It was all about music and making dreams come true at the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Wish” nationwide music caravan

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Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Wish” is now showing in cinemas

Believe in the power of wishes and make them come true in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Wish,” now showing in cinemas. Don’t miss the newest animated musical fantasy film that takes you on a magical and musical adventure celebrating Disney’s 100 years of storytelling.

As part of celebrating the release of “Wish,” a nationwide music caravan with was held at SM Mall of Asia, SM City Clark, SM Seaside Cebu, and Ayala Malls Central Bloc allowing fans all over the Philippines to get connected to the single “Aking Hiling,” the Tagalog version of the global single “This Wish” as performed by this generation’s pop princess, Zephanie. Disney fans can continue listening to the song on Spotify. Stay tuned as the official music video will launch soon.

Zephanie’s Wish Bus performance at SM MOA last November 18

Zephanie sings inside the Wish Bus at Clark, Pampanga on November 22

Last stops of the music caravan held on November 25 at and SM Seaside Cebu 

and Ayala Center Central Bloc

“Wish” tells the story of a young girl named Asha (Ariana DeBose), who lives in the magical kingdom of Rosas, a place where wishes come true. After finding out the hidden truth behind the kingdom and its ruler King Magnifico (Chris Pine), she sets out on a quest to save the kingdom. Together with her trusty goat Valentino, and a ball of energy named Star, they try to save everyone’s wishes and help them come true.

Zephanie together with a cosplaying fan of Asha at SM Seaside Cebu

Follow Disney Studios Philippines on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube for the latest news and promos. Join the conversations online using #WishPH.

‘Replacing Chef Chico’: First Filipino-Produced Series Puts Love on the Menu

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For Filipinos, romance and food make a sizzling combination, and the first local Netflix production in a series format serves up a zesty love triangle set against the backdrop of a high-end fine dining restaurant.

Replacing Chef Chico is the brainchild of director Dan Villegas, assistant director Joi Bayan, and showrunner Antoinette Jadaone. It stars three of the biggest names in the local entertainment industry — Piolo Pascual (My Amanda), Alessandra de Rossi (My Amanda and What If) and Sam Milby (A Family Affair).

Offering a glimpse into the high-stakes and competitive culinary world, the series’ trailer introduces viewers to the main characters whose lives become intertwined at Hain, a fictional up-and-coming fine dining restaurant that specializes in customizing each dish to mirror their diners’ unique life stories. But things take an unexpected turn when titular character Chef Chico (Milby) gets into an accident, leaving him in a coma. The fate of Hain is suddenly left in the hands of his sous chef Chef Ella (de Rossi) and a newly hired consultant Raymond (Pascual), who has more than just the restaurant on his mind.

Speaking to a panel of press and outlets in the “See What’s Next” event on September 18, acclaimed showrunner Antoinette Jadaone (Fan Girl and That Thing Called Tadhana) shared that her inspiration for Replacing Chef Chico came from her love for food-related shows.

Recommending the series for holiday viewing, she added: “I think it’s perfect for the Christmas season because, at its core, it’s about love, friendship, and acceptance. Each episode tells a story of family, friendship, and love, all celebrated over food.”

Both Jadone and Villegas (Exes Baggage and Always Be My Maybe) also expressed their excitement over the evolving media landscape and what it means for the future of streaming and media consumption in the Philippines. Replacing Chef Chico was produced for Netflix in association with CS Studios and Project8.

Catch Replacing Chef Chico on November 24, only on Netflix.

MMFF 2023 Official Entries for 49th edition

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The MMFF Selection Committee decides to have 10 official entries this year

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recently (Oct. 17) announced the 10 official entries to the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival.

The official MMFF 2023 entries based on finished film formats are:

1. BECKY AND BADETTE

by The Ideafirst Company

Starring Eugene Domingo and Pokwang

DIRECTED & WRITTEN BY: Jun Robles Lana

2. BROKEN HEARTS TRIP

by Smart Films Productions, OPC in cooperation with BMC Films

Starring Christian Bables, Andoy Ranay, Teejay Marquez, Marvin Yap, Iyah Mina, and Petite

DIRECTED by: Emuel Lorca

WRITTEN by: Archie Del Mundo

3. FIREFLY

by GMA Pictures (of GMA Network Inc.)

Starring Alessandra De Rossi, Cherry Pie Picache, Yayo Aguila, Ysabel Ortega, Max Collins, Euwenn Mikaell, Epi Quizon, Miguel Tanfelix, and with the special participation of Dingdong Dantes

DIRECTED by: Zig Madamba Dulay

WRITTEN by: Angeli Atienza

4. GOMBURZA

by Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc.

Starring Enchong Dee, Cedrick Juan and Dante Rivero

DIRECTED by: Pepe Diokno

WRITTEN by: Rodolfo Vera and Pepe Diokno

5. MALLARI

by Mentorque Productions

Starring Piolo Pascual

DIRECTED by: Derick Cabrido

WRITTEN by: Enrico C. Santos

6. WHEN I MET YOU IN TOKYO

by JG Productions

Starring Christopher De Leon and Vilma Santos

DIRECTED by: Conrado Peru, Rommel Penesa, and Christopher De Leon

WRITTEN by: Suzette Doctolero

7. Family of Two (A MOTHER AND SON'S STORY) 

by Cineko Productions, Inc.

Starring Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards

Written by Mel Mendoza-del Rosario  

Directed by Nuel Naval

8. K(AMPON) 

by Quantum Films 

Starring Derek Ramsay and Beauty Gonzales 

Written by Do Dayao

Directed by King Palisoc

9. PENDUKO 

by Sari Sari Network

Starring Matteo Guidicelli and Cristine Reyes 

Written and Directed by Jason Paul Laxamana 

10. REWIND

 by ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc., APT Entertainment, Inc. and Agostodos Pictures, Inc.

Starring Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera

Written by Joaquin Enrico Santos

Directed by Mae Cruz Alviar

The movies were selected from a record-high of 30 submissions, by distinguished members of the MMFF selection committee, led by respected producer and film industry stalwart Jessie Ejercito.

The criteria used in the selection of official entries are artistic excellence (40 percent), commercial appeal (40 percent), Filipino cultural value (10 percent), and global appeal (10 percent).

MMDA said the production can now start the promotional efforts for the 49th MMFF which will run from Dec. 25, 2023 to Jan. 7, 2024 in theaters nationwide.

The Parade of Stars in the sponsor cities of CaMaNaVa (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela) will be held on Dec. 16 or 17, 2023 and the Gabi ng Parangal will be on Dec.27.

Netflix’s first-ever Station ID features an ensemble of Filipino stars for See What’s Next: Philippines 2023

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 It’s giving early Christmas!

Christmas comes early as Netflix kicks off the holiday season by unveiling a See What’s Next: Philippines 2023 lineup of local titles featured in the first-ever Netflix Station ID. The stars of three new Filipino titles coming soon on Netflix—Can’t Buy Me Love (Belle Mariano, Donny Pangilinan), Keys to the Heart (Zanjoe Marudo, Elijah Canlas), and Replacing Chef Chico (Piolo Pascual, Alessandra de Rossi, Sam Milby)—went Christmas caroling at Barangay Netflix together with the country’s sought-after celebrities who starred in recent hits Missed Connections (Miles Ocampo, Kelvin Miranda, Chie Filomeno), and What If (JM de Guzman), two local films that reached the Number 1 spot on Netflix’s top list after their launch on the service. The stars of Seasons (Lovi Poe, Carlo Aquino), another top film that debuted on Netflix, also sent their holiday greetings.

The video is full of Christmas spirit—and Easter eggs for all the Pinoy Netflix titles! Can you spot all six of them? 

• There’s season’s greetings from Seasons’ Kurt and Charlie (Lovi Poe and Carlo Aquino) on a neighbor’s gate.

• Sneak a peek at Keys to the Heart’s Dolly de Leon on a vinyl cover.

• Keys to the Heart’s vinyl record spins as the carolers sing.

• Sing along to Can’t Buy Me Love flashing on a karaoke machine.

• A Bingo shaker, a nod to one of Can’t Buy Me Love’s main characters, doubles as an instrument.

• Peep the Replacing Chef Chico crates as our stars gather for a feast.

Netflix is home to a diverse offering of the best Filipino stories and talents. At the See What’s Next: Philippines 2023 launch, top local directors expressed how excited they were for their titles to be part of this year’s local lineup and why they’re perfect for the Pinoy Christmas.

“Christmas is about family, familial love, friends and it’s during [this] season when we try to evaluate the life that we had the past year, the milestones, failures, disappointment. Just like in our film, What If. What if iba nangyari sa buhay natin in the past year? What if kinuha ko ito or what if ’di ko ginawa ito? So I think it’s also not just a love story, it also helps us reflect kung ano nangyari sa buhay natin,” said Manny Palo, director of What If.

Keys to the Heart director Kerwin Go shared that his upcoming film is a must-watch this holiday season because “Keys to the Heart is a family dramedy. It’s a celebration of family, unconventional families, meaning blended families. It could be a family that you adopt and friends who become family and neighbors who actually become just as important.”

“Replacing Chef Chico is about Ella, the sous chef who takes over Hain’s kitchen. I think it’s perfect for the Christmas season because on the top level it’s about love, friendship, and acceptance,” said director Dan Villegas.  

Replacing Chef Chico showrunner Antoinette Jadaone added, “For Christmas, perfect panoorin with your family, friends, and loved ones yung Replacing Chef Chico because, in every episode, there is a story of family, friendship and/or love, which is celebrated over food. It’s about time that Filipino food gets its proper spotlight. With this series, it’s a Filipino-produced original Netflix series, it’s a celebration of not just family, friends, or love but tayong mga Pinoy will be celebrating the Filipino food that we eat each day. When other countries watch the series, mafi-feel din nila iyon.”

This holiday season, See What’s Next: Philippines 2023’s lineup showcases best-in-class local content available and coming soon on Netflix. These films and series are the perfect watchlist to celebrate a Pinoy Christmas with family and friends. 

REPLACING CHEF CHICO

Launch date: Coming soon

Directed by: Dan Villegas

Showrunner: Antoinette Jadaone

Cast: Piolo Pascual, Alessandra de Rossi, Sam Milby

CAN’T BUY ME LOVE

("Courtesy of Netflix")

Launch date: October 13

Watch the date announcement here

Directed by: Mae Cruz Alviar

Cast: Donny Pangilinan, Belle Mariano

Logline: Donny plays “Bingo,” a popular online seller juggling different jobs, while Belle plays “Caroline,” who hails from a traditional wealthy Chinese family. 

KEYS TO THE HEART

("Courtesy of Netflix")

Launch date: Coming soon

Directed by: Kerwin Go

Cast: Zanjoe Marudo, Elijah Canlas, Dolly de Leon

Logline: Troubled and alone, a boxer moves in with his long-lost mother and autistic pianist brother — but must fit in with a family he hasn't known for years.

WHAT IF

("Courtesy of Netflix")

Launch date: Now streaming on Netflix

Directed by: Manny Palo

Cast: Alessandra de Rossi, JM de Guzman

Logline: When a pair of newlywed musicians get trapped in a storm on their island honeymoon, they must face difficult truths that could tear their marriage apart.

SEASONS

("Courtesy of Netflix")

Launch date: Now streaming on Netflix

Directed by: Easy Ferrer 

Cast: Lovi Poe, Carlo Aquino

Logline: After a string of failed relationships, two best friends make a deal to take risks and look for love again — but they might just find it in each other.

MISSED CONNECTIONS

("Courtesy of Netflix")

Launch date: Now streaming on Netflix

Directed by: Jelise Chung

Cast: Miles Ocampo, Kelvin Miranda, Chie Filomeno

Logline: After an unforgettable encounter, a hopeless romantic turns to an app to seek out a man she just met — but is he really what she’s looking for?

#SeeWhatsNextPH

#NetflixMasNa

#BrgyNetflix

For more updates on upcoming Filipino stories on Netflix, follow @netflixph on 

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok

Lee Byung-Hun, Park Seo-Jun and Park Bo-Young Invite Fans to Watch ‘Concrete Utopia’ in Philippine Cinemas

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"Concrete Utopia” stars Lee Byung-hun, Park Seo-jun and Park Bo-young have a special message for their Filipino fans. Watch the video:

Directed by Um Tae-hwa, Concrete Utopia is loosely based on Part 2 of the hit webtoon “Joyful Outcast” (“Pleasant Neighbors”) and stars an ensemble of A-list Korean actors including Lee Byung-hun, Park Seo-jun, Park Bo-young, Park Ji-hu, Kim Do-yoon and Kim Sun-young. It is a disaster thriller about the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. The film will follow the story that begins when the survivors gather at Hwang Gung Apartments, the only building left standing in an earthquake-ravaged Seoul.

The film is a sobering parable, following its characters’ gradual descent into ruthless tribalism in a way that eerily mirrors so many contemporary global events.

Concrete Utopia opens in Philippine cinemas September 20. Can’t wait? Catch a sneak preview today. Sneak previews are available only until September 12.

 For the list of cinemas, see here.

Connect with the hashtag #ConcreteUtopiaMoviePH

Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick Back in ‘Trolls Band Together’

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This holiday season, get ready for an action-packed, all-star, rainbow-colored family reunion like no other as Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake return for the new chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s blockbuster musical franchise: Trolls Band Together.

After two films of true friendship and relentless flirting, Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) are now officially, finally, a couple (#broppy)! As they grow closer, Poppy discovers that Branch has a secret past. He was once part of her favorite boyband phenomenon, BroZone, with his four brothers: Floyd (Golden Globe nominated electropop sensation Troye Sivan), John Dory (Eric André; Sing 2), Spruce (Grammy winner Daveed Diggs; Hamilton) and Clay (Grammy winner Kid Cudi; Don’t Look Up). BroZone disbanded when Branch was still a baby, as did the family, and Branch hasn’t seen his brothers since.

But when Branch’s bro Floyd is kidnapped for his musical talents by a pair of nefarious pop-star villains—Velvet (Emmy winner Amy Schumer; Trainwreck) and Veneer (Grammy winner and Tony nominee Andrew Rannells; The Book of Mormon)—Branch and Poppy embark on a harrowing and emotional journey to reunite the other brothers and rescue Floyd from a fate even worse than pop-culture obscurity.

Featuring Trolls’ signature psychedelic joy-bomb of new and classic pop hits, Trolls Band Together stars a dazzling cast of musical superstars and comedic powerhouses as new franchise characters, including four-time Grammy nominee and Latin Grammy winner Camila Cabello (Cinderella) as Viva; Zosia Mamet (The Flight Attendant) as Crimp; and 12-time Emmy winning drag icon RuPaul Charles as Miss Maxine.

The returning cast includes Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Zooey Deschanel as Bridget; Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Gristle, the Icona Pop duo Aino Jawo and Caroline Hjelt as Satin and Chenille, Grammy winner Anderson .Paak as Prince D, comedian Ron Funches as Cooper, SAG nominee Kunal Nayyar as Guy Diamond and Emmy winning Saturday Night Live legend Kenan Thompson as Tiny Diamond.

Trolls Band Together is steered by returning director Walt Dohrn and producer Gina Shay, and is co-directed by Tim Heitz (head of story, Trolls World Tour). DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls films—2016’s Trolls and 2020’s Trolls World Tour—have sung and danced their way to record-breaking success, earning an Oscar® nomination for Best Original Song and fueling one of the largest and most beloved entertainment brands in the world.

Netflix Series The Story Unmasked: Meet the three faces of Mo-mi in Mask Girl

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“Why did you kill people?”

Mask Girl

Ko Hyun-Jung, Nana, and Lee Han Byeol portray Kim Mo-Mi in distinct phases of her life. Each actor adds a new layer to the character as she transforms throughout the series. Prepare to unmask the truth of Mask Girl, now streaming on Netflix.

About Mask Girl

Title: Mask Girl

Directed & Written by: Kim Yong-Hoon

Starring: Ko Hyun-Jung, Ahn Jae-hong, Yeom Hye-ran, Nana

Distributed by: Netflix

Production: House of Impression, BONFACTORY

Release Date: August 18, 2023

Mask Girl: Unmasking the The Twisted Truth behind Three Names, Three Lives, Three Murders

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Photo: Netflix

Ahead of its much-anticipated debut on Netflix on August 18, upcoming series Mask Girl is setting the stage for its intriguing story through three main posters and a new trailer

https://youtu.be/JuLy6BFBHSs

The trailer grips viewers’ attention right from the start, with main character Kim Mo-Mi accepting her sins in a chilling voice. What follows is a roller coaster ride through Mo-Mi's life, from her unassuming job as an office worker, to becoming a popular Cam model masked girl, and ultimately ending up as prisoner number 1047, who appears repentant yet dreams of escape. This rapid succession of her multiple identities leaves viewers craving to know more about the mysterious story behind her many faces.

In an impressive display of talent, three actors – Ko Hyun-Jung, Nana, and a new talent yet to be revealed – portray Kim Mo-Mi in distinct phases of her life. Each actor contributes a unique shade to this character as she transforms throughout the series.

Photo: Netflix

Photo: Netflix

The suspense-filled series also features an ensemble of vivid characters. Here’s a snapshot of the key players.

• Kim Mo-Mi: Forced to live three lives under three different names, - Kim Mo-Mi, the corporate employee Showgirl A-reum, and Prisoner Number 1047 - she becomes this enigmatic character who relishes the applause and adoration of her online audience, even as her life off-camera is filled with unhappiness due to her complex appearance. An unforeseen incident triggers her transformation into a murderer, adding yet another identity to her tumultuous life.

• Ju Oh-Nam: Played by Ahn Jae-hong, he is an office worker whose only pleasure is watching internet broadcasts after work. When he realizes Mask Girl is his co-worker Kim Mo-Mi, he develops a fixation that takes over his life. Ahn describes his character as "a company employee who wants to erase his presence during the day, and to show his presence in his own world at night." The actor focused on depicting "a man's heart that started with the wrong direction right from the beginning," raising anticipation for his portrayal of the character's hidden depths.

• Kim Kyung-Ja: Portrayed by Yeom Hye-ran from The Glory, she is a mother whose entire world revolves around her son. When her son goes missing, she begins a relentless pursuit to find him. Yeom says: "I hoped that Kim Kyung-Ja's revenge would not be motivated only by her motherhood.I wanted to include various complex conflicts originating from her age, religion, and other beliefs, and I had many discussions about these conflicts, which arise as she rushes towards a large and clear goal called revenge." Her nuanced analysis has sparked curiosity about the character.

Director Kim Yong-Hoon describes these characters as "Injured, marginalized individuals," each tangled in the web of a murder mystery. The blurred lines between good and evil create a captivating narrative filled with ambiguity.

With its layered characters and intricate plot, Mask Girl is set to redefine mystery-thrillers. Prepare to unmask the truth of Mask Girl, beginning August 18, only on Netflix. 

About Mask Girl 

Title: Mask Girl

Directed & Written by: Kim Yong-Hoon

Starring: Ko Hyun-Jung, Ahn Jae-hong, Yeom Hye-ran, Nana

Distributed by: Netflix

Production: House of Impression, BONFACTORY

Release Date: August 18, 2023