FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PR CONTACT: Fe Koons PRESS RELEASE Cell: 310-849-3509 BIRDSHOT, AREA, SEKLUSYON IN THE 2017 L.A. PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL All films announced the first LAPIFF Press Conference August 30, 2107 - Carson, CALI – The Los Angeles Philippine International Film Festival (LAPIFF) selection committee announced the ten (out of the 500+ submissions) narrative films selected to compete in the film fest to be held on October 26-29 at SouthBay Pavilion Cinemark located at 20700 Avalon Blvd., Carson CA 90746. The ten films are: Area, Birdshot, Dagsin, EJK, Imbisibol, Laut, Seklusyon, Sakaling Hindi Makarating, Of Sinners and Saints, and The Sun Behind You. Pamela Reyes, producer of Birdshot, which won the Critic’s choice award in the recently concluded Pistang Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) in Manila, said that she is glad that Filipino Americans in Los Angeles will be able to view Birdshot. “We are very proud of our film. It has also an environment angle giving attention to the endangered Philippine eagle,” Reyes said. Birdshot, directed by Mikhail Red won in the Tokyo Film Festival. Area, starring AiAi delas Alas is directed by Louie Ignacio and produced by Baby GO. Seklusyon,a horror tale directed by Erik Matti and produced by Dondon Monteverde won six awards in the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival. The 10 short films chosen are: Back to One, Chapter X, Diliman, Instaland, Last Farewell, N.O.V.I.S, Sequins, Sins of Wasteland, Supot and RELEVE. The three documentary films selected are: The Apology, Do You Remember the Philippines and WE Will Never play in Manila Again. Abe Pagtama, chairman and founder of LAPIFF revealed that a special screening of short films made by members of the FIlAm Creative’s Talent Network will be shown in the opening night. Sweeney Mae, marketing direct of SouthBay Pavilion said htat the mall is proud to sponsor the international film festival on its second year. For more information on how you can advertise and/or sponsor LAPIFF, visit www.lapiff.org. SPECIAL THANKS TO: Photos above by Ren Arrieta www.southbaypavilion.com www.SuzetteSkincare.com For more information on the www.ShaleOakWinery.com Board Directors and Selection www.Chillhound.com Committee visit Pinoy Food Republic www.lapiff.org BIRDSHOT, Directed by Mikhail Red, TRT: 1hr 56min, 116 minutes, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Philippines TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k8h_X3GjgM Diego Mariano (Ku Aquino) is the caretaker of the land surrounding a sanctuary; he is the father of 14-year-old Maya (Mary Joy Apostol), whose mother died from childbirth. Maya wants to explore the land beyond the family's isolated shack. Diego wants her daughter to be self-sufficient, thus teaches her to fire a gun. After failing her first shooting lessons, Maya wanders of to the forest sanctuary with her father's rifle and accidentally kills a Philippine eagle, an endangered animal. Meanwhile, newly-recruited police officer Domingo goes to the area to investigate the mysterious disappearance of farmers en route to Manila on a bus, but was ordered to stop what he was doing. Domingo's partner Mendoza (John Arcilla) and their commander Dela Paz (Dido dela Paz) believes that Domingo should focus on finding the killer of the Philippine eagle instead. Red and his cousin began writing the script in 2014[2]. Producer Pamela L. Reyes submitted it to the Doha Film Institute which in early 2015 granted production funding for the film. After winning the CJ Entertainment Award at Busan Film Festival's Asian Project Market, other investors granted funding including TBA Studios. The film project was selected at the Festival des 3 Continents' Produire au Sud workshop to improve Birdshot and its screenplay. Birdshot's PelikulaRED studio (owner by Pamela L. Reyes and Mikhail Red) managed to co-produce the film with Tuko Film Productions and Buchi Boy Productions.[3] The total budget of the film was ₱14 million.[2] Red was inspired by a shooting incident in 2008, where a three-year-old Philippine eagle was shot by a Bukidnon farmer in Mount Kitanglad who cooked the killed bird afterwards. Principal photography lasted for 23 days.[4] Scenes were shot in the provinces of Isabella[2] and Rizal as well as the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary in Davao City.[3] The color red is a prominent element in the film which signifies an important scene or pertinent detail that the audience is required to pay closer attention to.[4] Birdshot was first screened at film festivals outside the Philippines before it was screened in the country. The film made its debut at the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival and was screened in 14 other film festivals before it made its local debut at the 13th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival August of the following year.[2] The film was also screened as one of the twelve official entries at the 2017 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Film critic Richard Kuipers praised Birdshot in a review published in Variety describing the film as a "gripping combination of police procedural and coming-of-age drama". He paralleled the film's commentary to the 2009 Maguindanao massacre and remarked on Apostol's performance in particular as "impressive". Additional praise was also given by Kuiper to Teresa Barrozo's "haunting soundscapes".[1] The film won Best Picture in the Asian Future category at the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival and was selected for the Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award at the Goteborg Film Festival.[5] Birdshot is a 2016 Philippine thriller film directed by Mikhail Red, Produced by Pamela L. Reyes, and was co-produced by PelikulaRED, Tuko Film Productions, and Buchi Boy Productions. Music composed by: Teresa Barrozo Producer: Pamela L. Reyes Cinematography: Mycko David Cast: John Arcilla, Arnold Reyes, Mary Joy Apostol, Manuel Aquino Screenplay: Mikhail Red, Rae Rae AREA, Directed by Louie Ignacio 1 hr 50 min • Drama, 2016, Philippines TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSyxMe4M2EY Stars: Ai-Ai de las Alas, Allen Dizon, Sue Prado A story of prostitution set in a regular community in Angeles City. A short distance from the city’s red-light district is Area, a neighborhood of brothels where over-the-hill sex workers can be had for a can of sardines or even on credit. During its heyday, Area had up to 700 brothels servicing thousands of low-income men, hormonally active boys and society misfits--all taking advantage of the bargain price of sex available only at Area. One of the last remaining brothels is operated by Ben, whose family of former pimps and subversives depends on the brothel for survival. Hillary, one of the sex workers, keeps her life-savings to fulfill a dream to travel to the United States to find a son she said she lost during the panic caused by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. Her skeptical co-workers bully her by dumping on her all the clients they reject, including a freak and a penniless old man who pays with stolen appliances. Hillary’s world collapses when her money is stolen and Ben refuses to file charges, because the suspect is a village watchman whom Ben cannot afford to displease. The story happens during the Holy Week, when the residents of Area perform rituals of penitence to wash away their sins and be ready for another year of business as usual. IMBISIBOL, Directed by Lawerence Fajardo, 2hr 12min, Drama, (2015) Philippines TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMzlSLYMHBA Stars: Allen Dizon, Ces Quesada, Bernardo Bernardo Imbisibol tells the tale of illegal Filipino immigrants in Japan and their plight to evade authorities. SEKLUSYON | Directed by Erik Matti 1 hr 26 min • Horror, Thriller 2016 (Philippines) TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw5kUvIDePc Stars: Rhed Bustamante, Neil Ryan Sese, Ronnie Alonte In 1947 those aspiring to be priest, are sent to a remote convent to live in seclusion (Seklusyon) on the last day of their training. The purpose is to shield them from evil of the world. The plot thickens when a mysterious young girl comes to the convent but the question is whether she is really sent by God or by the Evil. This is the challenge awaits the candidates. Seven days before ordination, four deacons enter a ritual house of seclusion to escape worldly desires but things go awry when evil seeps in through the cracks disguised as an innocent child. It is said that the last seven days before ordination is the most dangerous for deacons. The devil will haunt and tempt them out of priesthood so the church sends them into a strict house of seclusion where they will be kept safe and far from worldly desires. But when a little girl reputed to be a 'messenger of God' and a nun, serving as her guardian enters, rules of the house are broken one by one as each deacon faces their demons in a battle to guard their faith It stars Rhed Bustamante, Neil Ryan Sese, Ronnie Alonte, Lou Veloso, Phoebe Walker, Dominic Roque, Elora Españo, John Vic De Guzman, JR Versales, Jerry O'Hara, Sherry Lara and Teroy Guzman. It is an official entry to the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival, where it won 9 categories, including "Best Director" award for Erik Matti. The film is Erik Matti's third MMFF entry in recent years after his 2014 film Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2, and 2015 film Honor Thy Father which was the subject of controversy that year when it was disqualified from the "Best Picture" category of the festival's award.[5] LAUT | Directed by Louie Ignacio | 1hr 23min | Drama | 2016 (Philippines) TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD73NZ15WV8 Starring Barbie Forteza, Ronwaldo Martin, Felixia Crysten Dizon, Gabbi Garcia, Jak Roberto, A sea gypsies from Zamboanga who are now living in Mabalacat, Pampanga, Nadia of the group called Sama d'Laut.