The 47th annual Toronto International Film Festival scheduled from September 8 to 18, 2022 is a huge success! The filmfest has captivated the universe (digital and nondigital) – took over all the byways/paths/backstreets, cinemas and all other venues of the city this past weekend, with blinding flashes from paparazzi and vibrant entertainment devotees rushing to each gala premiere. One of TIFF’s singular pleasures is that as much as it’s a huge film industry event, where countless movies are negotiated, bought and sold, it takes place across so much of the city that the movie-going public feels a part of the action. After a few dormant years, Toronto has come alive and kicking. Welcome back, glitterati! Woohoo!
The red carpet is on fire with big name attendees like Daniel Craig, Jennifer Lawrence, Elisabeth Moss, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Laura Dern, Anna Kendric, Cate Blanchet, Brendan Fraser, Eddie Redmayne, Hugh Jackman, Jessica Chastai, Joe Jonas , Nelly Furtado, Viola Davis, Park Ji-Min, Olivia Colman, Ewan McGregor, Nathalie Portman, Chelsea/Hillary Clinton, Seth Rogen, etc! Almost like the Oscars.
Let me focus on fellow Canadian/American (yes, we’re both citizens of these giant countries, the only common factor we have haha) – BRENDAN FRASER.
BRENDAN won six-minute ovation and Oscar buzz continues as ‘The Whale’ made a splash in Toronto. Brendan Fraser brought us back to his teenage roots in Toronto after the screening of his film The Whale when he accepted his TIFF Tribute Award on Sunday night (Sept 11).
The Whale is a redemption story about a guy called Charlie (Brendan) and he’s gone through significant life changes, and he’s forgotten about who he is to the ones he loves and he’s running out of time to tell them that, if he can at all. But he has a superpower, Charlie can see the good in others when they can’t see that in themselves and he can bring that out in them. Following a six-minute standing ovation for The Whale at the Venice International Film Festival, Fraser looked emotional as he received a lengthy and heartfelt ovation in Toronto as well.
Brendan: “I am a firm believer that we need a little bit more of that in this world because it’s the audience that gives cinema life. So I must thank you for keeping me in the job that I love because it’s nice work if you can get it.”
Brendan Fraser was born to Canadian parents in Indianapolis, Indiana. The youngest of four, he moved around frequently during his childhood. His father was a Canadian tourism executive, and he has dual American-Canadian citizenship.
Relocating every few years for his father’s job, Fraser first discovered theater while living in London. It was there that he started to attend shows.
In his early teens, Fraser began performing in Seattle, Washington. He worked with the Laughing Horse Summer Theater. After attending the Upper Canada College Preparatory School in Toronto, he returned to Seattle for college. Fraser continued, caught his first break there, landing a bit part in 1991’s Dogfight. Soon after, Fraser’s career started to take off with roles in Encino Man, School Ties, Airheads, George of the Jungle, Gods and Monsters and Dudley Do-Right and the popular The Mummy franchise.
Brendan is fluent in French and serves on the Board of Directors for FilmAid International. Fraser’s biggest role is arguably Rick O’Connell, the dashing protagonist of The Mummy – but he nearly choked to death filming the movie. During an early scene in the film, O’Connell is set for execution by hanging. However, the scene went horribly wrong. Fraser said of the experience, “They killed me for 18 seconds.”
The 2nd Canadian/American actor here is Seth Rogen. Rogen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is of Russian Jewish descent. He is starring in Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans. The Fabelmans is a 2022 American coming-of-age drama film directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay he co-wrote with Tony Kushner. It is a semi-autobiography about Sammy Fabelman, a young aspiring filmmaker based on Spielberg himself. The film stars Gabriel LaBelle, Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, and Judd Hirsch. The film is dedicated to the memories of Spielberg’s real-life parents Leah Adler and Arnold Spielberg.
“It was really cool. It was fascinating. It was a really surreal experience for everyone involved,” Rogen said of the film, which has him playing a character inspired by Spielberg’s uncle.
While we’re on this subject, we are proud to say that there’s a Pinoy participation in this current festival. Actually it is my good friend Amelita Reyes, a co-Torontonian, who called my attention. Amelita’s student during her educator’s stint at Xavier school in Pinas is Alemberg Ang. As a producer, Ang is known for The Portrait (2017), The Rapture of Fe (2009) and Islands (2013). One of his most memorable films is Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa which had Jean Garcia in the lead role.
“He was in my Economics class when he was in third year,” Amelita said. “Meron ng inclination si Alem towards the arts as he was active sa Stage FX, the drama club and also in Stallion, the school organ. He excelled in both his academics and extra curricular. ANG’s first feature was Alvin Yapan’s The Rapture of Fe about a battered wife’s journey into freedom (2009, Best Digital Feature at Cairo IFF). His filmmaking is shaped by his passion for socio-civic issues, and Philippine art and literature. He co-produced the Japanese film Plan 75 now showing as part of this year’s TIFF. Also in the cast are Filipina actresses Stefanie Arianne and Sheryl Ichikawa. The story tells how a government program in Japan, Plan 75, encourages senior citizens to be euthanized to remedy the increasingly fast-growing older society in the country.
Plan 75 received the Cannes Camera d’Or Special Mention Award last May.
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The Film Development Council of the Philippines celebrated the 103 colorful years of Philippine cinema with a night showcasing Filipino films and music at the “Awit at Pelikula: The Philippine Film Industry Month Gala 2022” on September 12, at the Teatrino Promenade in San Juan City.
FDCP Chairman and CEO Tirso S. Cruz III (PIP) opened the Gala by highlighting the first film produced and directed by a Filipino, “Dalagang Bukid,” by Jose Nepomuceno as an important milestone signifying the birth of Philippine Cinema, and emphasizing the vital role of music in film.
“103 years later, music and musicians are still very much part of what a motion picture gives to its audience. Music is the language that the soul reads and understands and it is music that elevates a story… Many films in our country have based their themes on songs, and the marriage between screenwriters and songwriters have proven successful in most cases.” Pip said in his speech.
Show-stopping performances from some of the country’s best performers including multi-awarded actor Mr. Christopher De Leon, award-winning performers Dulce, Bituin Escalante, Aicelle Santos-Zambrano, Jed Madela, Poppert Bernadas, & Lara Maigue treated the evening’s intimate audience with some of the most iconic theme songs from classic Filipino films.
FDCP celebrated the life, times, and art of the late La Primera Contravida, Ms. Cherie Gil, and her unforgettable contribution as one of the best actors of her generation.
Hosted by Mr. Piolo Pascual, the evening’s star-studded event was capped with the performance of this year’s PFIM original theme song, “Sa Pelikula,” composed by Emerson Texon, with lyrics by Joey Reyes, and as performed by Poppert Bernadas.
Among the special guests were NCCA Chairman Rene Escalante, MTRCB Chairperson Diorella Sotto, ABS-CBN Sagip Pelikula Head Leo Katigbak, National Artist Ricky Lee, award-winning filmmakers Ms. Laurice Guillen, Joey Reyes, Joel Lamangan, Mac Alejandre, and representatives from partner agencies, Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, and Comission on Higher Education, among others.
But what was very touching to us was the private conversation between Papa P (PIOLO) and Pipo (Tirso Cruz III).
“If you need me, just call me and I will always support you and the Film Development Cpuncil, “ Papa P told Pipo.
“That promise means a lot to me,” Pipo added. Lynn Ynchausti-Cruz, Pipo’s wife, also told us that the Tribute for Cherie was tearful. At the FDCP event, Michael attended with Cherie’s immediate family (hubby Rogoff and her children) led by her eldest brother Michel de Mesa.
“Cherie, I know you’re with us — smiling, crying, and laughing at the beautiful memories we shared of you with each other. We miss you so much! But in our grief, we smile knowing that you are hugging Ralph (meaning younger brother Mark Gil who died ahead of Cherie) again. We love you, Cherie!” Michael said.
On his FB post, Michael mentioned that ”Cherie was cremated in New York. Most of her remains are with our other sister, Elaine in California. Part of her is with my parents who are also in California and some are here with my wife and I. Cherie is also with her children. Bukidnon was her favorite place, but she is not buried there. Some of her ashes were just scattered there.”
Pipo has also informed us that he is leaving for the 27th BUSAN International Film Festival (Oct 5-14, 2022). The Screening Venues include 30 Screens in 7 Theaters: – Busan Cinema Center, CGV Centum City, LOTTE CINEMA Centum City, Sohyang Theater, KOFIC Theater, LOTTE CINEMA Daeyoung (Community BIFF), BNK Busan Bank Art Cinema (Community BIFF).
The 27th edition of Busan International Film Festival will open with Scent of Wind by the Iranian director Hadi Mohaghegh and close with A Man by Japan’s Kei Ishikawa.
Launched in 1996, Busan has long been considered Asia’s premiere film festival, famous both for launching the careers of exciting new Korean and Asian auteurs, as well as its festive beachfront vibe, with tented restaurants serving soju and Korean seafood specialities into the wee hours.
This year, Busan festival director Heo Moon-young has promised an edition that represents “a full recovery” from the pandemic, restoring various programs and forums that were interrupted over the past two years due to the Seoul government’s social distancing measures. In 2022, the festival will screen 354 films from 71 countries, with various satellite events happening across town.
What about PIP, the actor?
“I will do a teleserye soon for GMA,” Pip announced. He will portray the role of Padre Damaso in the new tv drama series entitled Maria Clara at Ibarra directed by Zig Dulay. Completing the cast are Dennis Trillo as Crispin, Julie Anne San Jose, Barbie Forteza and Andrea Torres.
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Enjoyed our recent trip to Thousand Islands with my publisher Tess Cusipag and the MFFC (Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians) family. I was captivated by the scenes, happily intoxicated by the cool summer breeze. Sixteen kilometres south of the famous Thousand Island Bridge, which links New York State to Ontario, Gananoque provides a perfect home base from which to explore this scenic region. Famous for being the birthplace of Thousand Island dressing (and so much more), Gananoque and the 1000 Islands is one of North America’s most beautiful and unusual destinations. Beloved by visitors from all walks of life, it is home to castles, shipwrecks, National Parks, millionaire’s mansions, cute and quirky cottages, historical sites (including some from the War of 1812), waterside theatres, food, music, festivals and even a casino. Most popular in the summer months, the area is beautiful all year round, especially when the fall colours are reflected in the water, the snow falls in the winter, and everything bursts into life again in spring.
Do you know the origin of the Thousand Island DRESSING? Thousand Island dressing gets its name from this very same place. The story says that Waldorf-Astoria owner George Boldt and his wife, Louise, were on their boat when their chef realized he forgot the dressing for the salad. So he made a dressing with the ingredients he had on the boat and this became Thousand Island dressing.
The Islands range in size from 50 square miles to just big enough to support a single tree, creating one of the most beautiful and varied landscapes in North America. To be considered an island, there are two main requirements — it must be above water year-round and have at least two living trees growing on it. But the islands here go beyond that: they host the stunning summer houses of American and Canadian families, including some fancy properties on Millionaire’s Row.
See you again in two weeks! You can reach me at penpushr@gmail.com