Brillante Mendoza's AMO streaming on Netflix April 9

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AMO is a 13-episode series which bears the acclaimed auteur’s patented gritty, hard-hitting, cinema vérité style of storytelling. Starring Derek Ramsay, Vince Rillon, Allen Dizon and Felix Roco.

AMO will be made available globally to Netflix viewers starting April 9.

The series was initially set to premiere on TV5 last year Aug. 25 when Netflix acquired it from TV5.

A first on Philippine television. Catch it on TV5, in partnership with multi-awarded film director Brillante Mendoza  starting April 21.

SUMMARY

Set on the background of the Philippine Government’s War On Drugs and the rampant vigilantism against suspected illegal drug personalities, JOSEPH is a high school student peddling crystal meth, locally known as“shabu”, to his fellow gang members. While getting his supplies from a local drug pusher, he and his fellow gang member, JAY, are caught in a hot pursuit operation by the police. A crossfire erupts as the latter escaped the scene while Joseph is brought to the police station together with other drug suspects.

Eventually, Joseph bails out of prison thanks to his junior-ranked police officer uncle, CAMILO (Allen Dizon). 

But as the news of Joseph’s alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade spreads within the community, he and his gang are now the target of the local authority’s crackdown on suspected drug users and peddlers, coined as Oplan Tokhang. To save Joseph from further conflict, Camilo uses his influence over the Barangay Captain to strike out his nephew’s name out of the list of suspected drug personalities in the community.

Now with a clear name, Joseph discovers that Jay is a police asset spying on their gang; but too late to save their gang leader, RODEL, and his family from the violent wrath of police vigilantes. With Edgar now assuming the gang’s leadership, they vow to even the score with the traitor. The gang murder’s Jay in a dark alleyway, with Joseph leaving a cardboard note on his lifeless body –  

“Adik Ako. Huwag Tularan.”

Days after the Jay’s killing, Joseph transfers to her sister’s apartment in Manila to avoid further conflict with the law. However, he will be introduced to a bigger crime scheme by his brother-in-law, BINO, who is a big time Shabu distributor.

A police encounter led to the killing of HOWARD, a high-end drug peddler who party drugs around clubs in Metro Manila.

GENER, a big time drug lord, orders his subordinate Bino to stop distributing Shabu for the meantime and fill the spot that Howard left. Bino sets-up a meeting with REGGIE and ALEX, club owners of a high-end club in Taguig and tells them his intention to supply party drugs to their patrons.

In return, he will give 20% of the gross sales to Reggie and Alex for allowing the illicit trade to happen inside the club. But for Bino to penetrate the youngsters, he taps Joseph and his friends, Edgar and Tisoy, to serve as his arm in selling the party pill inside the club.

As condition, Bino will give his motorcycle to Joseph if they get the job done.

However, a female customer from a prominent family overdosed herself with the party drug, killing her eventually.

In reaction, an undercover police unit, led by RODRIGO (Derek Ramsay) raids the club and Edgar falls prey to the police entrapment. While Joseph and Tisoy escapes the scene, riding the motorcycle with their supplies.

Right after the incident, Joseph and Tisoy meets Bino in a gasoline station, where the latter instructs Joseph to come with him.

Bino introduces Joseph to Gener as they return the remaining supply of party drugs. As soon as Bino and Joseph got home to Jillian’s apartment, news breaks out that Joseph and Tisoy are now wanted for selling the party pill.

Bino orders Joseph to tell Tisoy to meet them in Maharlikha Village, where Bino lets his friend, RASUL to chop off the parts of the motorcycle to evade police hunt. But little that they know, Tisoy was under surveillance by Rodrigo’s team and was tracked down along his way to Maharlikha Village.

A fire fight breaks loose between the police force lead by Rodrigo and Rasul’s group with the help of Bino. On their way out of the alleyway, Tisoy and Bino are shot dead while Joseph escapes the scene. 

MAIN CAST	CHARACTER
DEREK RAMSAY	RODRIGO MACARAEG
FELIX ROCO	BINO
VINCE RILLON	JOSEPH
ALLEN DIZON	CAMILO  (UNCLE)
APOLLO ABRAHAM	ABNER
RUBY RUIZ	MYRNA (MOTHER)
DEXTER MACARAEG	ENTENG (FATHER)

Power Mac Center collaborates with Brillante Mendoza, Shaira Luna to mentor young creative

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Power Mac Center has always been all-out in supporting technology-assisted creative expression. Just recently, the premier Apple partner gathered young creatives, mostly photographers and videographers, in an event called Lounge to help them build connections in the industry, get to interact and learn first-hand from professionals like Director Brillante Mendoza and Shaira Luna, and discover powerful devices to boost their craft.

Young creatives get up close with Power Mac Center and LaCie brand ambassadors Director Brillante Mendoza and Shaira Luna to learn tricks of the trade at the Lounge, a meet-up of creative minds to connect them with professionals and help them discover powerful devices to boost their craft.

In partnership with LaCie, a French brand of digital storage solutions, Power Mac Center was able to get internationally acclaimed Director Brillante Mendoza to talk about his experience in the film industry and give the young creatives tips in filmmaking.

“I use several cameras on the set. I use three to four cameras on the set. 4K lahat so mabibigat yung mga files so on the set, we make sure na right after the shoot or even during the shoot actually, kailangan tina-transfer and LaCie is really very useful in that aspect,” Mendoza told his audience.

An independent filmmaker through and through, Mendoza enjoys the full creative freedom to tell his story the way he wants to. His biggest challenge though, was sourcing for funds. So in order to secure his hard work, which is the film itself, Mendoza makes sure to invest in equipment that are reliable and provide him with complete peace of mind.

Meanwhile, for her part, professional fashion and advertising photographer Shaira Luna talked about what drives her to follow her passion in photography and how LaCie complements her on-the-go lifestyle and keeps her file transfer speedy and protected.

“I’m very thankful that I have LaCie to back me up. I just have so many pictures if only you know. I’ve started organizing my Instagram into color themes because I just have that many photos,” Luna said.

Luna loves being a photographer because it allows her to travel and meet a lot of people, especially creative minds she gets to work with in the process.

“Power Mac Center shares LaCie’s commitment to support the creative community. More than anything, we provide solutions to the demands of the industry from creatives of today,” said Power Mac Center Marketing Director Joey Alvarez.

An evening of fun, learning, and discovery, the Lounge event was meant to bring creatives together and “lounge” with industry movers to share/brew ideas. LaCie will continue to hold such pocket events for its new products this 2018.

LaCie is Seagate’s premium brand of world-class storage solutions designed for Mac users, photographers, videographers, audio professionals, and other power users. Its products are available in Power Mac Center stores nationwide. 

For more information as well as updates on future events, follow @powermaccenter on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

Brillante Mendoza's Amo on TV5

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Award-winning director, Brillante Mendoza, brings us yet another masterpiece with AMO. Amo is a crime miniseries that tackles one of today’s most controversial topics – the Philippine government’s war on drugs.

Brillante Mendoza

This 12-episode miniseries is set against the background of the country’s War on Drugs and depicts situations including the rampant vigilantism against suspected illegal drug personalities. It features the story of Joseph, a high school student peddling crystal meth or “shabu” initially to his fellow gang members and later on to a much bigger market inMetro Manila. Amo also shows the controversies revolving around the Philippine National Police in the government’s campaign against drugs as well as its role in rightfully enforcing it.

Derek Ramsay

TV5 President Chot Reyes, Derek Ramsay, Vince Rillon, Brillante Mendoza and Allen Dizon

Allen Dizon 

Cast and crew of Amo 

Heads of TV 5 and Amo TV Series Cast and Director Brillante Mendoza at the Amo Press Conference held at Seda Hotel, North Vertis , Quezon City 

Leading the cast of this cinematic television creation is Vince Rillon who plays the role of Joseph the young drug peddler and one of the country’s leading actors – Derek Ramsay who plays the role of a good cop. Joining the cast as well are Allen Dizon, Felix Roco, Apollo Abraham, Archie Adamos with the special participation of Baron Geisler.

Amo is yet another dauntless television masterpiece by Brillante Mendoza which reflects TV5’s strong commitment to provides quality differentiated entertainment content. 

Catch Brillante Mendoza’s AMO premieres on August 20, 9:30PM every Sunday on TV5.

SYNOPSIS

Set on the background of the Philippine Government’s War On Drugs and the rampant vigilantism against suspected illegal drug personalities, JOSEPH is a high school student peddling crystal meth, locally known as“shabu”, to his fellow gang members. While getting his supplies from a local drug pusher, he and his fellow gang member, JAY, are caught in a hot pursuit operation by the police. A crossfire erupts as the latter escaped the scene while Joseph is brought to the police station together with other drug suspects.

Eventually, Joseph bails out of prison thanks to his junior-ranked police officer uncle, CAMILO (Allen Dizon). 

But as the news of Joseph’s alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade spreads within the community, he and his gang are now the target of the local authority’s crackdown on suspected drug users and peddlers, coined as Oplan Tokhang. To save Joseph from further conflict, Camilo uses his influence over the Barangay Captain to strike out his nephew’s name out of the list of suspected drug personalities in the community.

Now with a clear name, Joseph discovers that Jay is a police asset spying on their gang; but too late to save their gang leader, RODEL, and his family from the violent wrath of police vigilantes. With Edgar now assuming the gang’s leadership, they vow to even the score with the traitor. The gang murder’s Jay in a dark alleyway, with Joseph leaving a cardboard note on his lifeless body – 

“Adik Ako. Huwag Tularan.”

Days after the Jay’s killing, Joseph transfers to her sister’s apartment in Manila to avoid further conflict with the law. However, he will be introduced to a bigger crime scheme by his brother-in-law, BINO, who is a big time Shabu distributor.

A police encounter led to the killing of HOWARD, a high-end drug peddler who party drugs around clubs in Metro Manila.

GENER, a big time drug lord, orders his subordinate Bino to stop distributing Shabu for the meantime and fill the spot that Howard left. Bino sets-up a meeting with REGGIE and ALEX, club owners of a high-end club in Taguig and tells them his intention to supply party drugs to their patrons.

In return, he will give 20% of the gross sales to Reggie and Alex for allowing the illicit trade to happen inside the club. But for Bino to penetrate the youngsters, he taps Joseph and his friends, Edgar and Tisoy, to serve as his arm in selling the party pill inside the club.

As condition, Bino will give his motorcycle to Joseph if they get the job done.

However, a female customer from a prominent family overdosed herself with the party drug, killing her eventually.

In reaction, an undercover police unit, led by RODRIGO (Derek Ramsay) raids the club and Edgar falls prey to the police entrapment. While Joseph and Tisoy escapes the scene, riding the motorcycle with their supplies.

Right after the incident, Joseph and Tisoy meets Bino in a gasoline station, where the latter instructs Joseph to come with him.

Bino introduces Joseph to Gener as they return the remaining supply of party drugs. As soon as Bino and Joseph got home to Jillian’s apartment, news breaks out that Joseph and Tisoy are now wanted for selling the party pill.

Bino orders Joseph to tell Tisoy to meet them in Maharlikha Village, where Bino lets his friend, RASUL to chop off the parts of the motorcycle to evade police hunt. But little that they know, Tisoy was under surveillance by Rodrigo’s team and was tracked down along his way to Maharlikha Village.

A fire fight breaks loose between the police force lead by Rodrigo and Rasul’s group with the help of Bino. On their way out of the alleyway, Tisoy and Bino are shot dead while Joseph escapes the scene. 

Brillante Mendoza Presents: Monthly Made-For-Television Movies By TV5

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Photo shows from left: Lloyd Manaloto, Head of Digital 5 and of Network Marketing, TV5 ; Chot Reyes, President, TV5 ; Brillante Mendoza ; Mel Yazon, First Vice President and Head of programming and acquisition. (Photo : http://brillantemamendoza.com/news/)

TV5 is bringing another first to Philippine free television! After its unmatched sports coverage of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) season, fearless news reporting segments and its unique Tagalized versions of popular US television series, it will now give the Filipino audience the brilliance of a world-class director right in their homes.

On December 19, 2016, TV5 proudly announced its collaboration with acclaimed director Brillante Ma. Mendoza for its newest offering, Brillante Mendoza Presents. The show will feature made-for-television movies created exclusively forTV5.

Photo shows from left: Lloyd Manaloto, Head of Digital 5 and of Network Marketing, TV5 ; Chot Reyes, President, TV5 ; Brillante Mendoza ; Mel Yazon, First Vice President and Head of programming and acquisition.

The name Brillante Mendoza is synonymous with excellent films that reflect the unfiltered realities of society. Viewers can expect the same quality of storytelling and craftsmanship in Brillante Mendoza Presents. For TV5, this is a testament to their commitment to provide viewers with shows that raise the level of free TV entertainment.

Brillante Mendoza has been making the rounds of international film festivals since his first movie Masahista in 2005. He is the only Filipino to have won Best Director in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival for his feature film Kinatay, a story of a young man who suddenly finds himself in a criminal syndicate. Most recently, his film about a small-time drug dealer in dire need of bail money, Ma’ Rosa, earned a Best Actress award for the Jaclyn Jose at the Cannes Film Festival.

Brillante Mendoza’s success in the international arena has given so much pride for the Philippines. With Brillante Mendoza Presents, TV5 is giving the director another space to feature his work and reach out to Filipinos from all walks of life. The stories will be authentic and unique, definitely a far cry from the usual TV dramas. Brillante Mendoza Presents will air once a month starting January 2017 on TV5.

Don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind opportunity to watch the work of a true film master. Tune in to TV5 for more updates on this new program.

Director Brillante Mendoza talks about MA‘ ROSA

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2009 Cannes Best Director Brillante Mendoza talks about MA‘ ROSA, his inspiration, and the challenges in making the film.

Describe Ma’Rosa in one sentence

MA‘ ROSA shows us a glimpse of a Filipino family set on a typical district in Manila, giving us a slice of life in a community.

What made you pursue the story behind Ma’ Rosa?

The idea of this film came up four years ago when I became indirectly involved with the said incident. It captured my interest to tell this story because it shows a unique but also disturbing characteristic of a common Filipino family. That when a family member is backed against the wall for the wrong doings that he or she made, you will do everything to keep them out of trouble even if it means violating basic virtues. In a society where survival of the fittest is a fact that we have to live with, family becomes amoral.

What were the challenges in putting the story together for the screen?

The whole film was treated like a documentary film with a strong feel of realism, using found objects and locations in production design. But what seems to be a simple production endeavor is actually a formidable challenge to any filmmaker because even though this was filmed in a minimalist manner, the truth is we are still doing a feature film with real actors trained in different disciplines of acting. 

In able for us to capture the precision raw emotions, I told them to throw away everything that they have learned in their acting profession and just act plain and natural as their characters since they should blend with non-actors on screen. 

We heard that you shot the sequences without any script? Why is this?

That’s correct. The actors were never given a copy of the script and were only directed based on how I commute the script. Dialogs were delivered very naturally as they depend on their personal instincts throughout the film. In fact, sequences were filmed in the same order as the story so that the actors can relate to the plight of their character as the shooting progresses. The feeling of uncertainty must materialize on screen as the editing subscribes to the main character’s point-of-view as we follow their account of what transpired that evening.

After Ma’Rosa, what’s next?

A lot of films are in the pipeline. Also a bigger Sinag Maynila for 2017. There is of course the The Brillante Mendoza Film Workshop which is part of my advocacy to “rethink and redefine cinema”.  This is also my way of giving back and training new generations of film makers and storytellers.

Mendoza is known for his advocacies and groundbreaking films that tackle social issues. He is committed in sharing his knowledge and experience in filmmaking with a new generation through his works and workshops.

Ma' Rosa is Mendoza’s 4th film to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival in France. The first one was Serbis in 2008, which was nominated for the coveted Palme d'Or (Golden Palm). In 2009, Mendoza won Best Director at Cannes for his film Kinatay, and in 2015, his movie Taklub was given the Ecumenical Jury-Prize Special Mention.

Ma’Rosa gave the Philippines and Southeast Asia its first acting award when Jaclyn Jose won as Best Actress in the 69^th Cannes Film Festival. Among the nominees were Charlize Theron, Marion Cotillard, Isabelle Huppert, and Kristen Stewart.

The Philippines will get to see what the buzz is all about come July 6 as Ma’Rosa opens in cinemas nationwide.

Ma’ Rosa SYNOPSIS

ROSA, owns a small community convenience store connected to their home in the slums of Metropolitan Manila. Together with her husband, NESTOR, they use their convenient store as cover-up for selling illegal narcotic, Methamphetamines. Their fate changes when their neighbor sets them up for a police raid leading to the couple’s arrest; a ploy for extortion. Backed against the wall, Rosa seeks help from her children, JACKSON, RAQUEL and KERWIN as they do the daunting task to buy their parent’s freedom.

Brillante Mendoza’s ‘Taklub’ ('Trap') stars Nora Aunor showing starts September 16

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There’s a time for everything. A time to tear down … and a time to build.

A heartbreaking film, Taklub offers engaging drama about individuals struggling to mourn lost loved ones and rebuild their normal lives at the same time. 

"Taklub" stars Nora Aunor with Julio Diaz, Aaron Rivera, Ruby Ruiz, Soliman Cruz and Lou Veloso, directed by Brillante Ma. Mendoza and screenwritten by Honeylyn Joy Alipio, and with Creative Consultant Armando Lao.

SYNOPSIS 

Taklub is a story of three major characters - Bebeth, Larry and Erwin, whose lives intertwine after super typhoon Haiyan left the city of Tacloban in a horrendous state. They search for the dead while trying desperately to keep their sanity intact, and to protect what little faith may have.

Bebeth (Nora Aunor) searches for the remains of her three children in the hopes that any identified records could match a DNA test from those buried at the mass grave. Larry (Julio Diaz) lost his wife and consoles himself by joining a group of devout Catholics carrying a life-size crucifix around the city. Erwin (Aaron Rivera) and his elder brother try to hide the truth of their parents’ death from their little sister.

As if grieving from the loss of their loved ones is not enough, a series of events, both man-made and natural, continue to test the endurance of the characters along with the rest of the people, waiting for a time to wipe those slow repugnant tears.

Released by: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) thru Solar Pictures

Check these links for more stories and details:

Trailer: https://youtu.be/G8I-TWyYYgk

Extend movie clip from Cannes Film Festival: https://youtu.be/DClWJsjDSs8

Cannes Film Festival Photocall: https://youtu.be/kEv4n3DSm78

Articles:

Brillante Mendoza’s ‘Taklub’ premieres at Cannes, gets rave reviews http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/490438/lifestyle/artandculture/brillante-mendoza-s-taklub-premieres-at-cannes-gets-rave-reviews

Paje hails 'Taklub' success in Cannes

http://www.denr.gov.ph/news-and-features/latest-news/2204-paje-hails-taklub-success-in-cannes.html

‘Taklub’ wins Ecumenical Jury Prize-Special Mention in Cannes

http://entertainment.inquirer.net/170845/taklub-wins-in-cannes

Don't miss to watch Brillante Ma. Mendoza's TAKLUB ('Trap') starting on the 16th of September in selected theaters nationwide.

Cinemas:

Gaisano Grand Mall Davao

Gateway Cineplex

Robinsons Movieworld Galleria

SM Cinema Fairview

SM Cinema Megamall

SM Cinema North EDSA

SM Cinema Sta Mesa

2012 Metro Manila Film Festival winners

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"One More Try" was proclaimed Best Picture during the 38th Metro Manila Film Festival Awards night held at the Meralco Theater in Ortigas, Pasig City on Thursday, December 27. The awards night  was hosted by Kris Aquino and KC Concepcion.

Ruel S. Bayani's “One More Try” is a very unique family drama. This film shares a brave plot that tackles about a loving single mother  who is willing to sacrifice everything to save her ill son.

“El Presidente” was named 2nd Best Picture while “Sisterakas” won 3rd Best Picture.

Nora Aunor of “Thy Womb” the Best Actress award and Dingdong Dantes won the Best Actor award for the movie “One More Try.” 

Brillante Ma Mendoza won Best Director for "Thy Womb." 

Here's the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival complete list of winners:

Youth Choice Award: "EL PRESIDENTE"

Best Festival Float: "EL PRESIDENTE"

Best Sound: "EL PRESIDENTE"

Best Musical Score: "EL PRESIDENTE"

Best Theme Song: "EL PRESIDENTE"

Best Make Up: "EL PRESIDENTE"

Best Child Performer: MIGUEL VERGARA FOR "ONE MORE TRY"

Best Visual Effects: "SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL 14: THE INVASION"

Best Production Design: "THY WOMB"

Best Editing: VITO CAHILIG FOR "ONE MORE TRY"

Best Cinematographer: ODYSSEY FLORES FOR "THY WOMB"

Most Gender Sensitive Award (MAINSTREAM): "THY WOMB"

FPJ Memorial Award for Excellence: "ONE MORE TRY"

Best Supporting Actor: CESAR MONTANO FOR "EL PRESIDENTE"

Best Supporting Actress: WILMA DOESNT FOR "SISTERAKAS"

Best Original Story: HENRY BURGOS FOR "THY WOMB"

Best Screenplay: "ONE MORE TRY"

Best Director: BRILLANTE MENDOZA FOR "THY WOMB"

Gatpuno Villegas Cultural Award: "THY WOMB"

3RD Best Picture: "SISTERAKAS"

2ND Best Picture: "EL PRESIDENTE"

Best Picture: "ONE MORE TRY"

Best Actor: DINGDONG DANTES FOR "ONE MORE TRY"

Best Actress: NORA AUNOR FOR "THY WOMB"

For the New Wave: 

Full Length New Wave Best Actor: ALLAN PAULE FOR "DAYAK"

Full length New Wave Best Actress:  LIZA DINNO FOR "IN NOMINE MATRIS"

New Wave Best Picture: "THE GRAVE BANDITS"

New Wave Special Jury Prize: "AD IGNORATIAM"

New Wave Best Director: TYRONE ACIERTO FOR "THE GRAVE BANDITS"

Student Short Films Category

Best Short Film: "Pukpok" (DLSU)

Most Gender Sensitive Film Award: "Manibela" (FEU)

Special Jury Prize: "Tagad" (USC)



Special Awards

Gender Sensitivity Special Award (New Wave): "In Nomine Matris"

Gender Sensitivity Special Award (Mainstream): "Thy Womb"

Gender Sensitivity Special Award (Shorts): "Manibela"

FPJ Memorial Award: "One More Try"

Gatpuno Villegas Award: "Thy Womb"



Other Awards: 

Stars of the Night: Nora Aunor, former President Joseph Estrada

SMDC Male Celebrity of the Night: Zanjoe Marudo

SMDC Female Celebrity of the Night: Bianca King

“Thy Womb (Sinapupunan)” is one of the 8 entries in Metro Manila Film Festival 2012.

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Another award-winning masterpiece of the celebrated independent filmmaker Brillante Ma Mendoza , “Thy Womb (Sinapupunan)” is one of the 8 entries in Metro Manila Film Festival 2012.

This film stars internationally acclaimed actress Nora Aunor, who is making a comeback in the movie industry. She play as Shaleha Sarail, a Badjao midwife in Tawi-Tawi. She struggles to cope with the irony of her own infertility amidst the deprivation of her community. A saga of island life stuck between the devil of passion and the deep blue sea of tradition.

The province is a seaweed-producing spot in the southern most part of the Philippines down to the Malaysian and Indonesian archipelagos. Aging and still smarting from three miscarriages in the past, Shaleha agonizes over her failure to bear a child. Though an adoptive parent to her nephew, she still feels that her husband Bangas-An (Bembol Roco) desires to be a father. To fulfill her husband’s only wish and to be blessed by Allah--in her belief that having a child is a tangible proof of divine grace--Shaleha resolves to find a new partner for her husband. Night and day, she and her husband sail from their floating village to nearby island communities in search of a fertile woman. Providentially, Shaleha finds the girl as recommended by friends. But on the eve of her husband’s second marriage to Mersila (Lovi Poe), jealousy gnaws and consumes Shaleha.

Thy Womb (Tagalog: Sinapupunan) is a 2012 Filipino drama film starring Nora Aunor, Bembol Roco Mercedes Cabral, and Lovi Poe. Produced by Center Stage Productions and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the film is written by Henry Burgos and directed by 2009 Cannes Film Festival Best Director Brillante Mendoza.

Watch “Thy Womb (Sinapupunan)” to  be shown in theaters nationwide on December 25, 2012.

"Captive" - Even A Choice Is Not An Option

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Captive is about self-preservation, about survival in the face of hardships and situations beyond one’s control.

The story of Captive is adapted from the Dos Palmas kidnapping of two US missionaries by the Abu Sayyaf Group in 2001.

On May 27, 2001 members of the Abu Sayyaf Group abduct 20 local and foreign tourists from the DOS Palmas resort in Palawan and transport them via a fishing boat across the Sulu Sea to the island of Basilan.

On the boat, the ASG demand ransom from the hostages. One of the hostages arranges an easy transfer of the ransom to a bank in Zamboanga, the reason why the group makes a stopover in Lamitan City hospital en route to their hideout in the mountains. A bullet mistakenly shot by one of the ASG leaders at a passing military truck triggers a military assault on the hospital that lasts the whole day the next day.

Amid the firing, three hostages are freed after what is implied as payment of ransom. Four more hostages are taken from the hospital staff when the group leaves, even if the kidnappers release three others with orders to arrange ransom for their loved ones whom the kidnappers are taking with them in the mountains. Two are left behind after being wounded from ambush assault by the militia.

The first natural casualty of the kidnapping is an old Filipina social worker, who dies during the journey. Her companion, Therese Bourgoine, a French social worker, wins a score over the kidnappers when she succeeds in giving Soledad a Christian burial.

On the eve of Philippine Independence Day, the kidnappers beheaded one of the foreign hostages, a result of a failed negotiation with the government.

Finally, the military manages to stage a daring rescue. Only Therese Bourgoine and the missionary Sophie Bernstein are saved alive from the clutches of the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Directed by the 2009 Cannes Film Festival Best Director winner, Brillante Ma Mendoza. 

"Taking into account all these factual events, what to me is more essential, is the fact that we are all 'victims' in a larger scheme of things. We become insignificant when placed in a bigger picture, especially when we are faced up with nature's rage." 

- Brillante Mendoza

A Film by Brillante Ma. Mendoza, Official Philippine Entry to the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival.   Will be shown in France / Philippines / Germany / Great Britain. 

Swift Productions in association with Centerstage, B. A. Produktion, Studio 

Eight Productions, Arte France Cinema

This is in 120 minutes In English, Tagalog, French, Tausug, Hookien, Chavacano with English subtitles. Rated “A” by the Cinema Evaluation Board.

Starring Isabelle Hupper, (Two-time Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Awardee) and with special participation of Coco Martin.

With Ronnie Lazaro, Raymond Bagatsing, Sid Lucero, Mon Confiado, Timothy Mabalot, Tado, Neil Ryan Sese, Pipo Alfad, Raul Morit, Perry Dizon, Kristoffer King, Oliver Gaton, Bombi Plata, Raymond Nullan, Lauren Novero, Vince Rillon, Ronaldo Nacianceno, Rustica Carpio, Kathy Mulville, Mercedes Cabral, Mark Zanneta, Peter Overbeeke, Madeline Nicolas, Maria Isabel Lopez, Bianca Zialcita, Bobby Jerome Go, Bernard Palanca, Jon Achaval, Jelyn Chong, Goldilyn Uy, Elizabeth Chua, Archie Adamos, Bea Garcia, Richard Manabat, Boom Latorre, Jess Evardone, Nico Antonio.

The movie is also with Angel Aquino, Allan Paule, Che Ramos, Marinela Lumeran, Anita Linda, Arlyn de la Cruz, Joel Torre, Perry Escaño, Evelyn Vargas-Knaebel, Harold Montano, Micah Muñoz, Cris Garrido

"Captive" will have its Philippine Philippine premiere at SM Pampanga on 02 September 2012.
Gala premiere at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 2 on 03 September 2012. Regular cinema screening starts on 05 September 2012. This is released by Star Cinema.