2 Pinoy films chosen by HAFF

Curtain-raisers:

• My friend insists that a foreign balladeer well-loved by Filipinos has a love child (“Must be in his mid-30s now,” said my friend) with a Filipina with whom he reportedly had a brief romance during one of his concerts here. The foreign singer also had a one-night stand with a cross-dressing Filipino singer (yes, male). It’s a pity that we can’t ask the singers involved because they are now singing with angels in heaven.
• The search is on for the Outstanding UP Dental Alumni of the Century conducted by the UP Dental Alumni Association (UPDAA) in time for the centennial celebration of the UP College of Dentistry (UPCD). The following are the different categories an alumnus may be cited for: Education, Government Service, Professional Excellence, Public Service, Leadership and Culture & Arts. Recognition will also be given to multi-generation UP Dental Alumni. Nominations may be submitted to the UP College of Dentistry, Pedro Gil St., Manila (c/o Dr. Angie Atienza) or e-mailed at [email protected]. Deadline for submission is on Aug. 31. The association is also reminding former faculty members of UPCD to e-mail the date of their teaching post to Dr. Liza Centeno or Chico Damatac at [email protected]. All inquiries and communications may be coursed through the same e-mail address.
• The Juan Sumulong High School (Arellano University) Class of ’70 will have a reunion on Feb. 11, 7 p.m. For details, PM (Private Message) Bibeth Orteza on Facebook.

***

The 13th Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAFF) formally announced on Tuesday, Feb. 3, the list of 30 outstanding film projects, shortlisted from over 300 entries from Hong Kong, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.

Included are two Filipino films: American Serial Killer in Manila (listed No. 2) by Mikhail Red and Die Beautiful (No. 5) by Jun Lana. Red’s entry is a 110-minute suspense/thriller that tells the “story of a mysterious American fugitive who formed an unusual obsession with a young Filipina cyber-sex worker while a typhoon looms over Manila.” Produced by Pamela Reyes for PelikulaRED, the film secured a $92,000 budget.

Lana’s submission is a 90-minute comedy drama about “a transgender woman’s dying wish to be dressed as Lady Gaga for her funeral that sparked a fierce battle between her conservative Filipino-Chinese family and well-meaning drag queen friends.” Produced by Ferdinand Lapuz and Perci Intalan for Octobertrain Films, it will receive a $20,000 budget. The finalists will vie for various awards including: Two projects will each receive $10,000 worth of post-production services from G2D Co. Ltd. in Thailand, one project will get $15,000 worth of post-production services from White Light Studio in Thailand and one project will be awarded $10,000 worth of editing and visual effects services from South Korea’s MONEFF. A winning project will also have the chance to participate in the 2015 edition Paris Coproduction Village of Champs-Elysées Film Festival with airline ticket and hotel accommodation package.

It is Lana’s third stint with HAFF and third collaboration with Lapuz. The other two were Barber’s Tales (2013) and Ama Namin (2014).

The Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAFF) is widely recognized as an established film financing platform in Asia. It brings Asian filmmakers with upcoming film projects to Hong Kong for co-production ventures with top film financiers, producers, bankers, distributors and buyers. — With a report from Celso de Guzman Caparas

Pinoy filmmakers recognized in international filmfests

Here’s another report by Celso:

• My Reason for Existence, a two-minute film about Pinoy young kids living in a dumpsite, by South Korea based filmmaker and actor Nash Ang bagged the grand prize in the First Mirvac WA Short Film Festival in Western Australia last Jan. 15. Ang bested two other finalists in his category: Five minutes and under, 18 years and over, and won AUD1,000.00 cash prize (roughly P34,000). Over 400 entries from different parts of the world were submitted to the competition with the theme, “My Place, My Story.”

Ang is a recipient of 2011 NCAA’s Ani ng Dangal for Cinema Recognition.

• Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita, written and directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, won two Palmares Awards in the 12th Zinegoak, Festival Internacional de Cine in Bilbao, Spain, last Sunday, Feb. 1: Lesbianism and Gender Award given by Bilbao City Council’s Area of Equality, Cooperation and Citizenship, with 1,500 Euros cash prize (roughly P75,000); and Best Screenplay Award awarded by Basque Writers Association.
• Asintado by Luisito “Louie” Lagdameo Ignacio garnered seven nominations in the 7th International Filmmaker of World Cinema in London, United Kingdom: Best Director (Ignacio), Best Lead Actor in a Foreign Language Film (Jake Vargas), Best Lead Actress in a Foreign Language Film (Aiko Melendez), Best Supporting Actor (Miggs Cuaderno), Best Story (Socorro Villanueva), Best Editor of a Feature Film (Carlo Manatad) and Best Film (producers Ferdinand Lapuz and Dennis Evangelista). Ignacio, Aiko and Ferdinand will attend the awarding ceremony in West Ham United Hotel on Feb. 27.

Annabelle loses a dear brother

“Akala ko ako ang pinakasikat na Rama dito sa Cebu. Hindi pala.”

Annabelle Rama was telling that to Raoul Tidalgo and me on the way to the Rama Compound (occupying seven hectares) in San Nicolas, an hour’s drive from the city proper, where the wake for her brother, Barangay Captain George Rama, who died of pneumonia. He was in his late 60s, survived by his wife Ding and their only 15-ytear-old son.

“Tingnan n’yo,” added Annabelle, pointing to the rows and rows of flowers lining the way from the main street through the side streets leading to the compound where the family of George lives together with, among other Ramas, Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama, Annabelle and George’s cousin. “Those flowers show how popular George was and how much people loved him. Mabait si George. He had good PR, very friendly, and he helped Mayor Mike and other politicians win in the elections.”

The flowers came from former Pres./Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Vice Pres. Jojo Binay and other politicians including Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who flew to Cebu to personally condole with the Ramas.

Aside from the Gutierrezes (Annabelle and Eddie and their children Richard and girlfriend Sarah Lahbati, Raymond, Ruffa, Rocky, Ritchie Paul, and Elvis and girlfriend Alexa Uichico, the Ramas singlings came home for the wake, a doctor from Texas, USA; a sister from Australia; and others.

Because of her brother’s death, Annabelle has put on hold the family activities (until George’s burial last Tuesday), including the preparation for the third season of It Takes Gutz To Be a Gutierrez (ITGTBAG)

What keeps Tacloban Councilor Kring busy

After Pope Francis’ visit to Tacloban which was cut short by a typhoon, city Councilor and First Lady Cristina “Kring-Kring” Gonzalez-Romualdez resumed supervising the Learn and Earn Program which trains her constituents to acquire skills in cosmetology, hair-cutting, cooking, sewing, food preservation, reflexology, automotive maintenance and repair, etc.

Started in 2007, the program has helped more than 7,000 students graduate from the training courses.

When in Manila, Kring-Kring checks on her Patio Victoria which has just opened  two scenic gardens perfect for parties and corporate events, the Sofia Garden and the Diana Garden, named for her and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez’s daughters, each can accommodate up to 350 guests. The indoor Sofias Banquet Hall is suited for intimate gatherings.

Patio Victoria is located in Intramuros, Manila, in the vicinity of the Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church. (For more inquiries about Patio Victoria, call 526-1953, 523-6940 or 404-3682.)

(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.)