SYNOPSIS
"Baler" is a tale of an overwhelming secret love of a young Filipina named Feliza Reyes (Anne Curtis) and a Spanish-Filipino soldier, Celso Resurrecion (Jericho Rosales). It is set during the Siege of Baler, the battle that took place in 1898 between Filipino forces and the last contingent of the Spanish military that heroically defended the town for 337 days and nights behind the walls of a church. Feliza is the daughter of the leader of the rebel movement whose goal is to completely wipe out the Spanish soldiers stationed in the town. "Baler" is a story of conflict, betrayal, suffering, self-preservation, obstinacy and self-interest. It is also about heroism, courage, love of freedom, patriotism, endurance, chivalry, humanity-and, above all, about love in a time of war, the story of Feliza and Celso.
FESTIVALS AND AWARDS
"Baler" held its World Premiere at the 34th Annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), where it was awarded 10 times, including Best Picture and Best Director. The MMFF is a national showcase and cinematic holiday that lasts from December 25th to early January of each year, celebrating the newest and innovative works from the Filipino film industry. "Baler" comes to an exclusive big-screen presentation in Stockton, California for the 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival.
DIRECTOR'S BIOGRAPHY
Born 1967, multi-award winning director and writer Mark Meily studied filmmaking at the Mowelfund Film Institute, a division of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines. Awarded a scholarship, he studied filmmaking in Paris, France at the Ecole Sup. d'Etudes Cinematographiques. Upon his return to the Philippines, he began directing television commercials, music videos, and series. His first feature "Crying Ladies" (2003) won Best Picture at the 28th Metro Manila Film Festival, screened at major festivals around the world, and represented the Philippines as its official entry for the Oscars® Best Foreign Language Film category. His comedic second work "La Visa Loca" was well-received by Filipino and art-house audiences around the world. In 2005, he founded Spark Films, a multi-faceted film and video production company. He continues to write and direct, and currently teaches at the Marilou Diaz Abaya Film Institute and Arts Center in Antipolo City, Philippines
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SHOWTIMES
TUES. 5/19 at 8:00PM
Stockton Empire Theatre
FILM PRESENTED BY VIVA FILMS
CAST AND CREW
Screenwriter: Roy C. Iglesias
Producer: Veronique Del Rosario-Corpus, Vicente G. del Rosario II
Cinematographer: Lee Meily
Editor: Danny Anonuevo
Music: Vincent de Jesus
Principal Cast:Jericho Rosales, Anne Curtis, Phillip Salvador, Carlo Aquino, Michael De Mesa, Ryan Eigenmann, Mark Bautista, Nikki Bacolod, Jao Mapa
SOURCES
World Sales Contact:
Viva Films
Willy Santiago
wsantiago@viva.com.ph
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