Via mb.com.ph
By JULIEN MERCED C. MATABUENA

The 7th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival big winner, “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank,” bagged two nominations in the 6th Asian Film Awards via lead actress Eugene Domingo and screenwriter Chris Martinez.

According to the award-giving body’s official website, Domingo will be pitted against Vidya Balan of India, Michelle Chen of Taiwan, Leila Hatami of Iran, and Deanie Ip of Hong Kong under the Best Actress category.

In July last year, Domingo was hailed Best Actress in Cinemalaya’s New Breed (Full Length) category for said movie. In December, she took home the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Supporting Actress trophy for her performance in “My Househusband.” The comedienne had also won numerous supporting actress awards for the films “100,” “Here Comes the Bride,” and the “Ang Tanging Ina” series from the Cinemalaya, the FAMAS, and the MMFF, respectively.

Apart from her eccentric portrayal of herself in “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank,” Domingo may also be remembered for her roles as Rowena, the best friend of Ai Ai delas Alas’ character in the “Ang Tanging Ina” series; the twins Kimmy and Dora in “Kimmy Dora: Kambal sa Kiyeme”; and the filthy rich woman Precy in “Here Comes the Bride.”

On the other hand, Martinez will be up against Iran’s Asghar Farhadi for “Nader and Simin, A Separation,” Japan’s Kaneto Shindô for “Postcard,” Mainland China’s Heng Liu and Geling Yan for “The Flowers of War,” and Hong Kong’s Alan Mak and Felix Chong for “Overheard 2” under the Best Screenwriter category.

More, PEP reported on Jan. 17 that Domingo was also tapped to be a presenter at the awards ceremony to be held on Mar. 19 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The Marlon Rivera-helmed “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank,” a comedy flick that endearingly poked fun at independent filmmaking, premiered at last year’s Cinemalaya film fest under the New Breed (Full Length) category. There, it bagged the Balanghay trophies for Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Film and the Audience Choice Award.

More, the film is currently among the 63 films shortlisted for the final nominees in the 84th Academy Awards’ Best Foreign Language Film category. The final list of nominees in all categories will be announced on Jan. 24, with the awards night to be held on Feb. 26 at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

Meanwhile, director Loy Arcena’s “Niño” also got an AFA nomination under the Best Supporting Actress category for Sharmaine Buencamino. The multi-awarded Cinemalaya film about a once-illustrious Filipino family and greed gained international recognition after it won the New Currents award at the 16th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) held in October.

“Niño” was in the same Cinemalaya category as “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank.”

photo courtesy of filipinasinshowbiz.com

Article from/owned by: pep.ph
by: Monching Jaramillo; Demai Sunio-Granali / Text by Erwin Santiago

Humakot ng awards ang Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story sa Gabi ng Parangal ng 37th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) na ginanap sa Resorts World Manila Performing Arts Theater sa Pasay City kagabi, December 28.

Labing-isang tropeyo ang napanalunan ng Asiong Salonga.

Kabilang dito ang Best Picture, Best Screenplay para kina Roy Iglesias at Ray Venura, Gatpuno Villegas Cultural Award, Best Supporting Actor para kay John Regala, at Best Director.

Naging interesante ang pagwawagi ng Best Director ng Asiong Salonga dahil ipinatanggal ni Tikoy Aguiluz ang kanyang pangalan bilang direktor ng naturang pelikula.

Lumikha ng kontrobersiya ang biopic na ito dahil sa alitan sa pagitan ni Direk Tikoy at ng bida ng pelikulang si Governor Jeorge "ER" Ejercito at ng mga producer ng pelikula.

Ito ay nag-ugat sa pagre-reedit at pagre-reshoot ng mga eksena nang walang pahinutulot ni Direk Tikoy. Rason ni Governor ER, mabagal ang pacing ng unang bersiyon ng pelikula.

Dahil dito ay hiniling ni Direk Tikoy na ipatanggal ang kanyang pangalan sa credits ng pelikula, kasama na ang promotional materials nito.

Ayon kay Direk Tikoy, hindi na masasabing pelikula niya ang Asiong Salonga dahil sa mga pagbabagong ginawa rito nang hindi niya nalalaman at hindi niya pinahintulutan.

News Article from Yahoo! OMG
By: Karen Valeza

Eugene Domingo, who has done eight movies this year, feels tired yet very grateful for projects and blessings she continuously receives.

She stars in three Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entries this year: “My Househusband...Ikaw Na!,” “Enteng ng Ina Mo,” and “Shake, Rattle and Roll 13.” Her other movies in 2011 are “My Valentine Girls,” “Who’s That Girl,” “Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi,” “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank,” and “Zombadings.”

“Kaya pala pagod na pagod ako!,” Eugene exclaimed in an interview on ABS-CBN's “The Buzz” on Christmas Day.

But she’s not complaining.

“Ang gandang pagod kasi ito ang trabahong talagang gusto ko. At nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos at iba’t ibang pelikula ang binibigay sa akin at nakakaipon ako dahil sa trabahong gusto ko,” she adds.

Eugene has come a long way since her early days in theater.

“Iisipin mo dati, nanunuod ka lang, nakikita mo sila pero hindi mo sila nakakakausap, andun ka lang sa tabi kase nahihiya ka. Ngayon ikaw na ang pinapanuod, ngayon kaibigan mo na yung mga hinahangaan mo,” Eugene recalls.

Success formula

The top comedienne told “The Buzz” host Boy Abunda that patience in waiting for the right time, gratitude to those who helped her and hard work made her who she is now.

“Siguro kasi dahil hindi ako namili, dahil siguro naghintay ako ng tamang panahon, at dahil siguro hindi ko kinakalimutan ang mga taong tumulong sa akin noong araw. Sabi mo nga, I must have done something good, and I have to embrace and acknowledge that and I thank God for that,” she says.

Eugene adds that she has to make sure she gives different approaches to every role she does. She studies her characters very well, including the costumes she has to wear and the image she has to project.

Known as the "Pambansang Ilong ng Pilipinas," Allan K has been a regular co-host of the longest-running noontime show Eat! Bulaga! 

since 1995. Aside from being a staple of the popular noontime show, the comedian also busies himself with Klownz, his very own comedy bar.

Now that GMA-7 has tapped him to star in Comedy Bar, a live comedy series with fellow comedian Eugene Domingo and the Brazilian-Japanese hunk Fabio Ide, Allan K's natural sense of humor will be showcased not only to the people who frequent Klownz but also to the general viewing public as well.