Bakal Boys competes in Thessaloniki and Torino

MANILA, Philippines – Ralston Jover’s first feature Bakal Boys (Children Metal Divers) is competing at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Greece (Nov. 13 to 22) and at the Torino International Film Festival in Italy (Nov. 16 to 22).

Before these festivals, Bakal Boys was screened in Vancouver (where it was given a Special Mention in the Dragons and Tigers competition section) and in Pusan, Korea.

Bakal Boys will then take part in Stockholm International Film Festival in Sweden (Nov. 18 to 29), at the Asia Film House in London, Great Britain from Dec. 2 to 5, at the Tallinn Black Night Film Festival in Estonia on Nov. 27 to December and at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January 2010.

Bakal Boys is the first feature film of Jover who wrote Jeffrey Jeturian’s Kubrador and Brillante Mendoza’s Manoro, Tirador and Foster Child. This is the first production of former model/TV star Bessie Badilla and Albert Almendralejo. It stars Gina Pareño, Simon Ibarra and real bakal boys Meljon Guinto, Edgar Olano Jr. and Vincent Olano.

The Philippines is the country in focus at Thessaloniki International filmfest. Besides Bakal Boys, the following Filipino independent films will be screened: Adela, Adolfo Borinaga Alix Jr., 2008, Philippines; Engkwentro, Pepe Diokno, 2009, Philippines; Imburnal, Sherad Anthony Sanchez, 2008, Philippines; Independencia, Raya Martin, 2009, Philippines/France/Germany/Netherlands; Kinatay, Brillante Mendoza, 2009, France/Philippines; Lola, Brillante Mendoza, 2009, Philippines;

Manila, Adolfo Alix Jr. and Raya Martin, 2009, Philippines; Melancholia, Lav Diaz, 2008, Philippines; The Muzzled Horse Of An Engineer In Search Of Mechanical Saddles, Khavn de la Cruz, 2008, Philippines; Slingshot (Tirador), Brillante Mendoza, 2007; Philippines; A Song for Indio Nacional (O Ang Mahabang Kalungkutan Ng Katagalugan), Raya Martin, 2005, Philippines; Todo Todo Teros, John Torres, 2007, Philippines; and Tribu, Jim Libiran, 2007, Philippines.

 Director Diaz is a member of the international jury for the section under which Bakal Boys is competing. The seven-member international jury for the International Competition section which will award the Golden and Silver Alexanders plus a number of additional awards, is composed of Theo Angelopoulos, director (Greece); president Lissy Belaiche, festival consultant Trust Nordisk (Denmark); Mirjana Karanovic, actress (Serbia); Eugenio Caballero, production designer (Mexico); Gyorgi Palfi, director (Hungary); and Amos Poe, director (US).

Bakal Boys is distributed locally and internationally by Ignatius Films Canada’s Ferdinand Lapuz and Antonio de Guzman Jr.