postcards From the Zoo from Indonesia, among others.)
Very pleased, especially Isabelle. We had a private screening in Paris two weeks back, and she was happy with the final cut. And now that it's in Berlin, she's even more pleased.
Being included in the main competition of a major festival will help boost awareness of Filipino cinema, and will open doors for other Filipino film-makers.
What are you currently working on?
I am doing some research for a new project, details of which I cannot disclose. But it's something about Mindanao again; it's a truly fascinating place. So rich in heritage and culture, and it has so much promise I wonder why it's not being realised.
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Alessandra gets award
Kapuso actress Alessandra de Rossi got the surprise of her life last week when she was told she would receive the 2011 Pugliesi nel Mondo, a prestigious Italian award, recognising outstanding citizens from the region of Puglia. The actress received the award from Italian actor Beppe Convertini. De Rossi was born to Filipina Nenita Tiotangco and Italian Luigi Schiavone, who hails from Martano, Puglia. She won the Best Supporting Actress at the Famas Awards at the age of 16 for her role in the film Azucena. She also starred in Busong, which received a standing ovation when it premiered at the Cannes Directors' Fortnight last May.
Turned down
Acclaimed actress Iza Calzado was said to have casually said no to an invitation from her designer Paul Cabral for her to join Philippine president Noynoy Aquino and some associates for a friendly dinner. The bachelor president was earlier rumoured to be in pursuit of the Fil-Canadian beauty after they met at a showbiz gathering some months back. The palace has never been secretive about the love affairs of the president, or the lack of it. But there has no official denial or confirmation of the invitation to Calzado.
Airport scene
Actress Angelica Panganiban released a statement about tabloid reports pointing to her as the actress who created a scene at Manila's international airport on arrival from an overseas trip. Panganiban admitted she had a "small verbal tussle" with a customs employee, but explained she only raised her voice because she was treated rudely. According to the actress, she was told she would have to pay taxes for some luxury bags she bought in Canada. When she asked how much she would have to fork out, she was abruptly dismissed and rudely ordered to go to another counter. "I don't mind paying, but at least she could have told me what I had to do with a little bit more respect," said Angelica.
Best actor
Dingdong Dantes is happy his movie with Kris Aquino, Segunda Mano, is getting rave reviews. Aquino was even generous enough to say, quite out of character, that the Metro Manila Filmfest entry is the actor's movie. It received the highest grade from the Cinema Evaluation Board, and early reviews from critics indicate Dingdong could be in line for the filmfest's Best Actor Award.
