The second installment of the so-called "Box Office Trilogy"
will be shown in the 10th edition of the Cinemanila International Film
Festival. Directed by Raya Martin, Next Attraction is one of the six
locally produced movies competing in the Digital Lokal section of Dekada
Cinemanila. The annual film fest will be held from October 16-24 at Gateway
Mall in Cubao, Quezon City.
Raya's first installment titled Now Showing premiered in Cannes Director's Fortnight in May 2008. Next Attraction will be competing against Imburnal by Sherad Anthony Sanchez; Ala Pobre Ala Suerte by Briccio Santos; Sisa by CJ Andaluz; Carnivore by Ato Bautista; and Ang Manghuhula by Paolo Herras.
Running for 90 minutes, Next Attraction stars Coco Martin, Paolo Rivero, JK Anicoche, and Ms. Jaclyn Jose. The film is about a behind-the-scenes documentary of an ongoing short film production in the city center, once a glorious part of town. The short film follows a teenager who wanders around the city. After an argument with his mother, he decides to run away. He enters a seedy part of town and meets a man with whom he shares his first sexual experience. The young man comes home, only to find his apologetic mother waiting for him. He ignores her, and contemplates on his actions while taking a shower.
Last year, Raya Martin won the Lino Award Grand Prize and Best Director in Digital Lokal, Cinemanila Festival 2007 with his film, Autohystoria. Now Showing was also previous recipient of the Hubert Bals Fund Award during the Cinemanila Boracay Co-Production Meeting in 2005.
The film is produced by Arleen Cuevas and Raya Martin; cinematography by Albert Banzon, Maisa Demetillo and Herman Claravall, production design by Digo Ricio and editing by Lawrence Ang.