5 PH films take the spotlight at the Tokyo fest

Joanna Ampil (fourth from left) and Rachel Alejandro (right) with the cast of “Ang Larawan”

Five Filipino films will be showcased at the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival in Japan, from Oct. 25 to Nov. 3.

Two Filipino films are competing in the Tokyo fest’s Asian Future section. Loy Arcenas’ big-screen musical adaptation of Nick Joaquin’s “Ang Larawan” (The Portrait) will make its world premiere at the Tokyo fest as part of the Asian Future section. The fest’s website describes Arcenas’ film as “a romantic family-themed musical with brilliant singing by world-renowned stars.”

Joanna Ampil, who played Kim in the West End production of “Miss Saigon,” topbills “Ang Larawan,” along with Rachel Alejandro and Paulo Avelino.

Making its international premiere in the Asian Future section is Arnel Arbi Barbarona’s “Tu Pug Imatuy” (The Right to Kill). The Tokyo fest’s website calls Barbarona’s film “a tense, multi-award-winning” work.

“Tu Pug Imatuy” won best picture at this year’s Sinag Maynila Film Festival, which is spearheaded by Cannes-winning Filipino director Brillante Ma Mendoza.

Daniel Palacio’s “Pailalim” (Underground), which is produced by Mendoza, is included in the World Focus section. The Tokyo fest’s website sums up Palacio’s film as “a family drama that bridges the gap between the living and the dead.”

“Tu Pug Imatuy”

According to the site, “Pailalim,” which debuted at this year’s San Sebastián fest, is “a story of struggle, survival and love in a place nobody could call home.” Palacio’s film will be having its Asian premiere at the Tokyo fest.

Another Sinag Maynila film, HF Yambao’s “Kristo,” is featured in the Crosscut Asia: What’s Next Southeast Asia? program. Yambao’s movie centers on the struggles of a cockfight bet collector who moonlights as a market vendor. The Crosscut Asia section includes films chosen by different screen luminaries from the region and Mendoza recommended “Kristo” to the fest.

Mendoza is slated to give a master class on the topic, “working with actors,” at the fest on Oct. 26. The Tokyo event’s website commends Mendoza for “leading Filipino cinema into its ripe Third Golden Age.”

A cinematic gem from the Second Golden Age of Philippine cinema, the restored version of Mike de Leon’s 1980 musical-comedy “Kakabakaba Ka Ba?” (Will Your Heart Beat Faster?), will be shown in the Discovering Asian Cinema program of the Crosscut Asia section.

The president of this year’s main competition jury is Oscar-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones. A special retrospective on the works of Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh will also be mounted this year.