Congressman Arjo Atayde (2nd, left) with sister Ria, mother Sylvia Sanchez-Atayde, Enchong Dee, and Lorna Tolentino during Marché du Film Festival in Cannes, France. Photo from Rep. Atayde’s Office
MANILA, Philippines—Actor and Quezon City first district congressman Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde returned home on Thursday, May 25, after his film “Topakk” was “respectfully acknowledged” in premier French film fest Cannes’ Marché du Film.
Sharing the good news that “Topakk” made it to the grandest international festival’s Fantastic Pavillon, Atayde affirmed his belief that talented Filipino filmmakers will soon catch up with their foreign contemporaries.
“Definitely we’re leveling up the action films of the Philippines, and leveling up with the other countries as well, and practically we are pushing Filipino talents out there, as much as other countries are as well. Definitely, this is something different to cater to different people,” he said.
Topakk also starred Julia Montes and was the only Filipino film to qualify for the genre category of the Cannes fantastic pavilion.
Atayde—who is concurrently the vice chairperson of the Creative Industry and Performing Arts committee in the House of Representatives—also revealed that “Topakk” is being picked up for Hollywood global sales and distribution, with particular emphasis on European markets.
“’Topakk’ will be translated in all the countries buying them. They will be sold to all the countries that want the movie. We’re targeting over 100 countries,” he said. /ra
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PH action film ‘Topakk’ screened at Cannes