Concrete Utopia, a thrilling disaster film starring an ensemble of A-list Korean actors including Lee Byung-hun, Park Seo-jun, Park Bo-young, Park Ji-hu, Kim Do-yoon and Kim Sun-young, will be released in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures.
Directed by Um Tae-hwa, Concrete Utopiais loosely based on Part 2 of the hit webtoon “Joyful Outcast” (“Pleasant Neighbors”). Concrete Utopia is a disaster thriller about the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. The film will follow the story that begins when the survivors gather at Hwang Gung Apartments, the only building left standing in an earthquake-ravaged Seoul.
As the trailer and poster speaks for themselves, the survivors will have to go through mind-boggling thought processes, revealing the kind and dark side of human nature. Find out with us in the cinemas who will be the final survivors.
Sneak a peek into the apartments in this newly released trailer:
About Concrete Utopia
InConcrete Utopia, the world has been reduced to rubble by a massive earthquake.
While no one knows for sure how far the ruins stretch, or what the cause of the earthquake may be, in the heart of Seoul there is only one apartment building left standing. It is called Hwang Gung Apartments.
As time passes, outsiders start coming in to Hwang Gung Apartments trying to escape the extreme cold. Before long, the apartment residents are unable to cope with the increasing numbers. Feeling a threat to their very survival, the residents enact a special measure.
In cinemas September 20, Concrete Utopia is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Connect with the hashtag #ConcreteUtopiaMoviePH
The QCinema Project Market (QPM) is a platform for Southeast Asian filmmakers and producers to secure funding, expand their networks, gain exposure, develop their skills, and contribute to the growth of the international film industry. Over 15 million pesos in grants will be available.
Newly-appointed Quezon City Film Development Commission Executive Director Liza Diño-Seguerra says “In recent years, the region has shown impressive growth in its filmmaking, with high production values that rival international standards. This is evident in the diverse co produced film projects between the Philippines and SEA showcased at major festivals like Autobiography of Makbul Mubarak (IND-SG-PH), In my Mother’s Skin (PH-SG-Taiwan), Arnold is a Model Student (TH-PH-SG). With QPM, we get to support projects like that from the region and introduce them to funding and one-on-one networking opportunities so we can see their stories on the big screen.”
Through this program, which focuses on unveiling the unseen stories of Southeast Asia, QCinema will present QPM to nurture the underrepresented cultures, histories, and narratives of the Southeast Asian region.
Filipino and Southeast Asian filmmakers with projects in advanced stages of development are invited to participate.
To be eligible to join the program, the filmmaker must have at least a draft of the full script of a feature-length fiction film project. The film must also not yet be completed by the time QCinema 2023 commences and must not be fully financed yet.
Southeast Asian directors with at least one short of feature film may apply.
To join, filmmakers must complete an online application form complete with the logline, synopsis, director’s statement, production schedule, treatment, financial plan, production cost, and the profiles of the director, producer, and production company. Sample reels may also be submitted, if available.
Preference will be given to projects that highlight unique aspects of Southeast Asian culture and history. Films that demonstrate potential for international appeal will also have an advantage.
Deadline of submission of entries is September 15, 2023.
Fifteen entries will be chosen to participate in the film market, slated from November 18-20, 2023, in conjunction with the QCinema International Film Festival.
Selected filmmakers will have the opportunity to pitch to possible investors, network with possible collaborators, get mentorship, and attend workshops.
Ms. Diño-Seguerra further explains, “This program is in line with the goal to position QCinema as one of the top Southeast Asian film festivals and introduce it as a global hub for Southeast Asian cinema.”
“The market will also facilitate more collaboration and co-production opportunities between Filipino, and Southeast Asian filmmakers, and international partners that would contribute to the growth and development of the regional film industry” she adds.
David Harbour always knew that director Neill Blomkamp (Elysium, District 9) would bring a genuinely exhilarating feel to Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story. But he didn’t realize how authentic his own experience would be while filming the movie.
“I knew Neill would bring a visceral, blood pumping feel to the movie,” says David Harbour, who plays Jack, a washed-up driver who becomes Jann Mardenborough’s chief engineer and teaches him the ins and outs of a real racecar. “What I didn’t really know was how much we were going to be working with actual cars, actual drivers, actual tracks. We’re in the cars, we’re doing pit tire changes and gassing up the cars in real-time with other drivers blazing around the track at 200mph. It’s really me in a helicopter flying 30 feet above racecars. It all plays into the intensity of the experience – which is critical to making a film about people having a very intense experience, risking everything for what they love.”
The actor says that at first, he was skeptical about a movie adaptation of a racing simulator, because for him a movie is not like a videogame. “You want to play the game, to control the characters,” Harbour says. “One of the things I really liked about this movie is that it’s not a movie about a videogame – it’s a movie that incorporates a videogame into its narrative, which is about a young man with tremendous talent who does something incredible, and about a coach who has been through a lot and become hardened – but who comes to believe in this kid.”
Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story tells the story of videogamer-turned-racecar driver Jann Mardenborough (played by Archie Madekwe). It’s the ultimate wish fulfillment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional racecar driver.
One of the reasons Harbour was attracted to the movie was in seeing Mardenborough’s underdog story reflected throughout the characters. “Jack’s story is an underdog story as well,” he says of his character. “He’s suffered, but he still clearly loves this sport and doesn’t have the opportunity to participate in it at the level that he would like to.” And though he starts out cynical, Harbour says, Jack starts to see GT Academy as his chance. “He doesn’t believe in these kids, initially, but he starts to realize he has a real opportunity to teach Jann.”
Harbour’s respect for the thrilling style of the movie mirrors his character’s understanding of the cars’ power. “On the surface, the dynamic is fraught and tense,” he says. “These kids are coming out of the game world, and he doesn’t believe in them. He’s a man of a different time, a man of mechanics, of machines, of things that work a certain way, and the world is moving on. And he desperately wants them to understand the power of his world – the visceral, the real – that coming out of the screens into this physical world has value.”
Watch the inspiring true story of videogamer-turned-racecar driver Jann Mardenborough in Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story, opening in Philippine cinemas August 30.
**David Harbour’s interview was conducted before the strike.**
Directed by Neill Blomkamp, screenplay by Jason Hall and Zach Baylin, based on the PLAYSTATION STUDIOS video game.
Produced by Doug Belgrad, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, Dana Brunetti. The executive producers are Kazunori Yamauchi, Herman Hulst, Jason Hall, Matthew Hirsch.
The cast is led by David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Darren Barnet, Geri Halliwell Horner and Djimon Hounsou.
In Philippine cinemas August 30, Gran Turismo: Based on a True Storyis distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Connect with the hashtag #GranTurismoMovie
Relive Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” in a special sing-along edition, arriving in select Philippine cinemas on August 16. Sing the film’s best songs with your friends and family, and enjoy the retelling of a classic tale at your favorite cinema.
Experience this incredible, timeless tale, alongside exciting and emotional songs from the film, now with sing-along lyrics. This special edition of the film encourages everyone to sing their hearts out and enjoy each moment from the first number to the last. It’s definitely a treat for moviegoers experiencing the film for the very first time, or for ones who want to re-watch the entire tale once more.
Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” is the story of Ariel, a beautiful young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. However, she also lives in a place where mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, especially being King Triton’s daughter.
Determined to explore the vast world above the sea, she sets off and meets the dashing and handsome Prince Eric and falls for him. After this fateful meeting, Ariel follows her heart and makes a deal with Ursula, an evil sea witch. This gives her a chance to be part of the world on land but ultimately places her life and the fate of her father’s crown in jeopardy.
The film stars singer and actress Halle Bailey (Ariel), Jonah Hauer-King (Prince Eric), Tony Award®-winner Daveed Diggs (the voice of Sebastian), Awkwafina (the voice of Scuttle), Jacob Tremblay (the voice of Flounder), Noma Dumezweni (Queen Selina), Art Malik (Sir Grimsby), with Oscar® winner Javier Bardem (King Triton), and two-time Academy Award® nominee Melissa McCarthy (Ursula).
Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” is directed by Oscar® nominee Rob Marshall, and produced by two-time Emmy® winner Marc Platt, three-time Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emmy winner John DeLuca, and Rob Marshall, with Jeffrey Silver serving as executive producer.
The film also features an incredible soundtrack and score composed by Academy Award winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman, and produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify here.
Don’t miss the special sing-along screening of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” when it arrives in cinemas.
For more updates, you can also follow Disney Studios Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. #TheLittleMermaidPH
In celebration of National Breastfeeding Month this August, SM Cares continues to promote breastfeeding awareness by mounting the “Free to Feed: Championing Safe Spaces for Breastfeeding at SM” photo contest and exhibit.
The Free to Feed photo contest is open to all photo enthusiasts. Interested participants are invited to submit original photos featuring breastfeeding mothers in any area within any SM mall, such as the food court, car park, tenant areas and more, but most especially the designated breastfeeding station, until August 21, 2023. Winning entries will be announced on August 28 at SM City North EDSA, and will be awarded as much as Php 30,000 in prizes. Participants may send their entries through this link: www.bit.ly/FreeToFeedAtSM
80 SM malls nationwide provide a breastfeeding station as a safe space for mothers to continue nourishing their child
A photo exhibit roadshow and forum will be held throughout August to serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting mothers in their breastfeeding journey. Visitors can view the Free to Feed exhibit during the following schedules at these participating SM malls: August 10-20 at SM City Davao, August 15-21 at SM City Pampanga, August 16-20 at SM City Dasmariñas, August 19-24 at SM City Iloilo, and August 28 to September 2 at SM City North EDSA.
As the World Health Organization focuses on promoting breastfeeding in the workplace, SM Supermalls provides accessible and safe spaces for nursing mothers through 80 breastfeeding stations available for customers and employees across SM malls nationwide.
SM Mall Nurses conduct sensitivity training sessions for frontliners to help create a welcoming environment for breastfeeding mothers.
“We came up with this photo competition and exhibit because we believe in the importance of advocating breastfeeding awareness among Filipinos and encouraging safe and welcoming spaces for mothers,” said SM Cares Committee on Women and Breastfeeding Mothers Program Director Atty. Pearl Jayagan Turley. “SM malls are a prime example of such a place where mothers are free to breastfeed anywhere, while also having breastfeeding stations that are fully equipped with anything moms might need to nourish their babies.”
Get ready to catch the Korean star from the popular K-Drama series “Business Proposal” and “The Uncanny Counter”, and the beautiful voice behind several K-Drama OSTs, as the one and only KIM SEJEONG embarks on her first-ever concert tour. Her concert tour, “The 門”, will be coming to Manila on Sunday, October 1, 2023 at the New Frontier Theater. Presented by Wilbros Live.
The Korean singer-actress recently dropped a coming soon image for her first full-length album, “Moon”, raising much excitement from fans. The new album is set to drop on September 4 at 6PM KST. This will be KIM SEJEONG’s comeback as a singer in more than two years.
From her humble beginnings on the reality show Produce 101 (which she won) to becoming a member of girl groups I.O.I and Gugudan, to being a well-loved K-Drama actress, KIM SEJEONG’s journey as an artist has been an inspiration to many. Her songs “Love, Maybe” (from Business Proposal OST), “All of My Days” (from Crash Landing On You OST), “If Only” (from The Legend of the Blue Sea OST), “Paramour” (from Mr. Sunshine OST) and “Meet Again” (from The Uncanny Counter) have touched hearts of so many fans. Right now, she has become one of Korea’s most sought-after celebrities with 10.6M followers on Instagram and numerous brand endorsements around the world.
Tickets to 2023 KIM SEJEONG 1st CONCERT in Manila will be on-sale beginning Saturday, August 19 at 10AM via TicketNet.com.ph and all TicketNet outlets nationwide. Fans watching the concert will all have Hi-Bye Session and Official Poster as fan benefits. Lucky fans that will be able to purchase the Diamond ticket will have Group Photo (15:1) with KIM SEJEONG. For more information, follow @WilbrosLive on social media. #KIMSEJEONGinMANILA
Bring your groceries and essentials to the next level with MetroMart, as the No. 1 on-demand delivery platform in the Philippines rolls out more PISO SALES, weekly discounts, giveaway events and freebies this July and August.
Please see the itinerary of upcoming and ongoing events below:
The Double-digit 8.8 Back to sCOOL Sale from August 8-10 headlines this week for really convenient grocery deals. Various promos of ₱8.80 sale items, ₱88 off discount, up to 70% off discounts on select items, Buy 1 Take 1 combos, FREE Delivery, FREE Eco Bag and more will be available across select stores. Items featured include Prem Luncheon Meat, Lotus Biscoff Spread, Lotte Jeju Mandarin Juice, Loacker Quadratini Wafers, and so much more.
Stay tuned for an awesome lineup of participating items in the 90% Off Flash Sale on August 14-24, for a great way to get started on early holiday shopping.
Last but not least, customers get a chance to win premiere Movie Passes and even more exciting prizes with the “Lay’s, Camera, Action!” Giveaway Promo. Qualifying e-raffle entries may be availed with purchase of participating Lay’s products across participating branches of AllDay Supermarket, Ever Supermarket, Landmark, MerryMart, Robinsons Supermarket, Super8, S&R Membership Shopping.
An additional ₱50 discount may be availed for the grocery orders with the purchase of the Lay’s products. The movie screening event, featuring the superhero movie Blue Beetle, will be held at Red Carpet Premiere Theatre in Shangri-La Plaza on September 24, 2023. Additional prizes of gadgets like a PS5, Nintendo Switch, and TCL 40″ Android Digital LED TV will be raffled to the attending winners of the movie premiere.
The discount deals of S&R and Landmark in the 8.8 Back to sCOOL Sale may be availed by New and Existing Users of MetroMart. A minimum spend of only ₱2,500 at S&R and Landmark is required in order to avail the ₱8.80 sale items. A cap of 100 pieces of each product will be available per day, and within their time slot throughout the sale days. Only completed checkout of orders within the scheduled day and time can avail the discounted items.
All of these promos are available throughout the Philippines, where MetroMart has expanded its serviceable locations. The Back to sCOOL Sale is available in participating branches of S&R and Landmark via the MetroMart app and website, all over Metro Manila and key locations throughout the Philippines, including Iloilo, Cavite, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Laguna and Bicol.
For more updates on MetroMart, like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Threads @metromartph. Order groceries online or download the app via https://bit.ly/DownloadNowMM
Get ready to embark on an extraordinary shopping adventure as Alabang TownCenter (ATC) presents one of its most anticipated event of the year: Paint The Town Red Sale 2023. This year, ATC is taking things to a whole new level, bringing you a sale like never before with larger-than-life experiences and irresistible offers that will leave you in awe.
Igniting the spirit of celebration, ATC invites you to indulge in a shopping weekend, from August 18 to 20, 2023, that promises to redefine your retail experience.
At the heart of this year’s event is the thrilling Big Bayong Dash. Picture yourself dashing through an obstacle course, clutching a big bayong in hand. Your mission? To race against time and collect as many native boxes as possible from the Bilao Pool. Hold your bayong tight as you navigate through various obstacle course challenges, each one inspired by popular Filipino games: Level Up Piko, Bawal Ma-Tumbang Preso, Ten-Twenty Twist, and Tire Relay. All you need is to present a minimum P5000 purchase between August 16 and 20, 2023 to participate. Then brace yourself for an adventure that will make your adrenaline surge.
The thrill doesn’t end there! For those who conquer the Big Bayong Dash, a treasure trove of prizes awaits. Depending on your record time and the number of native boxes you gather, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from a selection of fabulous treats. Finish under one minute and you get to pick three items; complete the dash under two minutes and you receive one item, or choose two items for finishing over two minutes with a new Zing download. It’s a challenge that promises delightful returns!
Alabang Town Center takes pride in our rich Filipino culture. As you navigate through the sale, you’ll find cultural elements interwoven seamlessly into the experience. From traditional games to artisanal products, every detail pays homage to Buwan ng Wika. It’s ATC’s way of celebrating our vibrant heritage while offering you an unparalleled shopping extravaganza.
To truly immerse you in the splendor of the sale, ATC is going all out with larger-than-life displays, immersive signage, and activities that will leave you delighted. Mark your calendars and head on over to ATC from August 18 to 20, 2023. Don’t miss out on the grandeur, the adventure, and the unbeatable deals that await you.
For more information and updates, follow ATC on Instagram @alabangtowncenter. Be part of the celebration, and let’s Paint The Town Red together!
Expressing satisfaction with the exceptional synergy among his lead actors – Sul Kyung Gu, Doh Kyung-soo and Kim Hee-ae – “The Moon” director said, “They are all such skilled actors that even if they were acting separately, their emotions, tone, and manner were perfectly synchronized, which surprised me.”
In the thrilling and emotional space movie, Korea’s first manned mission to the moon ends in a tragic disaster when an explosion occurs on board. Seven years later, a second human spaceflight is launched successfully but a strong solar wind causes it to malfunction. One astronaut Sun-woo (Doh) is left stranded in space. Facing another fatal catastrophe, the Naro Space Center turns to its former managing director Dr. Kim (Sul) to help bring Sun-woo back home safely. In the film, each of the three main characters is in a setting that is different and away from the others.
Kim Hee-ae
Fortunately, according to the director, with the stellar performances of these talented actors, the audience can anticipate a chemistry that surpasses the distance of 384,000 kilometers between the Moon and the Earth. In The Moon, each character is separated by the Korean Naro Space Center (Sul), the vastness of space (Doh) and NASA in the United States (Kim), requiring the actors to convey their performances through communication and phone conversations without physically being in the same space. The director added that the actors approached the filming with emotions at a heightened level, allowing the audience to feel the powerful energy that carries the drama without getting exhausted.
Sul Kyung-gu
The Moon, a gripping, emotional, epic-action, and one of Korea’s highly anticipated films of the year, also stars The World of the Married’s Kim Hee-ae. It opens exclusively in Philippine cinemas August 16. It is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Connect with the hashtag #TheMoonMoviePH
While we’re all excited to hear our very own Inka Magnaye voice the Scarab in the Philippine release of “Blue Beetle,” there are many other things to look forward to about the all-new Super Hero movie from Warner Bros. Pictures and DC. Read on to find out what “Blue Beetle” filmmakers think will get moviegoers even more excited!
Focus on family
Says director Ángel Manuel Soto of the close-knit Mexican-American Reyes family at the center of the film, “In this origin story, the family – contrary to other superhero movies where the hero keeps the secret from everybody around him – the secret really happens in front of the family. So, Gareth [Dunnet-Alcocer, screenwriter] always said, ‘Good luck trying to hide a secret from your mom in a Latino household, they always know!’ And we kind of like embraced that, so this made for a very unique journey where the family is part of the adventure, not a group of people or an object of rescue, but on the contrary, an integral part of the construct of this superhero.”
The humor
“Its tone is… it has to be funny,” says Mexican-born screenwriter Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer “I’ve never met a Mexican person that wasn’t funny, so there’s no way the movie wouldn’t be funny. But what kind of funny it is, is wonderful, and I think it’s really inspired by the tone of the early Blue Beetle comics, where you have a hero that’s fallible.”
Fun with superpowers
Jaime Reyes’s experience as a new hero in a brand new suit is unique. “Can he fly? Yes. Is he strong? For sure. Are there big action sequences? Absolutely,” says producer John Rickard. “But it’s the special abilities of the suit, which are unlike anything else in the DCU, that make it so ridiculously cool, because it allows Blue Beetle endless superpowers. He’s literally a 20-something who has a suit that can create anything he can imagine. And so, what does this young kid do with these powers? He pulls from what he knows: pop culture. Things he knows in his everyday life. Our action sequences in ‘Blue Beetle’ are definitely inspired by a lot of gamer combos, which makes it feel like a video game come to life. Those who know will know.”
An all-original city for a new Super Hero
In “Blue Beetle,” recent college grad Jaime Reyes (Maridueña) returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle.
In the comics, Jaime Reyes and his family live in El Paso, Texas, but the studio thought it would be a better idea to create an entirely new setting – a new place unique to the world of Blue Beetle called Palmera City. “They thought it might make sense to give Jaime and Blue Beetle his own unique city, much like Superman has Metropolis, The Flash has Central City. We loved this idea,” says producer Zev Foreman. “It suddenly got brighter; it suddenly got more colorful. It suddenly got the idea of water and how it combines with this place. The idea of the different sides of a place like Miami, in terms of the people that live there, the wealth that’s there, other things. It provided so many awesome opportunities to create a really unique environment in a superhero genre. And, again, it starts to inform the sounds, the music, the feeling, the lighting, all of these things, and I think it was an amazing choice.”
“Blue Beetle” opens exclusively in cinemas August 16.
From Warner Bros. Pictures comes the feature film “Blue Beetle,” marking the DC Super Hero’s first time on the big screen. The film, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, stars Xolo Maridueña in the title role as well as his alter ego, Jaime Reyes.
Starring alongside Maridueña (“Cobra Kai”) are Adriana Barraza (“Rambo: Last Blood,” “Thor”), Damían Alcázar (“Narcos,” “Narcos: Mexico”), Elpidia Carrillo (“Mayans M.C.,” the “Predator” films), Bruna Marquezine (“Maldivas,” “God Save the King”), Raoul Max Trujillo (the “Sicario” films, “Mayans M.C.”), with Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (“Monarch,” “Dead Man Walking”), and George Lopez (the “Rio and “Smurf” franchises). The film also stars Belissa Escobedo (“American Horror Stories,” “Hocus Pocus 2”) and Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows”). Soto (“Charm City Kings,” “The Farm”) directs from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (“Miss Bala”), based on characters from DC. John Rickard and Zev Foreman are producing, with Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Garrett Grant serving as executive producers.
A Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, A Safran Company Production, “Blue Beetle,” in cinemas starting August 16, is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #BlueBeetle #TeamKhajiDa
