Mentorque and Project 8 Projects to team up anew for Vilma Santos' new film

MANILA, Philippines — After co-producing the Cinemalaya 2024 entry “Kono Basho,” Mentorque Productions and Project 8 Projects are set to team up again in producing the next film of Vilma Santos.

This collaboration was confirmed by the Star for All Seasons herself in a recent interview with the media, including The STAR.

The film, which will start shooting this September, will be directed by Dan Villegas and Antonette Jadaone.

“It’s going to be something different,” Vilma shared, hinting at a project that will challenge both her and the audience.

After co-producing the Cinemalaya 2024 entry 'Kono Basho,' Mentorque Productions and Project 8 Projects are joining forces for Vilma's next movie. Filming starts this September.

She also stressed that the film will diverge significantly from her last movie, the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “When I Met You In Tokyo,” which was a straightforward love story that co-starred the veteran actress with perennial onscreen partner Christopher de Leon.

The film won Vilma another Best Actress award.

The veteran actress says her new film will be 'dark' and 'challenging.'

“Expect a dark movie. (It’s) very challenging! Natsa-challenge ako sa character na gagawin ko (I’m really excited about the character I’ll be portraying),” Vilma said.

John Bryan Diamante, president of Mentorque Productions, the same production outfit behind the MMFF 2023 entry “Mallari” that topbilled by Piolo Pascual, said they’ve always wanted to do a film for Vilma.

Ate Vi with her directors. — Photos courtesy of John Bryan Diamante

“After ‘Mallari,’ I felt that we were ready. When we talked to Ate Vi, wala kaming pakialam kung saan namin dadalhin (We didn’t care about where we would take this film). Ang pangarap lang namin ay gawan namin siya ng pelikula (Our only dream was to create a movie for her),” Diamante recently told The STAR in a separate interview.

“We told her, ‘Ma’am ‘wag na kami mag-pitch, sabihin mo kung ano gusto nyo (‘We won’t pitch anymore, just tell us what you want’). And that’s how it started,” Diamante explained.

The project is already generating media buzz, raising questions if it could make it in time for the 50th anniversary of the MMFF in December.

However, Vilma said she’s not feeling pressured to meet any deadlines.

“Ayoko lang kasing magpa-pressure (I don’t want to feel pressured),” Vilma remarked. “Whether we make it in time for the MMFF or not, basta gusto ko, kapag nag-shooting ako, I will feel comfortable (I want to feel comfortable when we start shooting).

“It’s not about rushing or winning. At my age, ayoko nang nape-pressure. So, ayokong ma-stress (I don’t want to stress myself out). What’s important is that we finish a good film that we can all be proud of.”

The film’s other details remain under wraps.