ANC’s “Mukha” Wins First Cannes Award For ABS-CBN News

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ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel recently made history after its “Mukha” documentary series snagged a Silver Dolphin at the 7th Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards last October 13 in Cannes, France. This is ABS-CBN News’ first trophy from the prestigious award-giving body.

“Mukha” won in the Current Affairs, Human Concerns & Social Issues category for its episode “Sisid,” which is about a father who dives underwater for sand as a way to make a living.

ABS-CBN Integrated News & Current Affairs head Ging Reyes accepted the award, together with “Mukha” executive producer Hera Sanchez, producer Kelvin Paulino, and DocuCentral and “Mukha” director Dan Buenaventura.

Receiving the award, from left to right: Dan Buenaventura, director of photography; Hera Sanchez, executive producer; Ging Reyes, SVP of ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs; and Kelvin Paulino, program producer. (Photo by Danny Cabellon)

Reyes said “Mukha’s” historic win was a welcome surprise for the team, which only wanted to share the plight of sand divers in the Davao River.

“This particular documentary shows us what the Filipino is made of, no matter his status in life. It is very heartwarming for us in ABS-CBN News to know that there are people who really give help to the people we have featured in “Mukha,”she said.

Paulino, one of the episode’s producers, said the award gives them motivation to continue doing what they do.

“We knew the story was special but we didn’t expect that their plight will also resonate with the international audience. The DocuCentral team is a small documentary team and this award affirms our mission to share the struggles and triumphs of the Filipino people,” he said.

“Mukha” is a world-class TV production of DocuCentral, the documentary arm of ABS-CBN. “Sisid” joins other“Mukha” episodes that also made it to other prestigious competitions such as “Aruga” (Finalist, 2016 New York Festivals), “Sagwan” (Finalist, UNICEF Child’s Rights Awards 2015; Nominee, Lasallian Scholarum Awards 2015), “Musmos (Finalist, UNICEF Child’s Rights Awards2015), “Titser” (Official Entry, Documentary Section, Cinemalaya 2015), and “Kamusmusan” (Nominee, Lasallian Scholarum Awards 2015).

The Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards are conferred annually to honor the world’s finest corporate films, online media and TV productions, in one of the most important film centers, world-renowned Cannes, France.

Stay tuned for the next episode of “Mukha” on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel.

For more information on the DocuCentral and “Mukha” series, visit “Mukha’s” official Facebook account (www.facebook.com/MukhaTV) and news.abs-cbn.com/anc.

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

Star Cinema and Reality Entertainment action-thriller "OTJ" (On The Job) with Piolo, Gerald and Joel Torre

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Star Cinema and Reality Entertainment action-thriller "OTJ" (On The Job) with most of the talented actors in the country namely Piolo Pascual, Gerald Anderson, Joey Marquez and Joel Torre and directed by award-winning film director Erik Matti, is finally set on August 28, 2013.

Direk Erik Matti was inspired to make action after the thriller - horror genres of Tiktik:The Aswang Chronicles.

"OTJ" features Piolo as an NBI agent who aims to hunt down Gerald's character who is a professional hitman.

Director Erik Matti, leading man Piolo Pascual and comedian/host Joey Marquez shared so many interesting stories about their experience in France and the making of OTJ film, during the blogcon last Sunday held at the ABS-CBN bldg.

Direk Eric said that “OTJ” can stand as a film because of its interesting story. This is not just an ordinary action movie It’s not like other regular local action movies that have scenes like actors are punching their face to each another, brutality, killing, and others, OTJ features a lot of action sequences and chase scene ever in Philippine cinema.

You must watch this film because it is a movie that has lot of action sequences you never watch in other local action films.

As Direk Erik shared his feelings on the film OTJ needed more push. "We feel that this project, if this works in the mainstream, this will open up the doors to other films in mainstream and that would be good for us as an industry na marami ng iba-ibang movies yung magagawa.”

"For years puro lang tayo female-driven movies. Now yung mga lalaki ang tatamad narin tumayo at manood hanggat hindi pinipilit mag-date,”he added.

Joey Marquez said that this film opens up the gate to widen our views na maraming pwedeng mangyari na akala natin hindi nangyayari."

"If this works in the mainstream, this will open up the doors to other kinds of films and that will be good for us." Direk Erik said.

"I think you just have to have respect for the craft. You don't bring your work home kasi yun ang time mo sa sarili mo e," Piolo added.

"If you look at my filmography lahat ng di pwedeng gawin, yun ang ginagawa ko. Nung hindi uso ang bold, gumawa ako ng bold. Masaya lang kasi na you can do other things other than what's accepted and you'll find out if people will bite the project or not. And easily if it doesn't work, charge it to experience."

"Sometimes you want to push what you can offer the audience kasi di ba if you keep on doing the same thing parang [wala rin siya.] This one is a risk, I know, but we're happy with the kind of action film that we're doing because it is a modern Pinoy action film," Matti added.

"Whether you're a fan of action or not, we think everyone's going to enjoy the film."

Direk Erik said that “OTJ” was screened at the Directors’ Fortnight at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. The film received standing ovation during its premiere at the 66th Cannes Film Festival. The Erik Matti masterpiece was one of the 21 feature films of the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight section of Cannes.

Also part of the “OTJ” are Lito Pimentel, Angel Aquino, Shaina Magdayao. Empress, Leo Martinez, Vivian Velez Dawn Jimenez, and Rayver Cruz.

Don’t miss the internationally-acclaimed Star Cinema and Reality Entertainment's action-thriller “OTJ” (On The Job), showing in cinemas nationwide on August 28, 2013.

For more information, please visit www.starcinema.com.ph, 

like http://www.facebook.com/StarCinema 

and follow @StarCinema on Twitter