Filipino directors in Toronto fest

Stacy Keibler, George Clooney and Bono at the Fox Searchlight and Vanity Fair party in Toronto. Photo by Ruben V. Nepales

TORONTO— Stacy Keibler, George Clooney’s new love, seems an ideal match for the actor. At the Fox Searchlight and Vanity Fair party for George’s “The Descendants” and Elizabeth Olsen’s “Martha Marcy May Marlene,” Stacy—actress, model, former professional wrestler—was warm, approachable and genuinely interested in meeting people, just like her boyfriend.

Both Stacy, one of the most popular professional dancers on “Dancing with the Stars” (she won third place in Season 2), and George are about 5’11” but with her heels, and hair piled up high, she was a towering presence. George was in the house (Scarpetta at the Thompson) but when Bono arrived, the place went abuzz. And when Bono and George engaged in a long chat, imagine all the photos taken with Blackberrys and iPhones.

Elizabeth, younger sister of the Olsen twins, fielded congratulations for her performance in her movie with a kilometric name, where she plays a young woman who escapes from a rural cult-like group.

Also spotted at the bash were Shailene Woodley, a TV actress who turns in a confident performance as George’s daughter in “The Descendants”; James Franco, Kirsten Dunst, Emile Hirsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Juliette Lewis, Allison Janney, Hugh Dancy and Matthew Goode.

Strong presence

“Isda (Fable of the Fish)” director Adolfo Borinaga Alix Jr. and actress Evelyn Vargas were our guests at the 20th anniversary party of Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) at Spice Route. SPC

has a strong presence in the fest, with David Cronenberg’s “A Dangerous Method,” Pedro Almodovar’s “The Skin I Live In” and Jeff Nichols’ “Take Shelter.”

We first met Adolfo in the 2008 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, when he brought his “Adela” star Anita Linda, then 83, to her first international festival. Anita and the film earned enthusiastic applause.

Anita appears again in “Isda,” which, Adolfo said, was based on a talk show episode of the late Inday Badiday in which she featured the tale of a woman who allegedly gave birth to a mudfish. Screenwriter Jerry Gracio was inspired by that “Eye to Eye” episode.

Evelyn is cast with Cherry Pie Picache and Bembol Roco.

Winning streak

We met Joseph Israel Laban and Derick Cabrido, director and producer, respectively, of “Cuchera,” another Philippine entry, at the party for “50/50.” Jonathan Levine, who directed the latter film inspired by TV writer Will Reiser’s battle with cancer, had just come from the gala screening. He said he was touched by the standing ovation that the dramedy got.

Anna Kendrick, who starred in “Up in the Air,” continues her winning streak with her performance as the therapist assigned to counsel Adam Lerner, a cancer patient played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Anna introduced us to her mom, Janice Kendrick, who’s obviously proud of her daughter.

Both Anna and Jonathan asked Joseph about “Cuchera,” a story of Filipino drug mules working in an operation between Manila and China. Joseph, managing producer of GMA News and Public Affairs, said the film was based on news stories.

Isabel Lopez, who plays a veteran drug mule establishing her own drug shipment operation, had to cancel her trip here because of work commitments.

Great buddy comedy

Seth Rogen, who plays the best friend in “50/50” (he’s also a coproducer), which can also be appreciated as a great buddy comedy, livened up the party with his distinctive laughter. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who had just flown in after shooting all night for “The Dark Knight Rises,” had been virtually sleepless for 48 hours, so he left the bash early. Jonathan stayed, though he had to catch a 7 a.m. flight to Montreal the following morning to begin his film, “Warm Bodies.”

We lingered to chat some more with Joseph and Derick. Joseph said his passion for cinema grew from weekends spent inside movie houses in his province, Marinduque.

Other Filipinos with entries in the fest include Raya Martin (“Ars Colonia”) and Lav Diaz, whose “Siglo ng Pagluluwal (Century of Birthing),” shown in Venice, is also entered in Toronto.

Filipino-American PJ Raval shot director Susan Youssef’s “Habibi,” an entry in the Discovery program which was described by TIFF as a “retelling of Majnun Layla, an epic poem on a forbidden love (that) marks the first fiction feature set in Gaza.”

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Toronto International Film Festival filmmakers: Jonathan Levine and Joseph Israel Laban. Photo by Ruben V. Nepales