Judy Ann Santos is glad that more cinemas are now screening her starrer Mindanao.
The film appeared to have picked up momentum after dominating the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Gabi ng Parangal at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City last December with 11 awards. These included Best Picture, Best Director (Brillante Mendoza), Best Actor (Allen Dizon) and Best Actress (Judy Ann).
On Thursday, the Cairo Film Festival Best Actress shared the good news that Mindanao is already showing in over 100 cinemas nationwide.
Her Instagram post read: “Direk! Balita ko more than 100 cinemas na tayo!!! Pasalamat tayo sa mga bashers naten.”
“Yaayyyyy!! May tatlong nadagdag sa mga sinehan!!! Kaya pang humabol mga kapatid!!! #mindanao,” said Juday in another Instagram post on Friday.
For his part, direk Brillante said that the Mindanao team wasn’t aiming for the top spot in the box office.
“We don’t aspire to be number one. What we are celebrating is that a small film @mindanaothemovie from a small company @cspcoph can be a part of this big and popular film festival. Because of your clamor of more cinemas, we have now 100 cinemas,” the Cannes-winning independent film director said in a tweet.
A number of cinemas had initially dropped the film from their line-up due to low ticket sales.
Brillante and Juday had earlier appealed for more cinemas to screen the award-winning movie.
“Bilang kaunti lang po iyong sinehan namin, baka puwedeng pakidamihan naman po. Pakisabi na lang,” the actress said in her acceptance speech during the awards night.
She even quipped about combining her and co-star Allen Dizon’s cash prizes (P100,000 each) so that the film could at least earn a profit.
A portion of the film’s earnings will be donated to Kythe Foundation that helps children with cancer and other chronic illness.
The film’s other recognitions were Best Child Performer (Yuna Tangod), FPJ Memorial Award, Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, Gender Sensitivity Award and Best Float.
Mindanao revolves around the story of a Muslim mother caring for her cancer-stricken daughter while she awaits the return of her military medic husband.
Now on its 45th year, the Metro Manila Film Festival runs until January 7, 2020.
