BUCHEON City, South Korea—I am here in the middle of a game-changing film festival on genre projects. This is a gathering of who’s who in the international genre filmmaking (fantasy, sci-fi, thriller, horror, supernatural etc.) industry. This is my fourth time at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), the largest, most prestigious, immersive and the first ever genre fest …
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By Boy Villasanta Wonder why topnotch singers and concert queens, i.e., Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez, Nightingale Lani Misalucha and their ilk cannot be casted as leading ladies in the most talked about show “Triple Threats Series” of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) that helped catapulted to the top the singing careers of many big named Filipino performers? Let …
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by Boy Villasanta No other than Roger Garcia, the Advisor of the prestigious Asian Film Awards, is the Dean of the 2024 Fantastic Film School of the 28th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) in Bucheon City, South Korea whose academy scholarship starts today, 4th of July and ends on the 10th July, 2024. Garcia is one of the most …
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by Boy Villasanta Asia’s Sentimental Songstress is officially and finally out of the Katipunan ng mga Artista ng Pelikulang Pilipino at Telebisyon (KAPPT). This was confirmed by action superstar Rhene Imperial who formerly was Vice-President for External Affairs of the actors’ group. “Nagpulong na kami at sumunod kami sa batas. Hindi na si Imelda Papin ang presidente ng (We already …
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“I don’t want us to lose our identity. We should love our country, our music, arts, and culture” In the June 3-9 issue of Market Monitor, we featured an excerpt from an interview with classical pianist Nick Nangit who will hold a concert tomorrow, June 29, 2024 at 2 pm at the Bulwagang Gat Antonio J. Villegas in Manila City …
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by Boy Villasanta Another work shopper in the first-ever free scriptwriting classes in 1982 of National Artist for Film Ricky Lee has written 30. Award-winning screenwriter, producer and director Armando Lao, also known as Bing Lao, died of heart failure on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Colleague Jeffrey Jeturian, one of his best friends and classmates at Ricky’s seminar reported on …
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by Boy Villasanta It’s a mother’s pride and joy to see her child march onstage to finish an education. This is precisely what has been happening to Dulce when her daughter, Jedidah Keilah Abigail Llamedo Cruzata graduated recently from Junior High School of The Learning Tree School in Metro, Manila. Dulce, Maria Theresa Abellare Llamedo in real life, cannot contain …
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by Boy Villasanta She has been in the Korean film industry for two decades but Filipino K-pop idol Son Ye-jin of the now defunct “Crash Landing on You” will be treated with a tribute by a prestigious film festival in Korea. The 28th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) will fete Son with a retrospective of her films that lends …
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by Boy Villasanta Although he was not around during the 47th Gawad Urian of the prestigious Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP) when young star Charlie Dizon won Best Actress at the derby for the film “Third World Romance” from Black Sheep Productions, she distinctly thanked Carlo Aquino and all her loved ones in her acceptance speech. Still, during the press interview …
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It’s win for both first timers at the Gawad Urian of the prestigious Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP). Young star Charlie Dizon won Best Actress for “Third World Romance,” a Black Sheep Productions’ film project and veteran actor Romnick Sarmenta bagged the Best Actor plum for “About Us but Not About Us,” an IdeaFirst Company’s production at the 47th Gawa …
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The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business