The closeness of two prison inmates, portrayed by Sid Lucero
and Emilio Garcia, will be showcased in the 32nd Montreal World Film Festival. Selda,
the second feature film of directors Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos, has been
invited to take part in the world (main) competition section of the film fest,
which will take place in Canada from August 21 to September 1, 2008.
The Festival des Films du Monde-Montréal (FFM) is one of
Canada's oldest international film festivals. The 32nd edition will showcase 234
feature films including 105 World or international premieres. This marks the
first time that a Filipino film is competing in the world section of the
Montreal Film Fest.
Selda, which was shot inside the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa, also
stars Ara Mina as the partner of Sid's character. This film will compete with
19 other entries in the World Competition program of the FFM.
In 2005, the coming-of-age story of an effeminate young boy, Ang Pagdadalaga
ni Maximo Oliveros, won the Golden Zenith award in the First Films
competition in the 29th edition of the same film fest.
According to Ferdy Lapuz of Ignatius Films Canada, Sid,
Emilio, and Direk Paolo and Ellen will attend Selda's international
premiere in Montreal. This trip will be subsidized by the Film Development
Council of the Philippines headed by Jacky Atienza.
Ignatius Films Canada represents Selda and the movie Jay directed by Francis Xavier Pasion. The Cinemalaya film starring Baron Geisler will be part of the 65th Venice International Film Festival along with Melancholia of Lav Diaz. Ignatius also handles Kurap, which is directed by Ronaldo Bertubin. This movie starring GMA-7 contract artist Sherwin Ordoñez competed in the Asian and Arab competition section of the 10th Osian's Film Festival in New Delhi, India.
Mark Rydell, the director of On Golden Pond and The Rose, is the jury president this year. Quebec novelist Dany Leferrière, actress Evelyne Bouix, public representative Johanne Dugas, as well as directors Xie Fei and Vojtech Jasny are also sitting on the jury.
The official jury of the FFM will award the various prizes for the feature films of this section: Grand Prix of the Americas, Special Grand Prix of the Jury, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Artistic Contribution, and Innovation Award.