Fans anticipate Nora’s first Cinemalaya entry

Superstar Nora Aunor stole the show without really trying at the Cinemalaya 10 press conference held Wednesday at the CCP lobby.

Nora is the lead actress of “Hustisya,” the Cinemalaya entry of director Joel Lamangan in the Director’s Showcase category. It is written by Ricky Lee and is the reunion flick of three noted artists. Nora said she is happy to be reunited with director Joel and screenwriter Ricky in this important project, which is also her very first Cinemalaya entry.

The actress was wearing a shirt with the word “Hustisya” printed on it. It is obviously a promo shirt for the film where Nora plays a foul-mouthed woman who fights for her soul in the belly of the city. Working for a human trafficking agency controlled by a powerful syndicate, she sees no evil, hears no evil. In a society like this, you only have two choices – to be a victim, or a victimizer.

The actress was immediately swarmed by the media after coming down to the second floor of the CCP where the guest stars were gathered. It was Nora’s first public appearance since the controversial snub done to her by President Noynoy Aquino, who dropped her from the list of honorees of the National Artists Award. But the actress chose not to comment anymore on the issue.

Nora said she is overwhelmed by the support given to her by the media, people from the academe, as well as other National Artists. Since she already issued a statement on the issue, the actress declined to comment further on the matter.

“Maraming-maraming salamat sa lahat ng mga kababayan natin. Tuwang-tuwa po ako sa mga nagtatanggol, sa lahat ng mga tao na naniniwala, at nagtitiwala sa larangan ng pag-arte,” she said when asked to comment on the overwhelming support she got from all sectors.

This early, many are predicting that Nora is certain to win the best actress award in the Director’s Showcase category for “Hustisya,” which is one of the much-anticipated entries in the festival.

Other contenders in the Director’s Showcase category are “Asintado” directed by Louie Ignacio; “Hari ng Tondo” directed by Carlitos Siguion-Reyna; “Kasal” by Joselito Altarejos; and “The Janitor” by Mike Tuviera.

The 2014 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition, now on its tenth year and billed as Cinemalaya X, premieres a crop of 25 new digital films on August 1 to 10 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, its main venue, and at satellite venues at Ayala Theaters in Greenbelt, Makati, Alabang Town Center, TriNoma, and Fairview Terraces, the latest addition to Cinemalaya satellite venues.

Special events and new festival features will be held to celebrate Cinemalaya’s 10-year milestone. These include the launching of the Cinemalaya X book, announcement  of the Cinemalaya Logo Contest winner, the introduction of the Cinemalaya Achievement Award, Cinemalaya Film Forum and special exhibitions that will document the story of Cinemalaya’s first decade, and Cinemalaya X Restropesctive.

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Vincent M. Tañada is known as the Bad Boy of Philippine Theater. He took on the challenge of being a playwright, director and actor. He leads the Philippine Stagers Foundation as President and Chairman of the Board. He did several plays where he showed his mettle as an actor for which he garnered acting nominations and awards.  He got his first Aliw Award as Best Actor in 2007 for his performance as Ramses in “O’ Moises.” His most recent work was Andres Bonifacio in “Bonifacio: Isang Sarsuwela” which had more than 400 shows mounted all over the country for a period of ten months.

For his new project under Philippine Stagers Foundation, Vince is staging “Filipinas 1941.” He chose the Japanese occupation of the Philippines as the topic of his “dulayawit” because “since ancient times the subject of war and peace has been extremely philosophical and a most difficult theme. I claim no deep insight into the subject because all my life has been spent in peace and prosperity. But I am certain that presenting the story of war is tremendously important both in drawing lessons for the future and in maintaining peace.”

For “Filipinas 1941,” he is presenting two fictional characters that Filipinos can relate to: Felipe and Nestor. The former symbolizes the Active Filipinos with the objective of doing something for the common good, and the latter represents the Passive Filipinos who will just sit and wait for miracles to happen.

“Given the hurdles that the two encountered, it is certain that the young audience will get to answer the question that I want to pose: Who are you – Felipe or Nestor?”

“Filipinas 1941: Isang Dulayawit” will open on July 12, 2014 at SM North EDSA Cinema 9 and will run up until 2015 in various venues all over the country. It will also be staged overseas for Filipino communities in countries like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.