Ploning was screened in France last July 5 as part of
"An Evening with Philippine Stars" of the sixth Paris Cinema Festival. Judy Ann
Santos attended the special screening together with Ryan Agoncillo
(now her fiancée) and the film's director, Dante Nico Garcia.
Last July 20, Direk Dante attended the awarding ceremony of Cinemalaya 2008 (where Ploning was also exhibited). PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) took this opportunity to ask him about the screening in the European country.
"Naaliw ako dun sa sinabi ni Auraeus [Solito, an award-winning filmmaker]. Sabi niya parang first time lang daw niya nakapanood ng film fest na punong-puno ng tao. Kasi sobrang daming Pinoy. Hindi namin napigilan ni Juday, nagpa-picture kami sa crowd. Naputol lang in between, naputol nung last scene kasi nagloko yung projector. Pero happy ako."
He recalls the praises that Sharon Cuneta said about the movie. "Nandun rin si Sharon and she was crying a lot. Kasi sinasabi niya sa akin, 'Pinamamalita ko na maganda yung pelikula mo pero hindi ko akalain na ganito kaganda.'"
The Megastar also attended the Paris Cinema Festival since her film Caregiver was included in the line-up of the film fest, which took place from July 1-12, 2008.
"Ang sarap sarap...napaka-fulfilling yung makakita ka ng mga Pinoy na umiiyak kasi, di ba, parang promdi naman yung pelikula," says Direk Dante. Ploning is the story of a provincial lass who lived in Cuyo, Palawan during the 1980s and became the mother figure of a young boy.
Direk Dante also shared an anecdote about Ryan Agoncillo who supported the screening of Ploning. "Si Ryan kabadong-kabado habang nags-speech kami ni Juday. Nagrehearse pa kami sa isang restaurant ng sasabihin namin. Habang nags-speech kami, kabadong-kabado siya sa isang tabi, para siyang manager, dinidirek niya kami."
Aside from Judy Ann, the other stars of Ploning are Gina Pareño, Mylene Dizon, Eugene Domingo, Meryll Soriano, Tessie Tomas, Beth Tamayo, Tony Mabesa, Ketchup Eusebio, Ronnie Lazaro, Joel Torre, Jojit Lorenzo, and Cuyonon actors Bodjong Fernandez, Ogoy, Lukas and Cedric Amit. It is produced by Panoramanila Pictures Co.
Here is the schedule of Ploning in Canada:
Aug 22-28 Scarborough
Scarborough Town Centre
300 Borough Dr.
Scarborough ON, M1P 4P5
(416) 290-5217
Aug 22-28 Downtown Toronto
Cineplex Odeon Carlton
20 Carlton Street
Toronto ON, M5B 2H5
(416) 598-2197
Aug 29- Sept 4 Mississauga
Empire Theatre at Square one
100 City Centre Dr.
Mississauga, ON L5B 2C9
(905) 275-2640
Sept 5-11 Winnipeg
Globe cinema
393 Portage Ave. 3rd Floor
Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6
(204) 694-5623
Sept 12-18 Vancouver
Empire Theatre Granville 7 cinema
855 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1K7
(604) 684-4051
Sept 19-25 Calgary
Cineplex Sunridge Spectrum
2555 32nd Street
Calgary AB, T1Y 7J6
(403) 717-1200
The producers of Ploning say that screenings will be soon conducted in
Abu Dhabi and the United States. Those who are interested to have Ploning
screenings in their area may send an email to ida@ploningthemovie.com