“Astig,” the award-winning independent film and top-grosser of the 2009 Cinemalaya will compete at the New Currents Section of the 14th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) in South Korea from Oct. 8 to 16. The New Currents is the international competition section that features the first or the second feature films of future leading directors of Asian cinema.

In this year’s Cinemalaya, GB Sampedro won the Best Director award while Arnold Reyes received the Best Supporting Actor award for the movie. “Astig” also won Best Editing (Charliebebs Gohetia) and Best Sound (Ditoy Aguila, Junnel Valencia and Mark Locsin).

“Astig” is an episodic tale of four young men trying to survive the sexual squalor, seductive filth and emotional perversity of Manila. It stars Dennis Trillo, Edgar Allan Guzman, Arnold Reyes and Sid Lucero. Episode 1 tells the story of Ariel (Dennis), a conman who works for a shop at C.M. Recto Avenue selling fake diplomas and other documents. He meets and falls in love with a young girl (Glaiza de Castro) but decides to leave her. Episode 2 is about Boy (Edgar Allan), an expectant young father who has to sell his body to pay his wife’s hospital bill. Episode 3 tells the story of Ronald (Arnold), a Chinese mestizo from Zamboanga who goes to Manila to sell a decrepit building which he inherited from his father. After giving in to the seduction of a gay man who bought his property, he validates his sexual identity by hiring a prostitute not knowing that she’d run away with his money. Episode 4 is about Baste (Sid), a Marine Engineering student and an overly protective brother who avenges his sister who was deceived by her boyfriend.

“Astig” will have a commercial screening starting Sept. 23 at the Robinsons Galleria IndieSine.

Sugarfree, Sponge Cola join war against human trafficking

MTV Philippines, Visayan Forum Foundation and the US Agency for International Development are joining the fight against human trafficking by staging four FREE MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) concerts across the Philippines.

The concert series kicked off in May at the SM MOA Concert Grounds in Manila with over 30,000 supporters.

Now, with its second show, MTV EXIT will be visiting Angeles on Sept. 26. Joining the campaign are two of the most popular artists in the music industry, Sponge Cola and Sugarfree, who will perform at 6 p.m. at the Event Centre, SM City Clark.

Prior to the concert, advocates will gather to show their strength, unity and commitment in fighting human trafficking through the Freedom March. At 3:30 p.m., marchers will assemble at Diamond Park and will rally through MacArthur Highway to SM City Clark - Entertainment Center.

‘Spring Awakening’ opens in Manila

A rebellious free-thinker. An innocent dreamer. And the love affair that inflamed a society trapped between repression and denial. This is “Spring Awakening,” the Grammy Award and Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 2007. Featuring “the most gorgeous Great White Way score this decade” (Entertainment Weekly), this heartbreaking, groundbreaking musical sensation quickly took Broadway by storm, earning 8 Tony Award including Best Musical of the Year. And on Sept. 25, it opens in Manila.

Atlantis Productions continues it’s 10th Anniversary celebration with Duncan Sheik and Steve Sater’s multi-award winning alternative rock musical directed by Chari Arespacochaga and featuring Jett Pangan, Cheska Inigo, Sitti along with some of Philippine Theatre’s brightest upcoming stars.

Featuring Costume Design by Rajo Laurel, Set Design by Tuxqs Rutaquio, Choreography by Dexter Santos, Lighting Design by Voltaire de Jesus, Vocal Direction by ManMan Angsico and Musical Direction by Jojo Malferari, “Spring Awakening” runs at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati from Sept. 25 to Oct. 18. It is made possible via a special licensing agreement with it’s Broadway producers Ira Pittleman, Tom Hulce, Jeffrey Richards, and Jerry Frankel. Due to explicit content and some nudity, Parental Discretion is strongly advised.

Don’t miss your chance to see the show that changed Broadway forever. This week this fusion of morality, sexuality and rock and roll will tear it up and turn it out for the first time in Manila!