News
Acclaimed film to hold US Premiere Nov. 8
'Munting Tinig' named RP official entry to Academy Awards
LOS ANGELES - The Film Academy of The Philippines has selected "Mga Munting Tinig (Small Voices)," a film by Gil Portes, as the Philippines' official entry to the 75th Annual Academy Awards(r) Best Foreign Language Film category, said Espiridion Laxa, the Film Academy's Chairman and Director General, in Manila over this past weekend.
"Mga Munting Tinig (Small Voices)" was selected out of 89 films that were released in the Philippines this past qualifying year. For director Portes, this selection marks his third film to be chosen for this prestigious honor. His recent films, "Sarangola (The Kite)" and "Gatas sa Dibdib Ng Kaaway (In the Bosom of the Enemy)," were selected as the official Philippines submissions to the Academy Awards(r) Best Foreign Language Film category in 1999 and 2001, respectively.
Presented with The Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles, The Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (Fil Am ARTS) and Visual Communications, The United States premiere of "Mga Munting Tinig (Small Voices)" will take place at the AFI Film Festival 2002, Friday, November 8 at 9:45 p.m. and Monday, November 11 at 2 p.m. at the ArcLight Hollywood in Los Angeles. The director and the lead actress, Alessandra De Rossi, will present the film at both screenings.
In a added bonus to celebrate the film's premiere, a special reception hosted by Philippine News and sponsored by Absolut Mandrin Vodka and Goldilocks for Portes and his cast and crew will take place Friday, November 8 from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. prior to the screening and is complimentary for screening ticket holders only."
Mga Munting Tinig (Small Voices)" recently had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, and received excellent notices and great reviews. Hailed by critics and audience members as "remarkable," "uplifting," and "a breath of fresh air," This moving film is poised to take the lead in representing a new voice from the Philippine independent film movement. The Toronto Globe and Mail hailed the film's lead actress, Alessandra De Rossi, as "the next Penelope Cruz."
The film is the inspiring story of a young teacher Melinda (Alessandra De Rossi), who comes to teach in the remote and impoverished rural town of Malawig and sees the young, optimistic instructor arrive to find a land rich in coconut and rice fields, and a people depleted of hope. Poverty has made some of the townspeople passive and resigned to a bitter fate, while other residents continue their fight in the mountains putting their lives on the line in search of change. Immediately, Melinda encounters problems, as the school's principal is mainly interested in earning money from the students by selling them frozen candy treats; her fellow teachers prefer to discuss sex and graft rather than pay attention to the students; and the parents are more intent on developing their children's backs than their brains and consider their youthful dreams worthless distractions.
"Only the rich can afford to dream. We can't." The defeatist words of a child urge Melinda, with her freshly awarded college degree in hand, to strive and make a small, provincial town believe: Poverty does not make victims of people; Hope is essential and dreams can be made real. Against much skepticism and self-doubt, Melinda and her students join a singing competition. Their small voices ring out against the darkness, poverty, death and despair, and their heartfelt song awakens a small flame of hope, a daring to dream and a belief that within one's self is a voice of hope waiting to be heard.
"I am very excited that audiences are reacting positively to 'Mga Munting Tinig (Small Voices),'" states the film's helmer Gil Portes. "I am hopeful that this film will change the face of Philippine cinema."
"Mga Munting Tinig (Small Voices)" is directed by Gil Portes; written by Gil Portes, Adolf Alix and Senedy Que; produced by Gil Portes and Ray Cuerdo; featuring original music by Joy Marfil; and starring Alessandra De Rossi, Amy Austria, Gina Alajar, and Dexter Doria. The film is currently seeking US and foreign distribution.
Date in print: Nov. 10, 2002