PUN ASIDE, the verdict is not yet in, so actress Vilma Santos and ace director Jeffrey Jeturian can still hope to enter the Cannes Festival.
According to Jeturian’s Facebook fan page, his indie film, which stars Vilma, and entitled Ekstra/The Bit, was submitted for screening to the 66th Cannes International Film Festival in May.
Jeturian was all praises for the Star for All Seasons, PEP reported on April 16.
“I was a Vilmanian since birth. Ngayon, after working with her, fanatic na ako! Dati, makapag-direct lang ako ng first film ko, sabi ko, puwede na ‘ko mamatay. Ngayon, nai-direct ko na si Ate Vi, puwede na ako uli mamatay,” Jeturian said.
Last April 11, PEP reported that there has been no word whether the film made it to the prestigious film race. But those involved in the film are full of hope that it would be considered an entry.
“No word is ‘good’ for now. It means the movie is still in contention. Announcement is anytime in mid-April.
“Anlapit na nyan. We badly need all the prayers we can muster to storm the gates of heaven.
“She [Vilma Santos] truly deserves to walk the red carpet,” according to a posting on Jeturian’s Facebook page.
Ekstra is an entry to the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival in the Director’s Showcase category. It will be held in July 2013.
Should Ekstra make it to the Cannes, it will be the second Cinemalaya film (the first was Busong, according to journal.com) that will be shown ahead of the local film festival for independent films. (Sun.Star Cebu)