Philippines: ‘Tirador’ Philippine Gala Premiere

RELATED STORIES

NAVIGATE: Home » All Entries, Press Releases & Statements » Philippines: ‘Tirador’ Philippine Gala Premiere

PUBLISHED ON December 3, 2007 AT 11:38 AM

Tirador (Slingshot) – All the World Is Raving!
Tirador Philippine Gala Premiere

The UP Film Institute is most proud to hold the Philippine gala premiere of Brillante Mendoza’s Tirador (international title: Slingshot, 86 minutes) this Monday, 3 December 2007, at 7 p.m. as the opening film of Cine Veritas Human Rights Film Festival.

The film is the sixth feature in just three years from Brillante as practically all of his previous works have bagged major international prizes. Tirador had its world premiere at Toronto (Canada, 6-15 September 2007); was exhibited for the Dragons and Tigers Out-of-Competition at Vancouver (Canada, 27 September-12 October, 2007) and got its Asian premiere no less at Pusan, South Korea (Window on Asian Cinema, 4-12 October 2007). It is slated to date for further showcase across the globe till middle of next year in prestigious filmfests foremost of which are the Marrakech (Morocco, 7-15 December 2007) where it vies in main competition for the Golden Star Grand Prize and the 58th Berlin (Germany, 7-17 February 2008) for the International Forum of New Cinema.

The RP premiere of another homegrown exemplar of world-class cinema—tackling the interwoven tales of petty thieves in Quiapo—is a UP Film Institute exclusive not to be missed. Another of Brillante Mendoza’s body of work, Foster Child—the Director’s Fortnight entry at this year’s Cannes (France, 16-27 May 2007) on the state of foster care in the country—for its part screens on Dec 4 Tue at 5 p.m. to also comprise this year’s full selection for Cine Veritas that runs until December 8 Saturday.

HAVE A PEEK AT TIRADOR IN THE VERY WORDS THE WORLD OVER OF FILM PEOPLE VASTLY IN THE KNOW:

“…a take-no-prisoners verite plunge into a Manila slum. Furiously filmed on mobile digicam and with perfs that make the line between drama and documentary seem invisible…”—Richard Kuipers, Variety

“…what I loved the most at Toronto (is) “Slingshot” from the Philippines… a fast, harsh slice of life set among a group of Manila pickpockets. Brillante Mendoza directed it, and while his frantic, hand-held Paul Greengrass-inflected visual attack isn’t groundbreaking, the film heralds a strong new talent…Don’t knock documentary-style slices of life from Manila, especially when they’re as excitingly inhabited as “Slingshot.”—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

“Rapidly emerging as an important new talent, young Filipino director Brillante Mendoza delivers his second feature of the year, a wickedly energetic portrait of Manila street life shot on the fly with a digital camera.”—JA, Eye Weekly, Toronto

“From the opening police raid to the closing political rally, director Mendoza takes his hand-held camera into the heart of Manila to create a remarkable, lively, intimate and realistic portrayal of life in a slum…Not one moment looks staged, and the cast performs flawlessly. Mendoza never plays to our sympathy or editorializes. He lets his stories tell themselves and weaves sharp social observation into his frantic and often funny action.”—Now Magazine

“…Superb drama “Slingshot”…makes the streets, alleys and crushing deprivations of Manila come to wrenching life. Shot like a mini-”Bourne” film with lightweight high-def video cameras, it darts from one acutely observed vignette to another…Some of the details break your heart, without the trappings or musical cues of melodrama.” —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

“(The) biggest discovery of the (Vancouver film) festival… Mendoza’s most audacious inspiration is shooting the film on location during the election season, where the politicians have done his set dressing for him…(While) the title Slingshot…(is) a literal translation of the …street slang for thief, (it) is oddly appropriate for a film that moves with such whiplash momentum and (with) characters who rush and ricochet through their world…”—Sean Axmaker, Green Cine Daily Vancouver Dispatch

“Mendoza’s breathless account of desperate lives in the mean streets of Manila is a pummeling and visceral experience…A highly impressive technical exercise, yet at heart offers a penetrating glimpse into lives lived on instinct, predation, and reaction alone…”—Doug Cummings, Film Journey

Pages: 1 2

RSS feed • Subscribe via email • Discuss

Leave a Comment (Moderated)

You must be logged in to post a comment.

THE NEWS IN PICTURES

End The War. Members of the youth group Anakbayan denounce the war being waged by the government in Mindanao against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. (Photo: arkibongbayan.org)

Where Are They? Relatives, friends and colleagues of victims of enforced disappearances commemorate the International Day of the Disappeared with lighted lanterns and photographs at the Plaza Miranda and in Mendiola on Aug. 30. (Photo: arkibongbayan.org)

Free at Last. The so-called Tagaytay 5 -- Aris Sarmiento, Axel Pinpin, Riel Custodio, Michael Masayes and Rico Ybañez -- shown here inside their prison cell during their incarceration, were freed yesterday. “The dismissal of trumped-up charges and release of Tagaytay 5 is a victory for human rights,” said Ruth Cervantes, Karapatan's public information officer. (Photo: freetagaytay5.net)

Displaced. Residents of North Cotabato have been the ones badly affected by the military offensives launched against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. "As the government continues to indiscriminately drop bombs on Moro and Christian villages in Aleosan and Pikit, more and more civilians are displaced," said Kawagib, a Moro human-rights group.(Photo: Suara Bangsamoro/arkibongbayan.org)

In One Roof. Villagers who fled their homes after the clashes last week between government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the south brought every human life with them, including their farm animals. They now live under one roof at an evacuation center in Pikit, North Cotabato. (Photo: Bong Sarmiento / Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project)

Emergency. A scene from "Ambulancia," a short film that tells of a painful twist in an ambulance driver's belief that a dying patient can be saved by running over stray animals on the streets. The award-winning film will be screened at the so-called "Woodstock of short films" in Germany. Richard Legaspi directed the film and it stars Alan Paule and Nor Domingo. (Contributed photo)

Sendoff. The Philippine Army dispatched today, Aug. 10, the 68th Infantry Battalion to Maguindanao. This battalion, together with the 46th Infantry Battalion from Samar, will augment the troops in Central Mindanao for the security operations that will be conducted to ensure peaceful elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao tomorrow. (Photo: Philippine Army)

Killings Denounced. Mindanao journalists gathered in General Santos City on Friday to denounce the recent attacks on their colleagues. On Monday, Dennis Cuesta, a Radio Mindanao Network commentator in General Santos, was shot and is fighting for his life. On Thursday, another RMN broadcaster, Martin Roxas of Capiz City, was shot dead. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

If This Wall Could Talk. With the pleasant scenery as a backdrop (and a constant reminder, perhaps, of a life they could have had), this poor family try to survive by actually living by the sidewalk outside the Chinese school in Davao City. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

Undaunted. Activists from Anakbayan scuffle with the police as the Chevrolet Suburban carrying President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo passes by the junction before the newly built Bankerohan bridge in Davao City last week. The president was in the city for the declaration of the merger of Lakas-CMD and Kampi parties. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

Freedom Denied. Lex Adonis, a former broadcaster of Bombo Radyo in Davao City, inside the Davao Penal Colony, where he was jailed after House Speaker Prospero Nograles sued him for libel over a story involving the Davao congressman's alleged sexual relations with a woman other than his wife. Despite a court order, Adonis remains in jail. (File photo by davaotoday.com)

Tribute to Ka Bel. Activists, artists, friends and supporters troop to the Philippine Independent Church on Taft Avenue Monday night to honor AnakPawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, who died last week. Beltran will be buried in Bulacan today, after a ceremony honoring him at the House of Representatives, where he served for several terms as party-list congressman. (Photo by Ayi Muallam/pinoypress.net)

Rare Sight. Moro women students of a madrasah play volleyball during a break in barangay Ugalingan, Carmen, North Cotabato, last week. While Filipina Moros are considered relatively open in their lifestyle compared to Muslim women in other countries, scenes like this are not very common in Moro areas in Mindanao. (Photo by Keith Bacongco/AKP Images)

Ka Bel's Fight. An activist mourns the death of AnakPawis Rep. Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran, who died Tuesday. Ka Bel's remains lie in state at the IFI Cathedral in Manila. His colleagues, family and friends have lined up a series of tributes. Click here for the schedules, as well as statements and poems honoring Ka Bel. (Photo by courtesy of arkibongbayan)