Australian film shot in PH in Sydney fest

GARRET Dillahunt (left) and Chad McKinney

After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, Tom and Sam McKeith’s “Beast” will be shown at the Sydney Film Festival Sunday and on June 18. “Beast” was shot in Manila and features Filipino-American boxer Chad McKinney in the lead role. The McKeith brothers discovered McKinney in a Manila gym.

“Beast” also features Filipino actress Angeli Bayani and Hollywood actor Garret Dillahunt, who previously topbilled John Sayles’ “Amigo”—also shot in the Philippines. The fest’s website hailed “Beast” as a “tense, powerful, taut drama… effectively (capturing) the sultry humidity and threat of violence that linger over Manila at night.” Bayani San Diego Jr.