Category: Movies

Film Facts: 5 Things to Know About ‘The Lost City’

In the new adventure film The Lost City, a reclusive author is on a book tour to promote her latest novel, with her cover model in tow. She is suddenly kidnapped by a billionaire, as he hopes she can lead him to an ancient lost city’s treasure from her latest book.

This star-studded film is coming to cinemas nationwide this April 20! Excited to catch it in the theaters? Before you head to the cinemas, here are some fun facts about ‘The Lost City’ that you should check out!

1. The adventure-slash-romcom is headed by Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum

Bullock plays author Loretta Sage, a brilliant yet reclusive author who pens romance-adventure novels, while Tatum portrays Alan, the handsome cover model of Loretta’s books. In her books, Alan is ‘Dash,’ the hero character, which the model dedicates to personifying. Together they are on tour to promote Loretta’s new book, which features exotic locations and lost treasure.

2. Sandra Bullock also acts as a producer of this film

The Academy Award-winning actor is producing The Lost City, through her production company Fortis Films. Her company is known for producing films such as Hope Floats and Miss Congeniality, and its sequel Miss Congeniality 2. Bullock wanted to create a big-scale adventure film, and shares that The Lost City experience is like an amusement ride!

ALSO READ:
Sandra Bullock: A Novelist Turned Adventurer in ‘The Lost City’
Channing Tatum is a Novel Cover Model Turned Hero in ‘The Lost City’

3. Daniel Radcliffe plays a villain that kidnaps Sandra Bullock’s character in the movie

Eccentric billionaire Abigail Fairfax is played by Daniel Radcliffe, and he’s the bad guy in this flick. The Harry Potter actor isn’t quite known to be the villain, but Radcliffe seems to be having a lot of fun being the baddie in this film in ‘The Lost City!’

4. Brad Pitt is also part of the cast

Cast as Jack Trainer, Brad Pitt’s character in the film is hired by cover model Alan when Loretta gets kidnapped. Jack Trainer is an all-action former Navy SEAL who attempts to rescue Loretta. According to this interview, Sandra Bullock and Brad Pitt shared the same film hairstylist, Janine Rath-Thompson, and she played a part in having Pitt agree to do the role in ‘The Lost City.’

5. There’s a mid-credits scene, so don’t leave your cinema seat too soon.

We won’t spoil you on what the scene will reveal, so just wait until you catch it on the big screen!

LOOTBOX:
Click here for your chance to win limited edition goodies from The Lost City!

The Lost City opens in Phillippine cinemas on April 20, 2022. Book your seats ahead and buy your tickets here.

April 18, 2022
New Movies This Week: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore and Clifford the Big Red Dog

Plan your week ahead and choose which among these movie openings this April 16, 2022 you’ll see on the big screen first.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Adventure, Family, Fantasy | 2hrs 22mins

Directed by David Yates, it is the third installment in the Fantastic Beasts film series. The film is set several years after the events of its predecessor and sees Albus Dumbledore tasking Newt Scamander and his allies with a mission that takes them into the heart of dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald’s army. It stars Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Callum Turner, and more.

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Clifford the Big Red Dog

Adventure, Animation, Comedy | 1hr 36mins

Directed by Walt Becker, the film is based on the children’s book series of the same name by Normal Bridwell. In the film, Emily Elizabeth meets a magical animal rescuer who gives her a little red puppy. She never anticipated waking up to find a giant, 10-foot hound in her small NYC apartment. With her single mother away, Emily and her uncle set out on an adventure in the Big Apple. It stars Jack Whitehall, Darby Camp, Tony Hale, Sienna Guillory, David Alan Grier, and more.

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April 13, 2022
WATCH: ‘Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank’ Trailer Shows Journey of Hero Underdog

When a town of cats is in danger, an unlikely hero rises… A dog named Hank! Watch the official trailer for Paramount Pictures’ new comedy adventure Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, in Philippine cinemas August 10.

About Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank

A hard-on-his-luck hound Hank (Michael Cera) finds himself in a town full of cats who need a hero to defend them from a ruthless villain’s (Ricky Gervais) evil plot to wipe their village off the map. With help from a reluctant teacher (Samuel L. Jackson) to train him, our underdog must assume the role of town samurai and team up with the villagers to save the day. The only problem… cats hate dogs! Also starring Mel Brooks, George Takei, Aasif Mandvi, Gabriel Iglesias, Djimon Hounsou, Michelle Yeoh, Kylie Kuioka, and Cathy Shim, Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank pounces into cinemas across the Philippines August 10.

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/paramountpicsph/; Instagram at www.instagram.com/paramountpicsph/ and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsZ7igjHZB-5k8DDM7ilVJw. Connect with #PawsofFury and tag paramountpicsph

April 12, 2022
Young Filmmakers Shine in Klima Filmfest

Student filmmakers from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde secured a total of five awards from the Klima Film Festival (KFF), a competition that aims to spotlight the effects of climate change using short films written and produced by young Filipinos nationwide.

Andrea Marie Bool calling her mother in Tanaw

“Tanaw” directed by Kaila Ysavl Bergonio of Playback Multimedia brought home four trophies along with 30,000 pesos for winning second runner-up, 15,000 pesos for Best Screenplay, 15,000 pesos for Best Performance (Andrea Marie Bool), and 5,000 pesos for snaring the Gender-Responsive Award.

On the other hand, “Modern Stray” by Rayshelle Lozada of Trianggulo Productions won the Audience Choice trophy and 5,000 pesos and an additional 15,000 pesos for being one of the four Klima Filmfest finalists. The KFF trophies are made from recycled materials.

KFF, a joint initiative of the Climate Change Commission and the Oscar M. Lopez Center, with the support of its official media partner iWantTFC and GIZ Philippines, aims “to mobilize the youth in amplifying the importance of local climate solutions to further increase their influence on local climate policy-making and generate local climate adaptation stories as viewed by young Filipino filmmakers by providing venue for the production and promotion of climate science-based short films.”

In “Tanaw,” Aira Mendoza (Bool) is a teenage student raised by her mother, a retired barangay captain and environmental activist. A school requirement brings her onsite in a quarry for a research project.

Kaila Ysavl Bergonio director of Tanaw

Rayshelle Lozada director of Modern Stray

Bergonio’s debut film was made in collaboration with another Benildean filmmaker, Allynna Santiago, and people they met through Cine Sundays, an online film community formed by director Dan Villegas. “Despite the pressure of a first timer joining a film festival like the KFF, we knew we wanted it to be a story that makes one think, a story that disrupted social views and shed new light on societal issues such as climate justice. Given the opportunity, ‘Tanaw’ is a film set to be a story that can make a difference.”

Meanwhile, in “Modern Stray,” Sunny De Vera (Fern Santos) has been called ill-mannered and materialistic. She devises a plan to showcase her roots in Batangas as she creates new content for her YouTube channel. In her province, she retraces her past with childhood friend Nanoy (Justine Jay Daanoy). Sunny’s realizations and reflections push her to a new path as an environmental advocate.

Fern Santos looking at a tree in Modern Stray

Lozada remembers how often she obsessed with how time works, recalling how her mother also used to say that her type of stories are about time travel. “What inspires me to conceptualize the film ‘Modern Stray’ is about the idea of your past selves merging into this future self you wanted to portray. Like we’re basically our real selves as a child but as time progresses, we learn to fabricate our own truths.”

Aside from Santos and Daanoy, Lozada collaborated with co-writer Jhun Monterde, production designer, sound designer, and production manager Sophia Repuyan, co-production manager Darlene Cantos, cinematographers Terrence Santiago (who also edited the film) and Michael Musni (who also served as colorist), musical scorer Clio Gonzales, and voice actor Gabriel Buenabajo as Sunny’s father and reporter.

Andrea Marie Bool discussing with her groupmates onsite at the quarry

The short films were judged by science, gender, and film experts Dr. Doracie Zoleta-Nantes, Dr. Rodel Lasco, Dr. Rolando Tolentino, Liza Diño-Seguerra, Honey Castro, and Sari Dalena for their cinematic attributes and technical execution, story and content, impact, as well as gender considerations.

The finalists of the Kilma Filmfest’s past two editions may be viewed via iWantTFC until March 2023.

April 12, 2022
Channing Tatum is a Novel Cover Model Turned Hero in ‘The Lost City’

Channing Tatum takes on the role of Dash/Alan, the strikingly handsome model who graces the covers of Loretta Sage’s (Sandra Bullock) romance novels, in Paramount Pictures’ new romantic adventure The Lost City, showing in Philippine cinemas this April 20.

Dash is machismo personified: handsome, debonaire, smart, and courageous. But his real-life alter ego, Alan, is, when we meet him, not Dash. But at his core Alan is honest, dependable, and loyal, and against all odds, becomes the hero he always envisioned Dash to be.

“Dash is a swashbuckling character who rides in on the white horse or swings in on a vine and saves the day,” says Channing Tatum. “Alan is the farthest thing from that, but it’s not from lack of trying. I think Alan was a little embarrassed when he first got the modeling job, but then he had an epiphany and realized what a beautiful opportunity he had in playing this character who brings joy to so many people. What nobler job is there than the ability to make people happy?

“Alan’s not totally crazy,” Tatum continues. “He doesn’t really believe he is Dash, but he’d like to believe he has some of those qualities, especially the fact that he has such a good heart.”

For Sandra Bullock, Tatum was the perfect foil. “Channing is so self-deprecating; there’s nothing about him that’s ego driven, which works for the role of Alan because he is such an innocent,” she says. “He is wide-eyed and sweet. Not many people can play that kind of a guileless, open person, but Channing had such comedic intuition about Alan.

“Channing is a physical comedian who uses his body to convey the joke. We connected at once because that’s how I operate. It’s so nice to have a partner you’re comfortable with, and who has amazing timing. Moreover, we’re different enough that we complement one another,” Bullock adds.

A wonderful example of Tatum’s flair for physical comedy was when he stripped down for a laugh-out-loud scene with Bullock. Tatum’s character encounters leeches all over his backside, and Bullock inspects him to help with removal.

Tatum recalls filming the scene which was Day 2 of production, “Walking to set with a bunch of leeches super-glued to my butt and not having met everybody and just kinda being like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna be butt-naked today, my name’s Chan. This is just what it is,’ ” said Tatum. “And then not only that, but to have Sandra Bullock have, like, a two-page monologue with, uh, a certain part of my body.”

About The Lost City

Brilliant, but reclusive author Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) has spent her career writing about exotic places in her popular romance-adventure novels featuring handsome cover model Alan (Channing Tatum), who has dedicated his life to embodying the hero character, “Dash.” While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who hopes that she can lead him to the ancient lost city’s treasure from her latest story. Wanting to prove that he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her. Thrust into an epic jungle adventure, the unlikely pair will need to work together to survive the elements and find the ancient treasure before it’s lost forever.

The Lost City is distributed by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/paramountpicsph/; Instagram at www.instagram.com/paramountpicsph/ and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsZ7igjHZB-5k8DDM7ilVJw. Connect with #TheLostCity and tag @paramountpicsph

April 11, 2022
Film Facts: 5 Things to Know About ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’

This Saturday, April 16, fans can finally return to the Wizarding World with the release of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore! In the third film of the franchise, Albus Dumbledore seeks the help of Magizoologist Newt Scamander in leading a team of witches, wizards, and one muggle to stop Gellert Grindelwald from seizing control of the world of magic.

While we’re all waiting to see their epic battles on the big screen, we’ve rounded up five facts about the film and its main characters. Check them out below:

1. J.K. Rowling spent 3 hours sharing Dumbledore’s secrets with Jude Law.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Dumbledore actor Jude Law recalled how the author of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises shared with him everything about the character.

“I think one of the beautiful moments in preparation was working with J.K. Rowling. I spent an afternoon when she gave me the entire history of this great character. I remember she went in and she was having tea. She had these incredible heels on. She said ‘OK, if you don’t mind I’m going to stand up.’ And she stood up for nearly three hours and just walked up and down, talked, talked — and it just came out, it’s just living in her,” the actor said.

Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

2. A different Grindelwald in each film.

In case you didn’t know, Mads Mikkelsen takes over the role of Grindelwald in the latest ‘Fantastic Beasts’ film, after Johnny Depp had to depart from the franchise. This was due to Depp losing a legal battle involving a British tabloid and the controversy surrounding his marriage with Amber Heard. This is not the first time that Grindelwald switched actors though. The first film from the franchise featured Colin Farrell as Grindelwald, before his real face–Depp’s face– was revealed near its ending.

Photos: Warner Bro. Pictures

3. Bathilda Bagshot’s connection with Dumbledore and Grindelwald.

Harry Potter fans would recall Bathilda Bagshot as the author of A History of Magic, who was murdered and used by Voldemort as the host for his pet snake Nagini in order to deceive Harry. Besides being a respected historian, Bathilda also played a huge part in the crossing of Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s paths. After being impressed with Albus’s paper in Transfiguration, Bathilda became acquainted with the Dumbledores. She then introduced Albus to her equally talented great-nephew, Gellert Grindelwald. Friendship will come naturally to the two afterward.

Photo: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1

4. Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s complicated relationship.

For the uninitiated, this may come as a surprise, but it’s been known since 2007 that Albus Dumbledore is gay, after author J.K. Rowling revealed it to fans of the Harry Potter franchise. In fact, Dumbledore and Grindelwald were former lovers, but the latter’s descent into darkness prompted a falling out between the two. While this was only subtly shown in the films so far, it might just be further explored in the third title from the Fantastic Beasts franchise.

Photo: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore trailer

5. Luna Lovegood and Newt Scamander’s grandchild married.

Another fun fact that overlaps between the Harry Potter franchise and the Fantastic Beasts franchise is that Newt Scamander’s grandson, Rolf Scamander, married the fan-favorite Luna Lovegood. While the Harry Potter films sparked romance between Luna and Neville Longbottom, the books didn’t really confirm a romantic relationship between the two characters. While not much information was really revealed about Rolf, Luna’s love for magical creatures, which also led her to a career in Magizoology, is most likely what brought her and Rolf Scamander together.

Don’t miss Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore on the big screen! Buy your tickets here and enjoy a more convenient cinema experience on your next trip to the movie theaters!

April 11, 2022
New Film Adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘Firestarter’ Heads to PH Cinemas This May

Summer’s about to get even hotter with the upcoming latest adaptation of Stephen King’s classic thriller Firestarter starring Zac Efron, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Sydney Lemmon, Kurtwood Smith, John Beasley, with Michael Greyeyes and Gloria Reuben.

In Firestarter, a girl with extraordinary pyrokinetic powers fights to protect her family and herself from sinister forces that seek to capture and control her. For more than a decade, parents Andy (Efron) and Vicky (Lemmon) have been on the run, desperate to hide their daughter Charlie (Armstrong in the titular character, previously played by Drew Barrymore) from a shadowy federal agency that wants to harness her unprecedented gift for creating fire into a weapon of mass destruction.

Andy has taught Charlie how to defuse her power, which is triggered by anger or pain. But as Charlie turns 11, the fire becomes harder and harder to control. After an incident reveals the family’s location, a mysterious operative is deployed to hunt down the family and seize Charlie once and for all. Charlie has other plans.

From Universal Pictures International, Firestarter will soon open in local cinemas on May 11.

April 11, 2022
Awkwafina’s Voice Gives Life to Tech-Savvy Spidey in ‘The Bad Guys’

In the new action-comedy The Bad Guys from DreamWorks Animation, based on The New York Times best-selling book series, a crackerjack criminal crew of animal outlaws are about to attempt their most challenging con yet—becoming model citizens.

Awkwafina lends voice to the tech-savvy Ms. Tarantula along with an immensely talented voice cast in the action animated feature film – Sam Rockwell as the dashing pickpocket Mr. Wolf, Marc Maron as the adroit safecracker Mr. Snake, Craig Robinson as the master-of-disguise Mr. Shark and Anthony Ramos as the short-fused muscle Mr. Piranha.

Sharp-tongued, genius hacker and expert multi-tasker, the most independent member of the gang, Ms. Tarantula is always quick with the comebacks. As the gang’s only female member, she doesn’t cut the “Guys” any slack. She prides herself on perfection. When she encounters an un-hackable code, she goes into “beast mode”—employing her eight legs to achieve super-cyber decrypting speeds.

In Aaron Blabey’s book series, Tarantula is actually a “Mr.” But when adapting the story for the screen, Blabey was supportive of the filmmakers switching the character to be a kick-butt female techie. Producer Rebecca Huntley has loved audiences’ reception to Ms. Tarantula. “One of the surprising things was how parents responded to the fact that Ms. Tarantula was representing women and girls in S.T.E.M. She’s a cool, confident hacker, and to have audiences see her as a role model in that regard was wonderful.”

She was thrilled to join such a brilliant group of fellow voice performers, as well as occasionally work alongside them—a rarity in animation. “This is a stacked cast of brilliant actors, and I’m a huge fan of all my fellow Bad Guys,” Awkwafina says. “When I heard who was going to be in it, I was mind-blown.

The actor enjoyed playing a character who is not unconstrained by societal rules. “The Bad Guys are pretty much the villains of everything,” Awkwafina says. “They scare people out of restaurants, which I imagine would be great because you could get a table anywhere. As a group of friends, they do quite like each other. Because they’re such outcasts in the world, they relish in who they are.”

Additionally, Awkwafina admired how deftly the source material and the script balanced joyful imagination and poignant themes. “The story is pretty existential, and these are characters with sincere dilemmas,” Awkwafina says. “It is symbolic of how we, as humans, see ourselves, how society does and how we embody that—until we realize that we don’t have to be defined by certain things. I like the way that The Bad Guys plays with aspects of good and bad. Those are two terms that we see misconstrued all the time. We see people that look bad but aren’t, as well as people who look good but aren’t.”

A Universal Pictures International release, The Bad Guys will open in cinemas on April 27.

April 8, 2022
Eddie Redmayne Answers Call of the Wild in the New ‘Fantastic Beasts’

Reprising the role of Magizoologist Newt Scamander, Oscar Best Actor winner Eddie Redmayne returns in the epic fantasy adventure “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” the newest adventure in the Wizarding World™ created by J.K. Rowling. The film opens in cinemas across the Philippines on Saturday, April 16.

In the film, Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers. But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?

“I was thrilled that we finally get to see Newt where he’s at his best and happiest—out in the wild, tracking beasts,” Eddie Redmayne states. “One of the things I’ve always loved about Newt is the seeming anomaly between his physicality, mixed with his slight social awkwardness, and his facility and dexterity when he’s in the field. I’d been appealing to David Yates to show more of that.”

Director David Yates attests, “Eddie is a transformative actor who loves to dive deep into every aspect of his character. He was excited about showing Newt’s anthropological skill set, trekking through the jungle to find the beautiful, mysterious Qilin (pronounced as “chillin.”) We’ve never seen Newt in the wild before, and it makes for a fun way to open our journey with him in this particular story.”

“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” continues the series’ tradition of crossing new borders in the wizarding world. The adventure circles the globe—from China to Great Britain, from New York to Germany, and from the Austrian Alps to Bhutan. The movie also takes audiences back to the beloved Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the nearby village of Hogsmeade.

Redmayne says that the juxtaposition of the wizarding and non-magical world “has always appealed to me—this idea that alongside the world we’re living in, brushing shoulders with us through that wall, is another entire universe that is one of magic and adventure. It ignites that sense of childlike wonder that anything could be possible. And to see that unfold in other countries beyond the UK has been astounding.”

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films Production, a David Yates film, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.” The film will be distributed worldwide in select theatres and IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #SecretsOfDumbledore

April 8, 2022
FEU filmmakers recognized in National and Interschool Filmfests

Student filmmakers from Far Eastern University (FEU) took home various awards from recent interschool film competitions organized by the University of San Agustin’s Augustinian Communicators’ Guild, University of the Philippines Cinema, and Adamson University’s Silip@Lente.

Francis Tavas’ “Waltz of Qualm” won the Juror’s Choice Award at USA-ACG’s 2022 FilAr Peace Film Festival while Sophie Casasola bagged Best Cinematography for the same film at the recently concluded Piling Obrang Vidyo XVIII. UP Cinema’s POV has been home to many student filmmakers since 2004.

In the film, a teenage girl (Joyce Macalia) finds a broken mirror as she wanders around the forest. Driven by curiosity, she touches it and discovers the one thing she has been trying to escape from all her life.

“The exploration of one’s identity is filled with challenge and mystery. Despite the uncertainties filled in such a phase, what I would like to emphasize is the beauty of not just the aftermath but also the in-betweens before arriving at the end of the road,” Tavas shared in his director’s statement.

“This particularly reflects what I have been through especially when it comes to my sexuality. Considering the prejudices and judgments that my 12-year-old self has faced, I was not able to treasure the moments before such discovery,” the FEU Communication student revealed.

“Thus, in order to make up for it, I have opened myself up to any circumstances and have now lived my life the way it is now – filled with kindness and liberated from the perception of others,” he added.

Meanwhile, three other FEU films, Kyle Cabarrubias “Hiraya,” Luke Del Castillo’s “Saksi ang Paslit,” and Roberto Capio, Jr.’s “Muling Pagsisimula sa Katapusan” also brought home awards from Silip@Lente-AdU’s Realifilm 2022.

“Hiraya” won for Cabarrubias and Sine Sibol the Realifilm Bronze Award, Best Original Song, and Best Actress, also for Macalia. “Saksi ang Paslit” earned the Realifilm Award for Excellence for Del Castillo and Talahib Films while “Muling Pagsisimula sa Katapusan” took the Realifilm Award of Virtue for Capio and Random Strangers Production.

“Hiraya” and Patrick Pangan’s “We Were Never Really Strangers” also made it to the SineDisipulo X Film Festival organized by CINEMATA of University of San Carlos in Cebu.

Like Tavas, Casasola, Cabarrubias, Del Castillo, Capio, and Pangan are FEU Communication students under the Digital Cinema track and members of the FEU Film Society, the university’s film organization.

Both Tavas and Pangan also have other films officially selected to be part of the 14th Cinema Rehiyon film festival, a flagship project of the National Committee on Cinema under the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Aside from “Waltz of Qualm,” Tavas’ other films “Sila-Sila” and “Diva, Divine” were also shown in the hybrid film festival which was held online and in Davao City in celebration of the National Arts Month.

“Sila-Sila” is Tavas’ first experimental film project while “Diva, Divine?” is a documentary which focuses on the life of Angelica Mapanganib, an entertainer and gay beauty pageant contestant or “beauconera.”

Pangan’s other film “Shapeshifters” was also screened at the event, which wrapped up last March 31. “Shapeshifters” tackles extrajudicial killings through Philippine folklore.

April 6, 2022