Prime Video picks up PH Sundance entry ‘In My Mother’s Skin’

Still photo from “In My Mother’s Skin.”

“In My Mother’s Skin”  the only Filipino entry in Sundance Midnight selection has been picked up by Prime Video, which will debut the film in several countries by year-end 2023.

Set in the Philippines towards the end of the Second World War, the film follows 14-year-old Tala, whose textile merchant father negotiates with the Japanese for his family’s freedom, leaving Tala alone with her ailing mother and younger brother in their colonial mansion.

As the mother’s condition deteriorates, Tala receives a magical insect cure from a beguiling but flesh-eating fairy. At first the gift offers relief, however it soon brings disastrous consequences.

The horror fairytale was written and directed by Kenneth Dagatan, whose 2018 feature debut “Ma”  was the first original film on the Filipino streaming platform iWant.

Beauty Gonzalez, Felicity Kyle Napuli, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, James Mavie Estrella, and Angeli Bayani star in the Tagalog-language film from Epic Media Productions. Bradley Liew, Bianca Balbuena, Huang Junxiang, and Stefano Centini were  the producers.

Meanwhile, at the 2023 Slamdance Film Festival, the lone Philippine entry, “Where Is The Lie?,” will screen in person on Jan. 20-26  in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, and virtually Jan. on 23-29.

Directed by Quark Henares and starring Maris Racal, Royce Cabrera and EJ Jallorina, “Where Is The Lie?” will make its world premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival’s Breakouts Section. Visit https://slamdance.com/festival/#schedule for information on the film’s in-person screenings.

Founded in 1995, the Slamdance Film Festival focuses on independent films, and emerging artists and writers. It coincides with the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, which will feature Filipino feature film “In My Mother’s Skin” and short film “It’s Raining Frogs Outside.”