Philippines Massacre Drama Lands at Busan's Asian Project Market
E del Mundo's debut feature 'Once Upon a Time in the Philippines' is at the Asian Project Market seeking final financing to enter production.
E del Mundo's debut feature 'Once Upon a Time in the Philippines' has been presented at the Asian Project Market, part of the Busan International Film Festival's Asian Contents & Film Market, according to Screen Asia. The project is in advanced financing, and the team is using Busan to close the remaining funding gap and meet partners who can take the film into production.
The film is inspired by the 2009 Maguindanao massacre. It centers on Sam, a 19-year-old who becomes an accomplice after being caught up in killings carried out by a political clan's private army.
Development history
The project has moved through several industry programs: Cannes' Cinéfondation L'Atelier and Producers Network, the Venice Gap-Financing Market, and Locarno Open Doors, where it won a development award and a Sørfond award. It also took part in TorinoFilmLab, where it received the FOCAL Resource Award, and the Singapore International Film Festival's Southeast Asian Film Lab.
Screen Asia also produced del Mundo's VR film 'Yellowfin,' which premiered at Cannes. In 2009, armed men stopped a convoy of civilians, relatives, lawyers and journalists heading to submit election filings in Maguindanao and killed 58 people, at least 32 of them journalists and media workers.
Quick answers
What is 'Once Upon a Time in the Philippines' about?
The film centers on Sam, a 19-year-old who becomes an accomplice after being caught up in killings by a political clan's private army. It is inspired by the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.
Where was the project presented?
It is part of the Asian Project Market at the Busan International Film Festival's Asian Contents & Film Market.
When will the film be released?
No release date has been announced. The team is using Busan to close the remaining funding gap and take the film into production.