Jennylyn shrugs off pressure to duplicate MMFF 2014 success

The production team of “Walang Forever” is also the same group who did “English Only, Please,” the surprise hit of the 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival. That’s why people are expecting that they could duplicate the success of the movie which gave Jennylyn Mercado her Best Actress award at last year’s festival.

Jennylyn also wishes that “Walang Forever,” directed by Dan Villegas (who won the filmfest best director plum last year), will be as successful as “English Only, Please,” but she added she will be happy with whatever success “Walang Forever” will achieve in the festival which opens on Christmas Day.

She also doesn’t want to pressure herself that she needs to win the best actress award just to prove that her win last year was no fluke. “We did our best to come up with an entertaining movie which we hope will appeal to the audience,” says Jennylyn, who gets the chance to work with Kapamilya hunk Jericho Rosales in this romantic-comedy from Quantum Films.

“I am also quite nervous because our movie is competing with star-studded films from other companies, which has strong loveteams as support,” said Jen. “But as I’ve said, I don’t want to stress myself. There is no pressure and I don’t want to pressure myself. I don’t want to entertain any kind of pressure. We will just accept what will happen.”

Jen recognizes they are up against formidable competition from big-time film producers who certainly have big budget and are supported by the big networks and their top-rating programs.

What is important, she said, is that they did their job well. And even if “Walang Forever” is handled by the same director who did “English Only, Please,” the difference between the two movies is very distinct.

She is working for the first time with Jericho (who replaced JM De Guzman, the first choice as leading man until some problems arose). “It is probably meant that Jericho should be my leading man. We just clicked the first time we met on the set. We hit it off well,” said the award-winning Kapuso actress.

***

We are not trying to start a war among the fans of Kim Chiu and Xian Lim, but at the recent presscon of “All You Need Is Pag-ibig,” a Star Cinema filmfest entry, we felt that the tandem of Jodi Sta. Maria and Ian Veneracion had the upperhand as far as support from fans was concerned.

The fans of Jodi and Ian were more active in cheering for the lovely couple featured in the teleserye “Pangako Sa ‘Yo” compared to the supporters of Kim and Xian. They gave Jodi and Ian the louder cheers and applause compared to the fans of Kim and Xian.

The kilig factor that Jodi and Ian have in “Pangako Sa ‘Yo” has rubbed off onto their roles in “All You Need is Pag-ibig,” directed by Antoinette Jadaone, the woman behind the hugot movie “That Thing Called Tadhana.”

“All You Need is Pag-ibig” tackles different kinds of love. Also featured in the film are Kris Aquino, Derek Ramsay and Bimby Yap (who missed the presscon), Nova Villa and Pokwang.

***

Singkwento International Film Festival Manila Philippines (SIFFMP), which is barely three years old, is making its presence truly felt as it officially announces the call for film entries. In cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the festival invites amateur and professional filmmakers to submit their full-length and short films for exhibition and competition.

The SIFFMP will bring a collection of films that explore different genres, ranging from youth, personal relationships, demise and destruction, growing up dreams and pains and societal issues.

The festival’s main objective is to unite various Filipino and foreign filmmakers in our country, and around the world. It also aims to provide a channel for non-Filipinos to share their impressions of the Philippines and its people.

On its third year, there will be a separate category for local and international films in both fictional and documentary sections, as announced by Festival Director Perry Escaño. The board of jury headed by Roberto Reyes Ang will select a few Filipino entries for consideration to the international category with the consent of the filmmakers.

“Films entered in the international category will no longer compete in the local category. This year, full-length films and documentary films for exhibition will also be accepted. The minimum running time is one hour. They must be completed not earlier than January 1, 2016.  All films submitted for competition and exhibition may be in any language or dialect, and must be submitted with English subtitles,” said Perry.

How does one submit film entries? “A private online link of the film must be sent for pre-screening purposes via email to singkuwento. international @yahoo.com.ph along with the entry form, filmmaker’s CV, poster in jpeg file, three jpeg files of stills from the film and a profile picture of the filmmaker,” says Escaño. “The film links must be downloadable. They can visit our FB page Singkuwento International Film Festival Manila Philippines and our SIFFMP website http://siffmp.wix.com/2016.”

Escaño adds, “We are looking for films that can allow people to have a better appreciation of our impressive Filipino culture and heritage, with great messages of Filipino and foreign films to the audience.”

Some of the mainstream films for exhibition in the SIFFMP next year are Louie Ignacio’s “Child Haus” and Mike Magat’s “Isang Hakbang.” Other full-length films for exhibition are DA Palagtiw’s “Pisara,” Jill Singson Urdaneta’s “Partee,” Johnny Mahinay’s “Atras,” Franco Arce’s “Beyond That Door,” Peter Allan Mariano’s “Babaylan” and Joel Lamangan’s “Sekyu.”

Documentary films for exhibition are Steven Flor, Martin Galán and Mark Lacay’s “Racing With The Legends” and Benito Bautista’s “Harana.”

The Singkuwento International Film Festival is slated on February 19 to 27, 2016 at the Tanghalang Leandro Locsin , NCCA Bldg. There will also be screenings at the UP Film Center in March.

The SIFFMP Full Access Festival Pass and tickets are available via TicketWorld outlets and National Bookstore. They can also buy the tickets at the lobby of the NCCA.