IT is every filmmaker’s dream to have his movie entered into a film festival like Cannes, considered as the Best Festival outside Hollywood. The past winners of the Cannes Film Festival include popular Hollywood actors as Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory), Joaquin Phoenix (You Were Never Really Here), Benicio del Toro (Che), Tommy Lee Jones (The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada) among others. In the
Best Actress race, Julianne Moore (Maps to the Stars), Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia), Penelope Cruz (Raymunda), Helen Mirren (The Madness of King George) and our very own Jacly Jose (Ma’Rosa) got the jurors’ nod.
Next to the main festival is the Cannes World Film Festival where the likes of Jennifer Lopez (Draw with Me), Priscilla Presley (Land of the Free: In the Shadows) and Lambert Wilson (Selfish) won acting honors.
This year, the Philippines’ entry, my latest directorial job, Minsa’y Isang Alitaptap (International Title: Once A Firefly) was chosen as official entry to the Best Foreign Film category. The movie stars award-winning veteran actress Gina Pareno, versatile actress Teresa Loyzaga and Indie Prince Ron Macapagal with the special participation of the current matinee idol Diego Loyzaga. Under the screenplay of Marvin Gabas and Paola Villena produced by Mrs. Teresita Tolentino Pambuan, Minsa’y Isang Alitaptap already gave us instant joy when it was selected an official entry. But just yesterday, we were informed that our movie already reached the level as Semi-Finalist in the festival which has 45 countries in competition. We are praying really hard that this family drama will
reach the level of a finalist, and eventually win as Best Foreign Film. Nevertheless, reaching this far (Semi-Finalist) is already a distinct honor for everyone involved in the production of the movie.
Due to public demand, the unusual family drama, Minsa’y Isang Alitaptap directed by Romm Burlat, which talks about love, relationship, hatred, separation and reunion has extended its showing until January 15, 2022 on Ktx of ABS-CBN and Ticket2me. Get your tickets now and find out why a lot of people are talking about this movie.
