News
COLUMBIA PICTURES ACQUIRES THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS IN THE PHILIPPINES TO NEW LOCAL FILM "HOMECOMING”
November 17, 2003 – Manila, Philippines – Columbia Pictures has acquired theatrical distribution rights to “Homecoming," the new Philippine film by renowned director Gil M. Portes. The announcement was made today by Victor Cabrera, General Manager of Columbia Pictures (Philippines). The film will be released theatrically at the upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival that begins on December 25, 2003.
"Our alliance with Teamwork Productions through the release of “Homecoming” in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival is another step in reinforcing the foundation on which to build a bridge to connect to a major Hollywood studio’s worldwide distribution network. Access to this distribution network, with the continued support of local world-class producers like that of Teamwork, will make available new markets and resources for the Philippine movie industry. We will persist in this undertaking and it will eventually happen,” said Cabrera.
Directed, co-written and co-produced by Portes, “Homecoming” is a powerful drama about a young woman working overseas (star Alessandra de Rossi) who comes home to visit her parents (stars Elizabeth Oropesa and Bembol Roco) and family, and to marry her childhood sweetheart not knowing that she has contracted a contagious and deadly virus.
Portes said, “During these hard times in Philippine cinema, being picked up by Columbia Pictures is not only a great honor but also proof that all is not lost as far as local films are concerned. We can be competitive and a bigger market awaits us. This was proven by ‘Mga Munting Tinig’ (‘Small Voices’), and now again with ‘Homecoming’.”
This acquisition by Columbia Pictures marks the second consecutive film produced by Portes and Ray Cuerdo to get local theatrical distribution by a major Hollywood studio. The first film was Portes’ critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning “Mga Munting Tinig” (“Small Voices”), released locally by Warner Brothers Pictures in July 2003, and acquired by US and Canadian distributors.
“My hope is that by producing world-class quality films and partnering with Hollywood, we can help elevate Philippine cinema to its rightful place as among the world’s best,” said Cuerdo.
“Homecoming” is one of only nine films that will compete commercially and artistically in theatres in the upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival where, for a period of 17 days, all other films including Hollywood movies are shut out. Columbia Pictures will be the first Hollywood studio to participate in the annual holiday event and furthers the studio’s long-term commitment to the production, acquisition and distribution of local-language films in their country of origin.
“Homecoming” is a co-production of Teamwork Productions, Cinema Partners and Kidlat Entertainment, directed by Gil M. Portes, produced by Portes and Ray Cuerdo, executive produced by John Alonte, Carlo Fernandez, Eric Manlunas and Dobbin Tan, written by Adolf Alix, Portes and Senedy Que, and starring Elizabeth Oropesa, Bembol Roco and Alessandra de Rossi.
Contacts:
Doris Torres
Columbia Pictures
Philippines
632-523-3941
Ronald Constantino
Teamwork Productions
Cinema Partners
Kidlat Entertainment
632-924-3158