3 Pinoy films showing at 2012 Tribeca Filmfest

Celebrating the artistry of Filipino filmmakers whose works made the cut at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, the Philippine Consulate General in New York led by Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. will honor the men and women behind the three Filipino entries at the annual festival made famous by Hollywood legend Robert de Niro, who founded it to help the city rise up from the rubbles of 9/11.

In a report, Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre said that the cocktail reception for the filmmakers and talents of the three movies will be held on April 20 (at 6:30 p.m.) at the Philippine Center on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. 

“The Philippine Consulate General is taking part in the highly anticipated event as an official co-host of 11th Tribeca Film Festival which runs April 18 to 29, according to ConGen de Leon,” added Edmund.

The three Filipino films to be honored — and which will all have their world premiere but are not competing at the festival — are the riveting suspense thriller Graceland, written and directed by Ron Morales; Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey, a powerful and inspiring feature documentary by Ramona Diaz; and Prima, a touching short narrative by Miguel Calayan.

Edmund said that Cara Cusumano, a festival programmer, described Graceland as both entertaining and disturbing.

“Graceland is a gritty and gripping crime thriller with weight, weaving plots of political corruption and human trafficking into a kidnapping-gone-wrong narrative, making for one intense and unpredictable ride,” wrote Cusumano.

Edmund hoped that Graceland lead actor Arnold Reyes, whose exceptional performance is predicted to earn raves from critics, can make it to the Philippine Center by-invitation-only reception and grace the festival. Said its director Ron Morales, a graduate of Parsons and NYU film school, who is attending the event, “Graceland is an addition to the new wave of Filipino cinema that is coming out of my homeland...it shows the best and worst of the Philippines. It’s something people need to see.” It will be screened on April 20 (9 p.m.) at AMC Loews Village 7-1, on April 21 (11:30 p.m.) at Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 4, and April 28 (12:45 p.m.) at Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 8.

Diaz’s Don’t Stop Believin’ looks into the grueling physical and emotional strains that Filipino rocker Arnel Pineda regularly faces as the frontman of the famous band Journey on a whirlwind world tour.     

Edmund quoted festival programmer Paige Blake as saying that the docu gives a rare behind-the-scenes look at Journey as Arnel “converts skeptics and haters into adoring fans — and breathes new life into Journey for the next generation of international listeners.” It will be screened on April 19 (9:30 p.m.) at BMCC Tribeca PAC, April 21 (2:30 p.m.) at AMC Loews Village 7-3, April 27 (8:30 p.m.) at AMC Loews Village 7-3, and April 28 (9:30 p.m.) at SVA Theater 1 Silas.

Prima, said to be one of only 60 short films accepted for Tribeca out of 2,800 submitted, is about a ballerina, alone in a brightly lit studio, recalling her old choreography. She leaps and spins in front of an invisible audience until she falls limp on the ground and returns to reality. It will be screened on April 19 (6 p.m.) at AMC Loews Village 7-1, April 20 (4 p.m.) at AMC Loews Village 7-2, April 24 (10:30 p.m.) at Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 9, and April 29 (9 p.m.) at Tribeca Cinemas Theater 1.

With critics and aficionados from all over the US and the world flocking to the Big Apple to take part and watch the entries, ConGen de Leon expressed hope that more Filipinos will be inspired to submit their topnotch work that will further “highlight the world-class talents of Filipino filmmakers and actors.”

What’s Up?

• From June Torrejon of Viva Entertainment: Moron 5 and The Crying Lady grossed P24M on Saturday, the day it opened, and Sunday. To celebrate the movie’s box-office success, Viva is hosting a thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, April 12, with the cast expected to attend, including Luis Manzano, Billy Crawford, Martin Escudero, Marvin Agustin, DJ Durano and John “Sweet” Lapuz, with director Wenn Deramas.

Zac is the new Penshoppe endorser

REVEALED: Two Sundays ago, Funfare put out a blind item about Penshoppe’s newest A-list endorser, hinting that the multi-million-peso deal was about to be sealed shortly.

Many people guessed it right: Yes, the A-lister is none other than Zac Efron who is well-loved for his turn in the hit youth-oriented show High School Musical in which he had Fil-Am actress Vanessa Hudgens as leading lady (and, later, girlfriend…but now his ex).

Zac is shown in photo with Derek Ramsay during a recent golf game in Sydney where Zac is reported to be promoting his latest movie The Lucky One. Derek was there on vacation.

In the movie, released by Warner Bros. Pictures, based upon another best-seller by Nicholas Sparks, Zac plays US Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault who returns from his third tour of duty in Iraq with one thing he credits with keeping him alive — a photograph he found of a woman he doesn’t even know. He looks for the girl and a romance develops between them.

Zac Efron aims for the hole during a recent game in Sydney.

Now it can be told: Two weeks ago, the Penshoppe group, led by Penshoppe boss Bernie Liu, went to L.A. for the contract-signing and for the pictorial with Zac dressed in more than 25 of the brand’s line-up. ‘I love Penshoppe,’ Zac told The STAR which was invited to cover the event (see story in Conversations with Ricky Lo on Sunday, April 14).

Like those with Gossip Girl actor Ed Westwick and Thai popstar Mario Maurer, the Penshoppe deal with Zac was clinched by Joyce Ramirez of PR Asia, the company she owns and manages. Joyce and Penshoppe brand manager Alex Mendoza were also with the LA entourage.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)