Filipino moviegoers in Edmonton were overjoyed with the world tour screening of the musical film, Ang Larawan, on December 7 and 9 of 2018. The musical film which was based on Nick Joaquin’s play A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, achieved several feats: seven awards at the Film Academy of the Philippines Luna Awards, four awards at the Urduja Film Festival and a nomination for Best Original Film Score at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA). APSA is a regional body that honors “cinematic excellence from 70 countries. The composer for Ang Larawan, Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, known as Mr. C., has been awarded National Artist for Music in October 2018.
The star-studded film continued to receive recognition from award-giving bodies. It was also screened at the prestigious Tokyo International Film Festival, Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy and the Belgium Arts Festival. Ang Larawan’s world tour was in full swing with the 2 screenings in Edmonton brought by Artist House Studio in cooperation with the Filipino-Canadian Saranay Association at the historic Garneau Theatre of Metro Cinema.
Hundreds of people were thrilled after watching the award-winning movie and many asked when the next movie would be coming to Edmonton. People gathered in the lobby after watching the movie to share their thoughts, feelings, and the effect the movie had on them. They gushed about how it reminded them of home, with realistic depictions of many facets of life. The movie made the audience feel like they were characters in the musical, transported into another era.
Another exciting activity the moviegoers experienced was learning about the products exhibited by the valued sponsors of the event. The movie screening in December celebrated the spirit of Christmas and was the perfect time to showcase Filipino products during the event, promoting and patronizing Filipino businesses and services prior to the screening. Artist House Studio managed to promote the sponsors whether they were small or big business by showing the promo ads and commercials on the big screen. The promotion provided to Filipino entrepreneurs through the pre-show of a theatre in Edmonton is unprecedented.
With the resounding success of the screenings of Ang Larawan in Edmonton, Artist House Studio will be bringing Filipino movies to the silver screen on a regular basis. For years, those of us living in Edmonton have only been able to watch Filipino movies from home using a streaming service where the shows were often not the best quality. Being away from home, our kababayans and the Filipino youth are often looking for ways to connect to our roots. Now, Metro Cinema’s Garneau Theater will serve as a venue in which everyone will be able to watch entertaining and thought-provoking Filipino movies with caliber and substance in stunning high definition format!
This regular film screening will be branded as T.G.I.F! (Thank God It’s… Filipino!) Films. The objective of T.G.I.F. is not only to entertain the Filipino people through the screenings of independent and mainstream Filipino films but to also raise awareness on social and political issues through film while promoting the diversity of the Filipino film industry. The screening of Filipino movies will also be a medium to help keep the arts and culture of the Filipino spirit alive in Edmonton. T.G.I.F! isn’t just for Filipinos though. Anyone who enjoys quality foreign films is invited to attend as all movies will be shown with English subtitles.
T.G.I.F. will have its premiere showing at 3:30pm on March 31, 2019 at the Garneau theatre. Stay tuned to HIMIG PINOY every weekday at 5 PM on 101.7 World FM, as well as social media for updates on all future releases.
