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Osaka Asian Film Festival (Oaff) today announces the rest of its program with an additional 54 entries. This includes 11 titles in the Competition section, 11 titles in the Spotlight section and 20 titles in the Indie Forum section. With the previously-announced 12 works, 66 features and shorts in total – 22 World, 5 International, 3 Asian, 22 Japan Premieres – will be screened at the 21st edition of Oaff, which will be held for the first time over the summer, from August 29 – September 7, 2025.

Competition

The 11 titles selected for Oaff’s Competition section are all in the running for the Grand Prix and the field is wide open due to the eclectic mix of stories and styles on offer. From crowd-pleasers to quirky horror romances and noirish mysteries, there’s something for everyone.

Themes of womanhood and connections between mothers and children are prominent in nearly all of the films, especially the works from Mainland China include Lilly Hu’s 1 Girl Infinite,...

The Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) proudly announces the official programme lineup for its highly anticipated 8th edition, set to take place from 19 to 27 July 2025. Staying true to its mission as a cultural bridge between Malaysian and global cinema, this year’s MIFFest places a spotlight on bold, diverse, and impactful storytelling from around the world. In its ongoing celebration of cinematic legends, the 8 th MIFFest is proud to pay tribute to the iconic Ti Lung with the Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the Extended Special Programme under the Master At Work series.

This year’s Malaysia Golden Global Awards (Mgga) sets the stage for an electrifying competition, with several standout titles leading the nominations. These critically acclaimed films reflect the depth and diversity of global storytelling celebrated at MIFFest. The Malaysia Golden Global Awards (Mgga) takes place on 26 July 2025 at Zepp Kuala Lumpur. The event will be streamed...

Indiecan Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Sunshine, the Filipino drama that won the Crystal Bear for best film in the Generation 14plus section of this year’s Berlin film festival.

The deal also covers remake rights to the film and an English-language adaptation is set to be directed by Indiecan’s Avi Federgreen, with Federgreen Entertainment and Michaelangelo Masangkay’sSine Media Inc producing.

Written and directed by Filipino filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone, Sunshine stars Maris Racal in the story of a young gymnast who discovers she is pregnant as she prepares for national team tryouts. Producers are Dan Villegas,...

The Far East Film Festival (Feff) in Udine came to an end on Friday, May 2, closing the 27th chapter in its ongoing celebration of Asian cinema. Feff has always been a festival that knows how to please its fanbase, and this year was no exception. Ranging from popular blockbusters to auteur-driven works, from crowd-pleasing comedies to emotional tearjerkers, and including tributes to cinematic heritage – such as the retrospective and publication Yokai and Other Monsters: From Asian Folklore to Cinema – the program offered a rich portrait of contemporary Asia. Audiences were especially thrilled by the presence of major stars in the theatre, including Sylvia Chang and Tsui Hark – both honored with the Golden Mulberry for Lifetime Achievement – and Japanese actor Lily Franky, who presented the Filipino film “Diamonds in the Sand” alongside its director, Janus Victoria.

The Taiwanese presence was notably strong this year, both in terms of films and guests.

What’s Left of Us, an upcoming Filipino feature directed by Tyrone Acierto, has won the Taicca Focus Asia Co-Production Award in Udine, Italy.

The prize, given to a project that demonstrates the greatest potential for Europe-Asia collaboration, includes a cash prize of €10,000.

The film, currently in development, is set in a world ravaged by a mysterious disease that erases memories. The story revolves around a family who battle both the infected and their own fading minds as they attempt to survive and stick together.

Producer is Wilfredo Manalang, known for Duong Dieu Linh’s Vietnamese feature Don’t Cry Butterfly,...

Filipino filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone returns to the Udine Far East Film Festival after her 2011 mockumentary ”Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay” and her 2021 film ”Fan Girl”. Her body of work has been steadily veering towards darker and more socially relevant themes, and her new project “Sunshine” is a striking j’accuse directed at Filipino society.

Sunshine is screening at Far East Film Festival

Sunshine (Maris Racal) is a schoolgirl and a gymnast, training for the Sea Games — the competition that can pave the road to the Olympics. She is talented and committed, but a sudden episode of dizziness and fainting makes her realize she has missed her last period. Panic strikes, and a hurried trip to the pharmacy for a pregnancy test confirms the hard truth: she is pregnant. A whirlwind of confused thoughts crowds her mind: she doesn’t want to be a mother, she’s too young,...

Focus Asia, the industry arm of the Far East Film Festival, has unveiled its full 2025 lineup featuring Indonesian star Reza Rahadian’s directorial debut “On Your Lap” and Canadian-Pakistani “In Flames” filmmaker Zarrar Kahn’s “Suffering is Optional” among its selections.

The industry platform, running April 28-30 in Udine, Italy, has selected 11 projects for its All Genres Project Market and seven films for the Far East in Progress section from over 120 submissions spanning 31 countries.

The projects selected for the All Genres Project Market, spotlighting productions with Asian-European co-production potential, include “Cubs,” directed by Riri Riza and produced by Forka Films (Indonesia); “Delight Delight,” directed by Sunny Yu and produced by In Bloom Films (Taiwan) in partnership with E&w Films (Singapore); “Dinosaur Boy,” directed by Zhiquan Liu and produced by Dinosaur Studio (China); and “Green Valley and the Amber Marbles,” directed by Nguyen Nam Vu and produced through a five-country collaboration...

If Asia is a galaxy, contemporary Asia is the planet the Far East Film Festival (Feff) of Udine has observed since its first edition in 1999. Now in its 27th year, the festival remains focused on the evolving landscape of Asian cinema. This year’s lineup includes 75 titles from 11 countries: 7 world premieres, 15 international premieres, 20 European premieres, and 19 Italian premieres. The selection spans popular cinema, auteur films, and tributes to the past, offering a deep look at today’s Asia.

Graphic designer Roberto Rosolin captures this perspective in Feff’s official image, reinforcing the festival’s ever-curious gaze.

In 2024, legendary filmmaker Zhang Yimou received the Golden Mulberry for Lifetime Achievement Award at Feff. This year, the honor goes to a queen of Asian cinema: Sylvia Chang—actress, singer, director, screenwriter, producer, and radio DJ. “Icon” may be overused, but few words truly capture her impact. Audiences will be able to celebrate her...

The Far East Film Festival in Italy’s Udine has unveiled the full line-up for its 27th edition, which will honour Taiwanese actress and filmmaker Sylvia Chang with an honorary award.

Chang will receive Feff’s Golden Mulberry for lifetime achievement award in recognition of a career spanning several decades. Daughter’s Daughter, for which she received an honourable mention at Toronto in September, will screen at the festival alongside a restored version of Tsui Hark’s comedy Shanghai Blues from 1984.

The festival will open with Green Wave, a Chinese father-son comedy drama directed by Xu Lei, which won the...

The 75th annual Berlin International Film Festival took place between 13 and 23 February 2025. It was the first edition of the highly political festival in which the artistic director was Tricia Tuttle, American film journalist, festival programmer, and curator. Both the general festival program and its Asian part offered diversity this year – from documentaries, such as “The Sense of Violence” by Kim Mooyoung, independent movies such as “A Story about Fire” by Li Wenyu, to an action thriller such as “The Old Woman with the Knife” by Min Kyu-dong. However, despite the high-quality selection of Asian films, none of them turned out to be a masterpiece.

Among the most important awards films from the region netted, it is worth mentioning that the International Jury chaired by Todd Haynes awarded Huo Meng with the Silver Bear for Best Director for “Living the Land”. What’s more, “Seaside Serendipity” by Satoko Yokohama was awarded...

At the 49th Toronto International Film Festival, Antoinette Jadaone presented her latest, 12th feature in fourteen years. During her career, the prolific Filipina writer-director managed to collect many nominations and awards at festivals such as the Cinemanila International Film Festival or the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. “Sunshine” was also screened at the 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival, and as a part of the Generation 14plus section at the 75th Berlinale where it was awarded the Crystal Bear.

Sunshine is sceening at Berlin International Film Festival

Sunshine (Maris Racal), a gifted gymnast, is widely seen as a reliable candidate for the national Olympic team. Her coach (Meryll Soriano) tries to keep her determination at a high level by reminding her that this is her last chance to participate in the biggest sporting event in the world. However, during the tryouts, Sunshine learns she’s pregnant. Faced with the potential...

The Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival was awarded to Norway’s Dag Johan Haugerud for Dreams (Sex Love) tonight (February 22), the first time this honour has gone to the country.

Scroll down for full list of winners

Dreams (Sex Love) sees Haugerud complete his Sex Love Dreams trilogy with the story of a young woman whose writings about a crush on her French teacher shock her mother and grandmother, causing them to re-examine their own fantasies. M-Appeal is handling sales.

Haugerud said on stage that it was “beyond [his] wildest dreams” to win the Golden Bear and, speaking...

Brendan Canty’s Cork-set drama Christy has won the Grand Prix in the Berlinale’s youth-focused Generation 14plus section.

Based on Canty’s short film of the same name, the film follows two estranged brothers as they grapple with their past and resolve to unite over one summer in Cork city’s Northside.

Written by Alan O’Gorman from a story he created with Canty, the film was made with mentorship from Yann Demange who serves as executive producer.

Marina Brackenbury produces with Meredith Duff of Wayward Films, and Rory Gilmartin of Sleeper Films.

The Generation International Jury was made up of directors Emma Branderhorst (Netherlands) and Aslı Özarslan (Germany) and TIFF programmer Ikoro Sekai (Canada).

They praised Christy for its energy and raw emotion as well as Canty’s connection with...

The 75th Berlin International Film Festival has announced the winners in the Generation 14plus section, recognizing films that capture youth experiences through a range of perspectives.

Brendan Canty’s Christy won the Grand Prix of the International Jury for Best Film in the 14plus category. The Irish drama follows a 17-year-old boy navigating the streets of Cork after being removed from his foster home. As he reconnects with his estranged brother, he faces choices that will shape his future.

The jury praised the film’s realism and its use of non-professional actors. “This film bursts with energy and raw emotion, capturing a teenager’s search for belonging with striking realism. The director’s deep bond with the community shines through and makes every frame feel alive and fresh.”

A Special Mention was awarded to Belgian filmmaker Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama for Têtes Brûlées, which tells the story of a 12-year-old girl...

Hysteria, directed by German filmmaker Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay, has been named Best European Film in the Panorama section at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film received the Europa Cinemas Label, granting it additional promotional support and incentives for theaters to feature it in their programming.

The jury described Hysteria as a tightly constructed conspiracy thriller with unexpected developments leading to a tense final sequence. They noted its ability to spark discussion on pressing social issues while keeping audiences engaged.

The jury panel consisted of Klaudia Elsässer, David Kelly, Constanze Oedl, and Cenk Sezgin.

Thriller with Political Undertones

Written and directed by Büyükatalay, Hysteria follows a story that explores paranoia and manipulation in contemporary society. The film is a production of Filmfaust, with Pluto Films handling international sales.

The cast features Devrim Lingnau, Mehdi Meskar, Serkan Kaya, Nicolette Krebitz, and Aziz Çapkurt. The film’s cinematography is by Christian Kochmann,...

The 75th Berlin International Film Festival wrapped its Generation competition of children and youth films with honors for a diverse and powerful slate of directors, led by Irish filmmaker Brendan Canty, whose drama Christy took home the Grand Prize in the 14plus category.

A raw and deeply affecting coming-of-age story, Christy follows a 17-year-old boy navigating the streets of working-class Cork after being kicked out of his foster home. Reuniting with his estranged brother Shane, Christy finds himself at a crossroads, caught between the pull of his past and the possibility of a new future.

The international jury praised the film’s emotional authenticity and non-professional cast, stating, “This film bursts with energy and raw emotion, capturing a teenager’s search for belonging with striking realism. The director’s deep bond with the community shines through and makes every frame feel alive and fresh.”

Belgian director Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama received...

The Berlin International Film Festival has announced the full lineup for its 2025 Generation section, which highlights children and youth films.

The Generation 14plus 2025 competition will open with Christy, directed by Brendan Canty. The film portrays a teenage boy from Cork, Ireland, navigating the shadows of his family’s past while seeking a place in the world. In the Generation Kplus section, the opening film The Nature of Invisible Things explores a community’s support for two girls as they grapple with moments of farewell and new beginnings.

The competition lineup features Seaside Serendipity by Satoko Yokohama, an episodic film set on a nameless Japanese island, which blends magical realism with everyday life, questioning the intersection of art and life. Also highlighted is Wrong Husband by Zacharias Kunuk, which transports viewers to a mystical world in the Canadian Arctic, where human and spirit realms collide in a fairy tale about young love.

Around sixteen years ago, the late great Filipino film critic Alexis Tioseco saw Antoinette Jadaone’s student short films ‘plano (2005) and Saling Pusa (2006) and began championing her work. In the words of critic Oggs Cruz, Tioseco thought Jadaone was “the person that is most qualified to give Filipino mainstream filmmaking that much-needed burst of novel inspiration,” given that her “shorts are all tightly packaged confections that marry the popular appeal of mainstream escapist entertainment and the unique wit of more adventurous fare.” Two years after Tioseco’s death, Jadaone made her feature debut—a love letter to and critique of Filipino […]

The post “The Abortion Ban May Be Protecting the Unborn, But It’s Killing Our Women”: Antoinette Jadaone on Sunshine first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Around sixteen years ago, the late great Filipino film critic Alexis Tioseco saw Antoinette Jadaone’s student short films ‘plano (2005) and Saling Pusa (2006) and began championing her work. In the words of critic Oggs Cruz, Tioseco thought Jadaone was “the person that is most qualified to give Filipino mainstream filmmaking that much-needed burst of novel inspiration,” given that her “shorts are all tightly packaged confections that marry the popular appeal of mainstream escapist entertainment and the unique wit of more adventurous fare.” Two years after Tioseco’s death, Jadaone made her feature debut—a love letter to and critique of Filipino […]

The post “The Abortion Ban May Be Protecting the Unborn, But It’s Killing Our Women”: Antoinette Jadaone on Sunshine first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

The Toronto Film Festival is awash with international titles. Led by Mohammad Rasoulof’s “The Seed Of The Sacred Fig” and Gints Zilbalodis’ “Flow,” the festival’s huge Centrepiece spread alone has 38 titles from outside Canada and the U.S. The Discovery section has another 18.

Not all Toronto international titles are world premieres, however. Here are 16 which are sparking good word of mouth. Variety isn’t claiming they are the best. The buzz might not be justified. But they are certainly worth tracking.

“Sunshine,” (Antoinette Jadaone, Philippines)

Anima, the Filipino studio behind Erik Matti’s Venice winner “On The Job 2: The Missing 8” and Sundance winner “Leonor Will Never” Die, joined Project 8 Projects to co-produce Antoinette Jadaone’s teenage pregnancy drama “Sunshine.” It turns on a young gymnast who discovers she is pregnant on the week of the national team tryouts. On her way to a seller of illegal abortion drugs,...

Filipino filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone’s latest feature “Sunshine,” set to world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, has unveiled its trailer.

The film, selected for TIFF’s Centrepiece program, tackles the sensitive issue of teenage pregnancy and abortion in the Philippines, while also highlighting the struggles of aspiring Olympic athletes.

“Sunshine” follows a young gymnast who discovers she’s pregnant just before the national team tryouts. The film explores the challenges faced by pregnant women in the predominantly Catholic Philippines, where abortion is illegal and unsafe procedures are common.

Jadaone, known for films like “That Thing Called Tadhana” and “Fan Girl,” aims to shed light on pressing social issues. “‘Sunshine’ represents the hundreds of thousands of girls who became pregnant in their teens. About 500 Filipino teenagers become mothers every day,” the director states.

The film stars Maris Racal as the titular character. Racal said: “I am grateful to have...

Sunshine, written and directed by Antoinette Jadaone, is set to have its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, under the Centrepiece Programme.

Sunshine tells the story of a young gymnast who finds out she is pregnant on the week of the national team tryouts. On her way to a seller of illegal abortion drugs, she meets a mysterious girl who eerily talks like her.

When her self-induced abortion fails, she comes face to face with the harsh reality of how pregnant women of all ages and backgrounds in the Philippines are violently robbed of the chance to choose for themselves and their bodies.

Jadaone aims to bring to the forefront not-often talked about issues affecting Filipina women daily.

In the Philippines, roughly 1,000 women die yearly because of lack of access to safe abortions, with others going to jail. On the taboo topic of the film, she...

The 49th edition of the Toronto Film Festival continues to announce more movies, with the festival on Tuesday unveiled its 2024 Centrepiece lineup that features 43 titles from filmmakers representing 41 countries. TIFF runs September 5-15 under its new sponsorship with Rogers.

In total, the list includes 18 world premieres from Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Spain and the U.S..

The section is a reflection of TIFF’s spirit of providing an elevated platform for international cinema, acclaimed titles from festivals around the globe, premieres from Canadian and international talents, and the latest work from influential filmmakers.

Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, who made it to Cannes this past year with The Seed of the Sacred Fig after fleeing his home country, is at TIFF with not one but two movies. He’ll have The Seed of the Sacred Fig, but also a title he wrote,...

Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has unveiled the 43 features selection for the Centrepiece programme including world premieres for Algerian director Merzak Allouache’s feuding matriarchs comedy Front Row and Laura Piani’s romantic comedy Jane Austen Wrecked My Life.

Taking their place in the global cinema showcase alongside the latest work from 41 countries are features that have already impressed at festivals, such as Mohammad Rasoulof’s Cannes award winner The Seed Of The Sacred Fig, and Steven Soderbergh’s Sundance selection Presence.

The 18 world premieres include Iranian filmmaker Ali Samadi Ahadi’s human rights drama Seven Days written by Rasoulof,...

Steven Soderbergh’s spooky ghost story Presence — starring Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan and newcomer Callina Liang — will receive its international premiere as part of the Centerpiece sidebar at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival.

Soderbergh first screened Presence at Sundance earlier this year, some 35 years after the debut of his breakout film, Sex, Lies and Videotape, in Park City. In all, TIFF’s Centerpiece section, previously known as Contemporary World Cinema, unveiled 43 films from 41 countries on Tuesday.

There’s world premieres for Marcelle Lunam’s rom com Addition, starring Teresa Palmer and Joe Dempsie; Erin Lee Carr’s documentary Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara, a Hulu title about the Canadian pop duo falling victim to identity theft; French director Laura Piani’s Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, with a Frederick Wiseman cameo; Sofia Bohdanowicz’s Measures for a Funeral, written by actor Derah Campbell; and Algerian director Merzak Allouache’s Front Row,...

Exclusive: Anima, the Filipino studio behind Venice winner On The Job 2: The Missing 8 and Sundance winner Leonor Will Never Die, is joining with Project 8 Projects to co-produce Antoinette Jadaone’s teenage pregnancy drama Sunshine.

Maris Racal stars in the film, marking her third collaboration with Jadaone. The story follows a young gymnast who discovers she is pregnant on the week of the national team tryouts. On her way to a seller of illegal abortion drugs, she meets a mysterious girl who eerily talks and thinks like her.

Currently in post-production, the film is a follow-up to Jadaone’s Fan Girl (2020), which played at Tokyo International Film Festival and Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival main competition.

Jadaone is known for both indie and mainstream films in the Philippines. She directed one of the highest-grossing indie films in Philippine cinema history, That Thing Called Tadhana (2014), which also played widely at...

Full Circle Lab Philippines, the Southeast Asian project and talent development programme, has revealed the line-up for its upcoming sixth edition, including a drama set against the backdrop of The Beatles infamous visit to Manila in 1966.

The labs will comprise eight projects in development, three films in post-production, eight emerging producers and three story editors. A total of 35 participants and 10 mentors are set to participate in the in-person workshop, held in the Central Luzon region in the north of Manila from March 19-24, followed by online sessions, which run until September.

Scroll down for full list of projects and participants...

After being a high school literature teacher for ten years, Alemberg Ang shifted into a career of film producing. His filmmaking is shaped by his passion for socio-civic issues, and Philippine arts and literature. His films have traveled extensively to festivals in Busan, Cairo, Warsaw, Taipei, Tokyo, Shanghai, Torino and others, working with filmmakers like Loy Arcenas, Antoinette Jadaone, and Petersen Vargas. He was invited to the Unesco International Meeting of Independent Producers, Rotterdam Lab, Berlinale Talents, Talents Tokyo, and Seafic. His projects have participated at Cinemart, Locarno Open Doors, Tribeca Film Institute Network Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum, and Busan's Asian Project Market.

On the occasion of his participation in Qcinema's film market, we talked with him about the role of the producer and the misconceptions involved, producing shorts, documentaries and features and their differences, post-productions, his work in “Plan 75”, “Divine Factory”, and “Liway”, the Filipino movie industry,...

Some twenty aspiring film projects have been selected to participate in the inaugural edition of the Qcinema Project Market (Nov. 18-19) that this year represents and expansion of the QCinema Film Festival in The Philippines’ Quezon City.

The selected titles include development projects by several of East Asia’s better known independent and art-house directors and projects. Among them is “Filipinana,” which on Tuesday collected three prizes at Busan’s Asian Project Market. Another is “Fox King,” by well-established Malaysian filmmaker Woo Ming Jing, which will also travel to the Tokyo Gap Financing Market. Also lining up is established Singapore filmmaker Boo Junfeng and producer partner Raymond Phathanavirangoon with “Trinity.”

The 20 selected projects are vying for over $400,000 in grants and prizes, including a $35,000 co-production grants for Southeast Asian projects and $50,000 for Filipino projects.

“From an impressive submission of sixty five projects from all over the region, these selected projects really...

The dawn of the new decade seems to bring a reconnaissance to Filipino cinema, resulting from both the picking of movies from international festivals, including Sundance, and the always excellent work of Metro Manila Film Festival, locally. In Asian Movie Pulse, we have been following intently the movies of the country these 3,5 years, and we have come up with a list of some of the best movies we saw during this time.

Without further ado, check out some of the best Filipino films of the current decade so far.

1. Fan Girl (2020) by Antoinette Jadaone

Although pretty standard regarding its core premise, “Fan Girl” is an emotional, rather unpleasant and sometimes even shocking viewing experience thanks to the filmmaker's clear vision transformed into the script and directing. Antoinette Jadaone is still a relatively young auteur, but quite a prolific one over the course of the current decade, with more than a dozen titles under her belt.

Full Circle Lab, the Southeast Asian project and talent development program co-led by Matthieu Darras and Izabela Igel alongside the Film Development Council of the Philippines, is poised for a third edition. There will also be a particular emphasis on training for the role of producer, with the addition of a Creative Producers Lab.

The Labs will take place online with workshops from Sept. 20 to Oct. 1, 2021 and be preceded by the Fdcp’s Film Industry Conference, open to a larger audience.

The objective is to identify, nurture and support creative projects from the Philippines and Southeast Asia, across features and series, and at different stages (development and post-production).

Leading creative names from the Philippines and the Southeast Asia region including producers Jeremy Chua, John Badalu, producer-director Antoinette Jadaone (“Fan Girl”), directors Sheron Dayoc (“Women of the Weeping River”) and Bui Thac Chuyen (“Adrift”) will join with their latest projects.

Mentors...

The festival’s celebrations for the 50th anniversary are split in two parts – 1 to 7 February and 2 to 6 June – connected by a series of events in between. IFFR 2021 wants to be a hybrid festival that adapts to the current crisis and continues to offer an exciting programme for local and (inter)national audiences, as well as industry professionals.

2 – 6 June

Taking place on a special spring date that honours the festival’s very first edition in 1972, the second part of the festival hopes to be a festive celebration that invites larger audiences. The IFFR’s Anniversary Programme will taps into the rich history of IFFR by inviting luminaries of the last five decades to enter a dialogue with fresh names and faces. IFFR will also present Harbour in June, the newest and largest programme representing the multidimensional nature of Rotterdam, and the Bright Future programme dedicated to emerging film talent.

There is...

Things can get tricky once a teenager’s fantasy life clashes with reality. A teenage girl’s obsession with her favourite TV and movie star is in the focus of Antoinette Jadaone’s “Fan Girl”. After its world premiere at Tokyo International Film Festival, the film had its European premiere at the official competition of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.

“Fan Girl” is screening at San Diego Asian Film Festival

Jenny (played by the up and coming young actress Charlie Dizon) seems like a regular Filipino high school girl who would rather go to the promotional gig of her favourite film stars Paulo Avelino and Bea Alonso than spend her time at school. She is Paulo’s no. 1 fan and also has a crush on him. When she manages to smuggle in the back of his pick-up truck in the aftermath of the mall performance, she thinks she is the luckiest girl in the world.

Event will include the launch of the festival’s newest and largest programme, Harbour.

International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has unveiled the first titles for its summer event, which has shifted to a hybrid format due as the pandemic continues.

The celebration of the festival’s 50th anniversary was due to run as a physical series of screenings and events from June 2-6, complementing the online-only edition of IFFR that took place in February.

It will now be presented as a hybrid event, with a film programme that will be available online in the Netherlands and physically in Rotterdam, as...

Things can get tricky once a teenager’s fantasy life clashes with reality. A teenage girl’s obsession with her favourite TV and movie star is in the focus of Antoinette Jadaone’s “Fan Girl”. After its world premiere at Tokyo International Film Festival, the film had its European premiere at the official competition of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, where we were able to see it.

“Fan Girl” is screening at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival

Jenny (played by the up and coming young actress Charlie Dizon) seems like a regular Filipino high school girl who would rather go to the promotional gig of her favourite film stars Paulo Avelino and Bea Alonso than spend her time at school. She is Paulo’s no. 1 fan and also has a crush on him. When she manages to smuggle in the back of his pick-up truck in the aftermath of the mall performance,...

Antoinette Jadaone’s Fan Girl, bowing in the Tokyo Film Festival, dives far deeper into the psyche of its titular teenage heroine than most films about obsessed fans, groupies and hangers-on. The rawness with which the story develops and its far from happy conclusions stand out in the career of Jadaone, who is one of the top romance film directors in the Philippines (Alone/Together, Never Not Love You). Here her view of reality may be too adult and graphic for her regular audiences, but it’s a film that could be well appreciated on the international festival circuit.

Also remarkable is the decisiveness with ...

Antoinette Jadaone’s Fan Girl, bowing in the Tokyo Film Festival, dives far deeper into the psyche of its titular teenage heroine than most films about obsessed fans, groupies and hangers-on. The rawness with which the story develops and its far from happy conclusions stand out in the career of Jadaone, who is one of the top romance film directors in the Philippines (Alone/Together, Never Not Love You). Here her view of reality may be too adult and graphic for her regular audiences, but it’s a film that could be well appreciated on the international festival circuit.

Also remarkable is the decisiveness with ...

The coronavirus pandemic might have brought production to a standstill across Southeast Asia earlier this year, but the continued growth of regional VOD platforms and an uptick in public funding is poised to boost the independent film industry and bring fresh voices into the fold, particularly among female filmmakers.

Those were some of the takeaways of a panel discussion hosted Tuesday as part of the Locarno Film Festival’s Open Doors program dedicated to filmmaking in Southeast Asia. Moderated by Open Doors artistic consultant Paolo Bertolin, the panel included Malaysian producer Nandita Solomon; Indonesian filmmaker Mouly Surya; Antoinette Jadaone, a director from the Philippines; producer Thuthu Shein of Myanmar; Mary Liza Diño Seguerra, chairwoman of the Film Development Council of Philippines; and Maung Okkar, project manager of the Save Myanmar Film initiative.

Efforts to cope with the ongoing coronavirus crisis were at the forefront of the conversation, with local governments...

Screening of Brillante Mendoza’s The Masseur marks centenary of cinema in the Philippines

Locarno’s Open Doors programme, aimed at supporting independent cinema in the Global South and East, has unveiled its screening selections for this year’s hybrid edition of its parent event.

Locarno was forced to cancel in April due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will instead unfold mainly online under the banner of ’Locarno 2020 – For the Future of Films’, with a compact programme of physical theatrical screenings in situ during its original dates of August 5 to 15.

Open Doors, which is in the second-year of a three-year...

New films from Pepa San Martín and Golden Bear winner Adina Pintilie among the line up.

The films selected for the Berlinale Co-Production Market (February 22-26) have been revealed and top 50% by female directors in the official project selection for the first time.

Scroll down for full list of titles

A total of 36 features from 34 countries will be showcased by producers seeking co-production partners through one-to-one meetings with distributors, financiers and sales agents.

For the official project selection, 21 projects with budgets ranging from €750,000 to €5m were selected from more than 300 submissions. With 11 projects by female directors, the proportion here has exceeded 50% for the first time.

After a rocky few years, cinema from the Philippines is once again bristling with energy and innovation. International interest is rising, and the Tokyo International Film Festival’s 2019 selection reflects some of that. The recent launch of two incentive schemes by the Philippines government may help the country’s production become more international.

The Tokyo festival this year includes a total of eight films and TV episodes from the Philippines across its different sections: “Mananita” in the main competition section; Brillante Mendoza’s “Mindanao” and Erik Matti’s erotic drama “Food Lore Series—Island of Dreams,” in the World Focus section; and Bradley Liew’s “Motel Acacia” in the Asian Focus category.

Philippines films also dominate Tokyo’s Crosscut Asia sidebar, which this year focuses on Southeast Asian fantasy and genre titles: Lav Diaz’ “The Halt,” Antoinette Jadaone’s “Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay,” Matti’s “The Entity...

Japanese writer Nakai Nomie’s “Topography of Solitude” won the Busan Award, top prize at the Asian Project Market, part of the Busan International Film Festival. Sponsored by Busan Metropolitan City, the award comes with a $15,000 cash prize.

“Topography” revolves around a woman who works for a company that hires people to pretend to be relatives of random strangers. She uses her fake relationships for a revenge mission when her boyfriend is killed by police.

China’s Hu Jia (“The Taste of Betel Nut”) won the Mas Award and a cash prize of $20,000 for his thriller comedy project “The Courier Always Knocks Twice.” “Courier” presents the story of a scriptwriter who discovers that the protagonist of his horror stories may actually be his true self.

The Cj Entertainment award, which commits $10,000 in cash to an international project, was won by Philippines director Antoinette Jadaone’s comedy drama “Boldstar.” The Lotte award,...

After making a handful of award-winning shorts, Filipina filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone made her feature debut in 2011 with “Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay” that received considerable festival play, including at Busan in 2012.

Her 2014 film, “That Thing Called Tadhana” is one of the highest grossing independent films in the Philippines. In addition, Jadaone has directed several studio-backed mainstream romantic comedies and dramas. Her “Fan Girl” that was at the Busan international Film Festival’s 2018 Asian Project Market is in post-production now. She returns to the project market with “Boldstar”, a project that was conceptualized in 2016 and is being realized now.

“Around 20 years ago, the soft porn genre was all the rage in Philippine cinema,” Jadaone told Variety. “We had what we call ‘boldstars,’ the female protagonists in these usually low-budget, but high-grossing, ‘bold’ films. Then the rom-com genre began to rise to popularity, and the boldstars were replaced by the quirky leading ladies.

Following its plan to upload more and more local content alongside the more predictable blockbusters, streaming giant Netflix is about to give us the opportunity to binge on good Filipino movies.

After choosing to stream Mikhail Red’s Academy Award-nominated “Birdshot” in March, Netflix has just announced a new list of films, including bombastic action thriller “BuyBust” by Erik Matti.

Here is the list of Filipino movies coming soon to Netflix:

“Heneral Luna” (2015) by Jerrold Tarog (Release date on Netflix: November 1)

Set during the Philippine-American war, a short-tempered Filipino general faces an enemy more formidable than the American army: his own treacherous countrymen. (IMDb)

“BuyBust” (2018) by Erik Matti (Release Date on Netflix: November 15)

New recruit of an elite anti-narcotic squad Nina Manigan and a group of the best men and women of the team find themselves fighting for their lives in the slums of Manila after a botched buybust.

“Kita Kita” (2017) by Sigrid Andrea P.

401 projects applied this year, an increase of 30 percent on 2017.

The Asian Project Market, Asia’s biggest investment and co-production market, has announced its 29 projects for 2018.

The selected titles were chosen from 401 submissions from 69 countries, an increase of 30% on 2017.

Amongst the titles are Gong Wen’s Without End, Without Doubt, produced by China’s Jia Zhangke, and Japanese director Yukisado Isao’s Soundtrack Of An Eternal Day.

Seven of the 29 projects are produced or co-produced in Korea. These include Yanagawa from Zhang Lu, whose film A Quiet Dream opened Busan Film Festival in 2016; and In The Water from Shin Dongseok, whose...

Competition for places at the Busan festival’s Asian Project Market is tougher than ever. While market organizers are sticking to their familiar format – 29 projects to be pitched over three days – the number of hopeful candidates this year increased by 30% to 401, hailing from 69 countries.

The lineup, announced on Wednesday, comprises a mixture of Korean auteur projects, others from the rest of Asia, and a growing number of projects that connect Asia and Europe.

The selection includes well-known directors such as Japan’s Yukisada Isao, presenting “Soundtrack of an Eternal Day,” and Thailand’s Kongdej Jaturanrasmee, with “Where We Belong.” Singapore’s Yeo Siew Hua, whose “A Land Imagined” appears this week in competition in Locarno, will be in Busan with “Stranger Eyes.”

Leading producers also feature in the lineup. China’s indie film icon Jia Zhangke will present “Without End, Without Doubt,” to be directed by Gong Wen. Bianca Balbuena,...

Six Degrees of Separation From Lilia Cuntapay (2011), Antoinette Jadaone's first feature, revolves around a real-life character named Lilia Cuntapay, a bit player who has become some sort of celebrity for portraying ghouls and witches in a number of Filipino horror movies. It follows the fictional situation of her finally getting a prestigious acting nomination after decades of slaving away namelessly for the film industry. Designed as a hilarious mockumentary that is grounded on fun pop culture elements, the film nevertheless touches on issues that result in very real emotional heft. Beauty in a Bottle, Jadaone's follow-up to Six Degrees of Separation From Lilia Cuntapay, is more straightforward. The film follows three women, a late-thirties creative director, an overweight starlet, and the not-so-pretty girlfriend of a wealthy boy-next-door,...

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Most famous for the several short films which displayed a very casual understanding of the idiosyncrasies of Filipino life without relying heavily on cheap charms, Antoinette Jadaone has been regarded by the late Alexis Tioseco as the person that is most qualified to give Filipino mainstream filmmaking that much-needed burst of novel inspiration. Tioseco's observations are very much valid, considering that Jadaone's shorts are all tightly packaged confections that marry the popular appeal of mainstream escapist entertainment and the unique wit of more adventurous fare. The only concern remaining is whether or not Jadaone can replicate and sustain the irresistible charms of her short films in a feature length film. Fortunately, Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay is more than enough proof that...