" Indie film na 'Death March,' umani ng magandang reviews sa Cannes Film "

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFWo2pZVmqs

BT: Indie film na 'Death March', mainit na tinanggap sa Cannes Film Fest

GMAnews

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9gSzG7XYuuE

Death March - Cannes 2013 - Bande annonce VOst

Published on May 15, 2013

Ce film est présenté en compétition "Un Certain Regard" au Festival de Cannes 2013.

Une évocation de la marche forcée subie par 80 000 prisonniers de guerre philippins et américains, menés par l'Armée Japonaise vers le Camp O'Donnell à l'issue de la bataille de Bataan en 1942.
Réalisé par Adolfo Alix Jr.
Avec Jacky Woo, Jason Abalos, Sam Milby, Zanjoe Marudo, Ejay Falcon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTuNpHsulVg 

" Filipino director takes a new look at Bataan march"

 by Teresa Cerojano (Assiciated Press)
 
Filipino director Borinaga Alix Jr., right, instructs actors on the set of his film "Death March" inside a studio in suburban Marikina, east of Manila, Philippines. Pic: AP.

MANILA, Philippines — A film that weaves together stories of the anguish and desperation of American and Filipino soldiers during the notorious Bataan Death March could have been shot on location in a large-scale production.
Filipino director Borinaga Alix Jr. instead chose to film "Death March" in black-and-white and almost entirely inside a studio using hand-painted backdrops, with close-ups of actors' painted faces portraying their struggles with nightmares and hallucinations in one of the bloodiest episodes of World War II.
"Death March" is competing against 17 other movies at the Cannes Film Festival that opens Wednesday, including Sofia Coppola's "The Bling Ring," French director Claire Denis' "Les Salauds" and fellow Filipino director Lav Diaz's "Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan." The entries were made in the category for art house and experimental films.

Some 70,000 starving, sick, and exhausted American and Filipino prisoners of the Japanese Imperial Army marched under a brutal sun for five days in April 1942, covering 105 kilometers (65 miles) from the Bataan peninsula to a prison camp in Tarlac province. Survivors told stories of atrocities, with many of the prisoners stabbed or decapitated by their Japanese captors if they so much as stopped to drink water or collapsed to the ground. Thousands died from illness or exhaustion.

After reading the script by Rody Vera, Alix said he was struck by the war's emotional and psychological effect on soldiers.

"It felt like they were sleep walking their nightmares," Alix said in an interview. He said he wanted to highlight how the event shaped the soldiers' psyche.
Instead of the initial plan to go on location, he consulted the production designer and decided "to shoot in a controlled environment where all the elements were synthetic, except the actors, to heighten the surreal feeling of the film."

The multi-character movie stars Filipino actors Sid Lucero as a Filipino soldier who fights to stay sane after his friend is shot in front of him, and Filipino-American actor Sam Milby as an American soldier taking care of his sick captain but also thinking of ways to escape from the Japanese.

Other Filipino actors whose stories converge in the film are Zanjoe Marudo, Jason Abalos, Carlo Aquino and Felix Roco.

Japanese actor and producer Jackie Woo, who has starred in two previous films directed by Alex, also plays several roles.

"At first I was surprised because he was Japanese," Alix said of Woo. "I know it is a very delicate subject matter especially for them, because the world has stereotypes of how the Japanese were during that time."

But he said he was happy that Woo loved the script, which last year won first prize for screenplay at the Palanca Memorial Awards, the Philippine literary version of the Pulitzer Prize.

"He said he is not afraid to produce it because at the end, all these three countries are victims of the war," Alix added.

Shooting lasted 18 days over about four months. At least 15 local artists had to hand-paint the backdrops for two months before shooting began. The movie went over the budget at around 10 million pesos ($244,000) because of the decision to shoot in a studio.

Alix said that while shooting indoors was confining and more expensive, it was worth it.

"The audience might feel a certain discomfort because it's not as real as it is, but at a certain point you also feel like you are in a journey with the characters" he said.
The 34-year-old director, named in 2010 by The Hollywood Reporter as among Asia's best and brightest entertainment personalities below 35, said he was thrilled that his movie will be competing in Cannes.

"For me it's just an honor to be in the same lineup of these directors because I love their work," said Alix, whose co-directed movie "Manila" also had a special screening in Cannes in 2009.

He said being in the festival gives small films like his the buzz and exposure that can boost sales.

Two French distributors have signed up to market the movie in France and elsewhere, he said.

"What is important now for us is to show that there is a movement that is coming from the Philippines, because in the past six years there have been a lot of Filipino films that have been screened in festivals and we get a lot of reviews," he said.

Follow Teresa Cerojano on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mtmanila

----

This news  has spread all around the world and USA today. I already found over 50 different journal pages who wrote about this news today:  The Philippine Star, The Times Herald, The Huffington Post, New Yersey Herald, The Evening Sun, The News Tribune, Daily Journal, The Fox Carolina, CBS 46 News in Atlanta, Montreal Gazette, Timesunion, Idoho State Journal,  ... and many more

I´m so proud of Sam Milby, who is one of the leading men of the movie. Here are some pictures of Sam behind the scenes:



 credits to @olivezarate
Credits to ABS-CBN news


Credits to Sam Milby @samuelmilby

The teaser of Death March have been published

Death March is directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr. It has been selected to be screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

"Death March" tells the story of the forcible transfer of 76,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war by the Japanese Army in 1942.

“Taking inspiration from films in the 1920s, Death March was entirely shot in a studio against a backdrop, according to Alix, who started working on the movie last August.”

Starring:  
Sam Milby, Zanjoe Marudo,  Jason Abalos, Sid Lucero and Jackie Woo Co-produced by Jacky Woo

The Official screening dates: 
Sun, 19 May / 14h (Officielle, Debussy); 
Mon, 20 May / 17h (Bazin); 
Sat, 25 May / 13h45 (Debussy).


Please, check out the video here ( official site of "Festival de Cannes) : 

 http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/mediaPlayer/12655.html

Suorces: ABC-CBN news and Festival de Cannes official web site
Photo credits to Olivia Zarate 

" Indie Bravo!
2 French firms buy ‘Death March’
Philippine Daily Inquirer
May 5, 2013 | 9:27 pm

Filipino filmmaker Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Death March” has been bought by France’s Versatile Films for international sales and Didier Costet’s Equation for French distribution. “Death March” is competing in the Un Certain Regard section of this month’s Cannes film festival, along with Lav Diaz’s “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan.” Costet previously produced Brillante Ma. Mendoza’s “Serbis,” “Kinatay” and “Captive.”

Bayani San Diego Jr. "

http://entertainment.inquirer.net/92531/2-french-firms-buy-death-march

 Here are some pictures of Sam Milby behind the scenes:
 
credits to owner

credits to owner


credits to Sam Milby

credits to owner

‘Death March’ made possible through Japanese, Pinoy collaboratio

By NR Ramos Published: May 2, 2013 

  A Japanese and a Filipino wanting to make a film about the Bataan Death March – the historic event where thousands of Filipino and American soldiers died as captives in the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army? Sounds very much like a bad bar joke right there, but that is exactly what happened with “Death March,” a film now set to be screened at the Un Certain Regard section of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
Film director Adolfo Alix Jr. shared that it was his good friend, Japanese actor-director-producer Jacky Woo, that actually made the film possible.

“He produced it. Tinanong niya ako kung ano pang mga project that I had in mind...kasi we’ve worked na before, so I told him about the idea. Actually, I was hesitant, because nga he is Japanese and it is a very sensitive issue but when he read the material he said yes, so ‘yun,” he told Bulletin Entertainment in an exclusive interview.
The young director maintains that Woo never demanded to change anything about the Palanca-winning script.
“Ang take niya nga doon is that, ‘We are all victims of war,’” Alix related. “What is good about Jacky is that he has a heart for the Philippines.”
Alix had long wanted to do a film about the historical march. “Kasi I’ve been hearing stories about it when I was young every time I visit Nueva Ecija... that stirred my curiosity,” he said.

After having been snubbed at the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) last year, Alix related how glad he was upon learning of the film’s inclusion in Cannes.
“It was very early in the morning, mga around 5 or 6 and as it was routine for me, I checked on my e-mail and ‘yun that’s how I found out. I was really very happy,” he said.
Shooting the film, related Alix, was a breeze, with all his actors including Sid Lucero, Zanjoe Marudo, Jason Abalos and Woo himself giving him their best performances.
“Kahit si Sam (Milby). It’s my first time to work with him and I’m really happy with his performance.”

Known mostly for playing glamor roles, Milby never balked at having to look dirty for the film he said.

“I didn’t hear anything from him. He is an actor naman first and foremost and he knows about these things. In it kasi he plays an American soldier and they were sick, some of them were very hungry... siyempre madumi sila. But he took on the challenge and we’re very happy. It is a very good break for him... to show his versatility as an actor.”

Read more:
 http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=10304&sid=4&subid=26#.UYQy8kkX4iB

" Two More Filipino Films Cannes-Bound "

By RowENA JoY A. SANCHEz
 
Films from acclaimed Fili pino directors Adolfo Alix, Jr. (“Death March“) and Lav Diaz (“Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan“) will be showcased at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

The lineup of films taking part at the prestigious, nearly seven decadesold festival was unveiled Thursday via the Cannes' Twitter account.
“Death March“ and “Norte“ are two of the 14 films under Un Certain Regard, regarded as one of the most important sections of the Cannes' Official Selection, which “focuses on works that have an original aim and aesthetic.“
This is the second time that an Alix film made it to Cannes, the first time was in 2009 with his film “Manila,“ which he co-directed with Raya Martin, with Piolo Pascual leading its cast.

“To God be the glory. Our labor of love DEATH MARCH will premiere in the Un Certain Regard of the Cannes Film Festival 2013,“ Alix wrote on his Instagram account.

Starring Sam Milby, Zanjoe Marudo, Sid Lucero, Jason Abalos, and Carlo Aquino, among others, “Death March“ is a historical film on the fall of Bataan during the Second World War.
Meanwhile, “Norte“ is Diaz's Cannes debut. The four-hour film is relatively shorter than his previous works such as “Melancholia,“ “Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino,“ and “Batang West Side,“ with running times ranging from about five to nine hours.

Danish director Thomas Vinterberg leads this year's jury of Un Certain Regard, which will be opened by Sofia Coppola's “The Bling Ring.“
The Cannes Film Festival will run from May 15 to 26. Come May 25, the Prix Un Certain Regarded will be awarded.

Read more:
 http://mb.pressmart.com/manilabulletin/publications/ManilaBulletin/MB/2013/04/21/articlehtmls/Two-More-Filipino-Films-Cannes-Bound-21042013284025.shtml#

" Cannes 2013 : DEATH MARCH "

Cannes 2013 : DEATH MARCH

D’Adolfo Alix Jr. Avec Sam Milby, Zanjoe Marudo, Carlo Aquino. Philippines. 1h45. Prochainement



Please, check out the story here: 
http://www.cinemateaser.com/2013/04/56925-cannes-2013-death-march?pid=7134

" The Art Scene: 'Death March' "

" Published on May 1, 2013

An independent film chronicling the historic Death March in Bataan may not have a run in Philippine theatres, but will be screened in the Cannes Film Festival this month. It takes viewers back to 1942, and the story of how the Japanese army forcibly transferred 76,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war.

Independent Director Adolf Alix, Jr. tells us about the historical drama. "
Credits to ANCalerts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrKvhRHbsl0

Cast: Sam Milby, Zanjoe Marudo, Jason Abalos, Luis Alandy, Benjamin Alves, Sid Lucero, Dominic Roco, Jacky Woo

" Congrats on making it into Cannes Film Festival "

 credits to:
" ‏@samuelmilby
My Director for "Death March" na si Direk Adolf @aalix. Congrats on making it into Cannes Film Festival!"