Cebu International Film Festival goes online

POPTV, the newest video-on-demand streaming platform for Filipinos, partners with the Cebu International Film Festival this December as the annual award giving body goes online for the first time.

With this partnership, POPTV aims to bring Cebu.IFF’s exhibition of local and international titles to a broader audience nationwide and at the same time, stay true to its commitment of bringing the best FIlipino entertainment to Filipinos.

“We have so many talented Filipino filmmakers across the country and not all of them get the opportunity to tell their stories to a big audience. POPTV is here to fill that void and make these amazing content available for Filipinos to enjoy nationwide at a very affordable price,” said POPTV COO Jackeline Chua.

The Cebu International Film Festival will be available on POPTV for two weeks beginning Dec. 19. The film fest kicks off with its special awards show, where winners for various categories will be announced.

To download, just search for POPTV PINAS on Google Play and App Store. Users can avail of its special introductory promo of P49 for three months that gives them all access to POPTV’s library of local content (blockbusters, indie and classics) and dubbed Pinoy foreign favorites (KDramas, animes, BL series, Asian movies, and more).

For more information visit facebook.com/poptvph or visit www.poptv.ph.

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One of the much anticipated dramas chosen as entry to the forthcoming Metro Manila Film Festival is "Coming Home," a film by Adolfo Alix, Jr. This is his first mainstream film accepted to the filmfest although his entry "Presa" won in the Indie Section of the MMFF years ago.

In an interview, we asked Direk Adolf why he thinks "Coming Home" is a must-watch.

“I think what we all realized during this pandemic is the importance of our family. We were all locked down together and in the process we rediscovered our loved ones’ worth. I think 'Coming Home' will be a good watch for Filipino families to strengthen and come together during the holidays. We will find ourselves in the characters and the issues and themes of the film will resonate with Filipino audiences. They can laugh and cry with the plight of the Librada family,” he said.

On his inspiration for the film, the director shared, “I think there were several ideas that I discussed with our writer Gina Marissa Tagasa. We wanted to explore familiar themes in a family drama but we wanted a hook that will be very interesting. Then I remember a story about this wife who took in her sick husband when he was abandoned by his mistress. So Manay Gina and I had several discussions on how to push that premise and that was how the story came about. We wanted characters that we Filipinos meet and talk about everyday. Familiar yet unique in their own journeys.”

Direk Adolf hopes that "Coming Home" will measure up to the festival tradition of well-crafted drama films.

“Given the quality of the performances of the actors and how the film looks and feels now, it is an emotional ride that hopefully follows the tradition of family dramas in the MMFF.”

He said the selection of the cast members was quite crucial.

“We wanted Ms. Sylvia to play the mother as she is an actress that always has that innate maternal instinct to viewers. We wanted someone new for Ms. Sylvia and we thought of Sir Jinggoy as he hasn’t been acting for a while so it will be a good comeback as well. And the children have to blend together. Martin, Edgar Alan, Vin and Shaira were all game to do good. Also Ara who is acting on film for the first time.”

This is the first time he is working with Ms. Sylvia and Sir Jinggoy. “I am always excited to collaborate with intelligent and competent actors. Our interaction was very good during the shoot.”

"I like how the performances were working to help elevate each character. It was like they were a symphony of insightful performances bringing out the best in each other, which I think is a key in family dramas. You give light to each other to push the drama and not to shine alone.”

Produced by Maverick Films, "Coming Home" also stars Martin del Rosario, Edgar Allan Guzman, Vin Abrenica, and Shaira May.