Special Mentions: Riding in Tandem (Jason abalos, Khalil Ramos), Can't Help Falling In Love (Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla) because KathNiel is KathNiel, duh?, Dear Future Husband (Sarah Geronimo, John Lloyd Cruz) I kinda miss their team-up, Ang Larawan, a movie adaptation of the classic Filipino musical, and hopefully, Erik Matti's new adaptation of Darna (TBA).
Luck At First Sight.
Director Dan Villegas (English Only Please, Walang Forever and How To Be Yours) is back in the romance genre with this romantic comedy film starring Jericho Rosales and Bela Padilla as two luckless people: one with love, the other with money. But when the they met each other, they discover that they're one another's life charm - they bring the other good luck. Soon, they become close to each other, slowly falling in love. But what happens when the luck runs out?
Produced by Viva films, the film hits theaters this summer 2017.
Produced by Viva films, the film hits theaters this summer 2017.
Kasunduan.
A thriller-drama directed by Lawrence Fajardo, it stars Ejay Falcon, Joey Marquez, Joem Bascon, Beauty Gonzales with Sarah Carlos and Khalil Ramos. The film is currently in post-production. Although there isn't enough details about the film, I'm pretty excited to see it for one reason: the Khalil Ramos.
Ghost Bride.
Horror master Chito S. Rono is back this year with Ghost Bride, an upcoming Filipino horror film starring Kim Chiu, Matteo Guidicelli and JC Santos. Helmed by Roño and produced by Star Cinema, it marks Kim's third movie with director Roño. It revolves around the Chinese tradition Ghost marriage wherein one or both parties are deceased. The film also features a powerful cast, led by Jerome Ponce, Rio Locsin, Ina Raymundo, Mon Confiado, and Alice Dixson.
Kita Kita.
Who would have thought that one day, Empoy can give you the kilig feels? Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo, director of award-winning films “Ang Huling Cha-Cha Ni Anita” and “Lorna” brings us this unexpected romantic comedy starring Alessandra de Rossi and Empoy as Lea and Tonyo, two Filipinos living in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Lea is a Velo taxi tour guide. She suffers an accident which leads to her being affected by temporary blindness. Her blindness, if not cured in a few weeks, could become permanent. Tonyo is also a Filipino who lives right across from Lea. Lea tries her best to ignore him at first because she is scared of not seeing him. But Tonyo is persistent and is determined to be her friend, using humor and kindness to make a connection. With every effort that he makes the two gradually become closer. In an ironic way, becoming blind allows Lea to see the true character of Tonyo.
The film is produced by Piolo Pascual, Director Joyce Bernal, Erickson Raymundo and Suzanne Shayne Sarte.
The film is produced by Piolo Pascual, Director Joyce Bernal, Erickson Raymundo and Suzanne Shayne Sarte.
Bloody Crayons.
Finally. This long-overdue horror slasher based on the book of the same name by Wattpad writer Josh Argonza was announced last April 2015 originally headlined by Jane Oineza, Joshua Garcia and Manolo Pedrosa. The film went under multiple revisions, the original director (Quark Henares) leaving the project, and Star Cinema replacing some cast members (who have already finished shooting some scenes). It was even rumored to be part of the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival.
It follows a group of graduating students who visits an island as a location for their short film project. Unknown to them, death has followed them to the island, as they start to get picked off one by one. Featuring Jane Oineza in her first starring role, it also stars Janella Salvador, Elmo Magalona, Sofia Andres, Diego Loyzaga, Ronnie Alonte, Maris Racal, Yves Flores and Empoy Marquez, directed by Topel Lee and is scheduled to be released this 2017.
It follows a group of graduating students who visits an island as a location for their short film project. Unknown to them, death has followed them to the island, as they start to get picked off one by one. Featuring Jane Oineza in her first starring role, it also stars Janella Salvador, Elmo Magalona, Sofia Andres, Diego Loyzaga, Ronnie Alonte, Maris Racal, Yves Flores and Empoy Marquez, directed by Topel Lee and is scheduled to be released this 2017.
Instalado.
A Scifi Filipino film? Impossible? Well, for director Jason Paul Laxamana, everything's possible. From his acclaimed films like Babagwa, Magkakabaung, the outragious dark comedy Mercury Is Mine and my favorite of them all, the sweet, humorous, and heartbreaking coming-of-age 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten, he have wowed audiences with his unique, weird, out-of-this-world stories. This time, he is taking the challenge of entering the scifi genre with Instalado, an official entry to the 2017 ToFarm Film Festival. Set in a farming village a few years into the future, it follows Victor (played by McCoy de Leon in his first starring role) who lives in a time when the dominant form of education is through installation, an overnight process that allows bodies of knowledge to be installed directly on people’s brains using technology owned by corporations. Unfortunately, Victor, like many others in the agricultural town of Porac, cannot afford the sky-high cost of installation, which he believes is the key to pull his family out of poverty. To raise money for installation, Victor temporarily abandons farming and works as the household helper of a wealthy childhood friend who has become extremely successful after undergoing a series of installations. Also starring Francis Magundayao and Jun-Jun Quintana.
Nabubulok (The Decay)
Of all the Cinemalaya entries this year, this one definitely got me excited. Not only because of it's intriguing story but also because of it's cast. It features 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten's Ana Capri and Jameson Blake among it's leads. Jameson is one of my favorite actors right now after his incredible stint in 2 Cool, earning him the Best Supporting Actor award in last year's Cinema One Originals film festival. Nabubulok (The Decay) follows a missing person's case: Luna is missing. Jason Harper, her American husband, is alleged of killing her. As Jason intends to leave the country, circumstances conspire to avert his plan. Also starring Ms. Gina Alajar, JC Santos and Billy Ray Gallion, directed by Sonny Calvento and an official entry to the Cinemalaya 2017.
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| Actor Bill Ray Gallion with Jameson Blake. |
Bliss.
Imagine director Jerrold Tarog, Iza Calzado and Ian Veneracion in one bloody, mind-boggling, fucked up thriller. Yes, dreams do come true as the Heneral Luna director unleashes the beast in his latest film, Bliss. The film follows the story of Jane Ciego, who started acting at a young age. She becomes a film producer but gets into an accident – and later, Jane begins to hear mysterious sounds and struggles with people who may want to harm her. The film is already making some noise outside the country as Iza Calzado won the Yakushi Pearl Award (Best Performer) for her role in Bliss, at the Osaka Film Festival 2017 on Saturday, March 11. Directed by Jerrold Tarog, it stars Ian Veneracion, TJ Trinidad, Adrienne Vergara, and Michael de Mesa and is soon to hit cinemas later this year.
Citizen Jake.
The highly anticipated comeback movie of director Mike De Leon, the genius behind classic Filipino films like Itim, Batch '81, Sister Stella L and Kisapmata is undeniably one film to watch out for. Aside from the fact that this is his first film after 18 years, another reason to be excited for this project is his choice of lead actor. Director Mike De Leon found his Citizen Jake in real life news reporter Atom Araullo, who will be playing a fictional journalist in this political crime story.
Smaller and Smaller Circles.
Adapted from the mystery novel by Filipino novelist F. H. Batacan (touted as the first Filipino crime novel), it stars veteran actor Nonie Buencamino as Fr. Augusto Saenz, the Jesuit forensic anthropologist; Sid Lucero as his right-hand man, Fr. Jerome Lucero; and Carla Humphries as reporter Joanna Bonifacio. The film follows the investivation of the deaths of six boys, all of whom were found in Quezon City's Payatas dump site, where children often pick through garbage to provide for their families. The victims' faces, hearts, and genitals were removed, and Saenz, along with his friend and protégé, Fr. Jerome Lucero, a clinical psychologist, are sure the killer has a very specific agenda. As the priests work to identify the boys and their killer, they must wade through the political muck surrounding a case that no one wants publicized, in a country where centralized crime statistics are unheard of and resources are scarce. Produced by Tuko Film Productions and Buchi Boy Entertainment, it is directed by Raya Martin and is soon to hit cinemas later this year.
So how about you? What's your most anticipated Filipino film this 2017? Share us your thoughts and leave a comment down below!
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