Pinoy stars arrive in LA ahead of the Manila International Film Festival

Piolo Pascual takes a selfie with fans at the Los Angeles International Airport. Image: Katie Ortiz/Facebook

LOS ANGELES – Filipino movie stars – including Piolo Pascual and Enchong Dee – arrived over the weekend at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they gave brief interviews about the first Manila International Film Festival that opens in Hollywood today, Jan. 29.

“We’re excited to be part of the inaugural Manila International Film Festival,” Piolo Pascual told members of the media. “If you’re Pinoy or (of) Filipino heritage, come join us. We want to showcase Filipino talent. We’re here to celebrate our heritage.”

Pascual stars in “Mallari,” one of the 10 films that will be screened in Hollywood as part of the 2024 MIFF.

Enchong Dee exits the Los Angeles International Airport. Image: Katie Ortiz/Facebook

“Hey Los Angeles, we are back,” said Enchong Dee, who attended the MIFF launch at the Directors Guild of America on Nov. 2 last year. “I’m happy to be back for the MIFF, this time bringing ‘Gomburza,’ the film that reminded every Filipino how much we should love our country. Hope to see everyone at the screenings.”

“Let us entertain you,” said Eugene Domingo, who co-stars with Pokwang in Jun Robles Lana’s “Becky and Badette.”  “It’s a laugh-out-loud movie.”

Beauty Gonzales, who co-stars with Derek Ramsey in “(K)ampon,” invited the Fil-Ams to watch the screenings.

“It’s premiering now in LA. Hope you guys can support all Filipino films, not only “(K)ampon.”

Piolo Pascual and Janella Salvador co-star in “Mallari.” Image: Katie Ortiz/Facebook

“To our kababayans here in LA, do watch the MIFF,” said Film Development Council of the Philippines Chair Tirso Cruz III. “We have 10 movies that you can choose from, iba-ibang genre, iba-ibang istorya and I’m sure you’re going to like (each one).”

Also spotted at the airport were Janella Salvador, Ysabel Ortega and Christian Bables, who will also join the biggest gathering of Filipino movie stars and filmmakers in Los Angeles.

The list of confirmed talents coming from Manila also includes Alden Richards, Dindong Dantes, Christopher de Leon and  John Arcilla, the first Filipino actor to win the Volpi Cup for best actor in the 2021 Venice Film Festival, He won the award for his role in Erik Matti’s “On the Job: The Missing 8.”

The movie stars and filmmakers from the Philippines will grace the screenings and Q&As of the 10 films, the closing night awards gala and other events during the five-day film festival.

“Let us entertain you,” says Eugene Domingo, who co-stars with Pokwang in Jun Robles Lana’s “Becky and Badette.” Image: Katie Ortiz/Facebook

The 10 films debuting in the US at the MIFF are: Jun Robles Lana’s “Becky and Badette,” starring Eugene Domingo and Pokwang; Lemuel C. Lorca’s “Broken Heart’s Trip” (Christian Bables); Nuel Naval’s “Family of Two (A Mother and Son Story)” (Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards); Zig Dulay’s “Firefly” (Alessandra De Rossi and Euwenn Mikaell); Pepe Diokno’s “GomBurZa” (Enchong Dee, Dante Rivero and Cedrick Juan); King Palisoc’s “(K)Ampon” (Beauty Gonzalez and Derek Ramsay); Derick Cabrido’s “Mallari” (Piolo Pascual and Janella Salvador); Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Penduko” (Matteo Guidicelli and Kylie Verzosa); Mae Cruz-Alviar’s “Rewind” (Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes); and Conrado Peru, Rommel Penesa and Christopher de Leon’s “When I Met You in Tokyo” (Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon).

The complete screening schedule and ticket information are available on MIFF’s website.