"Isda" to be shown in Toronto film fest

"Isda" (Fable of the Fish), one of the entries in the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, will be exhibited at the Toronto International Film Festival which starts on September 8.

Joining the Isda delegation in Toronto are director Adolfo Alix, Jr., actress Evelyn Vargas and producer Jonas Gaffud.

Isda will also be exhibited at the Pusan International Film Festival in Korea in October with lead stars Cherry Pie Picache and Bembol Roco in attendance.

In between trips to this two film festivals, Adolfo will be busy taping for the soap opera Hiyas for ABS-CBN which stars Zanjoe Marudo, Maegan Young and Mercedes Cabral.

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The stage musical Sweet Charity ended its run last Saturday but Ciara Sotto, one of the performers of the said musical, couldn’t get over her excitement of having been a part of the production. She so enjoyed herself with her stint in Sweet Charity that Ciara is hoping for a repeat.

It means Ciara has found another calling as a theater actress although she intimated that she really wanted to be a theater actress when she was younger, even before she entered showbiz. But when she became a Viva contract star, the movies beckoned and she forgot momentarily her desire to become a theater actress. Now a more mature performer, Ciara found herself taking on acting stints in theater and is gaining immense pleasure with it. She was also part of the remake of Rent which was staged by the same company behind Sweet Charity.

"Doing stage plays gives me so much pleasure. There is immediate response from the audience and it makes you all the more fulfilled after a performance. It’s worth all the time you spent rehearsing your lines and music," she said.

Another thing that Ciara finds enjoyment in is doing an indie film. She is cast in the award-winning movie "Patikul" which won the Audience Choice Award at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival last July. "I really felt good when Direk Joel Lamangan called me up personally and offered me a role as a young Muslim mother. I even had dialogues in Tausug," she added.

"What I also liked in Patikul was the fact that I was deglamorized for the role to make me look believable as a young mother. I don’t mind playing a mother role as long as the role is good and I was challenged by it," said Ciara.

"One thing more about doing an indie film is that no one is treated like a superstar. Everyone is on equal footing. I had a good time doing an indie film and I am looking forward to doing another one."

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The Cinemalaya 2011 hit movie "Ligo na U, Lapit na Me" with Best Actor winner Edgar Allan Guzman and sexy actress Mercedes Cabral will have a special benefit screening for Joseph Bitangcol, who is part of the cast of this movie,

Billed as "Ligo na U, Para kay Joseph," the special screening will be held tomorrow night, September 1, at the UP Film Center at 7 p.m. The proceeds of the special screening will be given to Joseph who figured in an accident some weeks ago. He had to undergo an operation for the injuries he sustained in the accident.

Noel Ferrer, the producer of "Ligo Na U, Lapit na Me," as well as its director Erick C. Salud, is calling on everyone to support this benefit showing for the sake of helping a fellow actor. You are not only supporting a beautiful movie but is also helping a friend in time of need.

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Star Records, the leading recording company in the country and Cherry Mobile, the fastest-growing company in the local mobile communications industry, have teamed up to create and deliver Cherry Music, a fresh and amazing service for music enthusiasts.

With the aim of providing Cherry Mobile users the ultimate mobile entertainment experience, Cherry Zone suite of applications extended its services and added Cherry Music, an extensive music library that is sure to satisfy music fanatics.

Cherry Music enables avid fans to download up to 100 free songs from their favorite Star Records artists for 45 days after purchasing their Cherry Mobile handset.

Best hits from top music icons like Toni Gonzaga, Erik Santos, Maria Aragon, Marie Digby, Jaime Rivera, Bugoy Drilon, and many more artists have been compiled to give Cherry Mobile Users the ultimate music entertainment possible.

Cherry Music marks the first unique partnership of its kind for Cherry Mobile and delivers an exciting artist connection to music fans. It is just one of the value-added services found in Cherry Zone which also offers various apps and games downloads as well as info text, push e-mail, and instant messaging services exclusive to all Cherry Mobile phone users.