‘On the Job: The Missing 8’ by Erik Matti goes for its Philippine premiere at the CCP

The film where John Arcilla won ‘Coppa Volpi’ for Best Actor at the 78th Venice Film Festival

“WAGI! Celebration of Filipino Excellence,” a series of film screenings at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, showcases world-class acting talent on its third installment with the Philippine premiere of “ON THE JOB: THE MISSING 8,” slated on Feb. 18, 5 p.m. at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP's main theater).

Directed by multi-awarded director Erik Matti, the film earned for actor John Arcilla the “Coppa Volpi” (Volpi Cup) for Best Actor at the 78th Venice Film Festival.

The film narrates about a corrupt reporter for a local newspaper who is forced to start an investigation following the disappearance of his colleagues, pitting him against his personal interests. Meanwhile, an inmate, who is routinely released from prison to carry out assassinations, is sentenced to life in prison for a crime he did not commit and, not wanting to spend the rest of his life as a hitman, begins to plan ways to regain his freedom by any means necessary.

The film premiered on Sept. 10, 2021, at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, where it entered the Main Competition for the Golden Lion and won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for John Arcilla. An HBO Asia Original, this sequel to the 2013 film “On the Job” focuses on corruption and media censorship now that a new strongman is in power in the Philippines.

The screening will be followed by a short program that includes the formal presentation of the Volpi Cup to John Arcilla and a post-screening talkback with special guests. The talkback will be livestreamed on the CCP Facebook page.

This special screening is presented by the CCP, in cooperation with the Asian Cultural Council Philippines Foundation, Reality MM Studios, and Globe Studios.

“WAGI” is a series of special screenings of select feature and documentary films celebrating Filipino excellence. It opened on November 5, 2021 with Ramona Diaz’s documentary “A Thousand Cuts” to honor Maria Ressa, the first Filipina Nobel laureate. It was followed by the special screening of the GMA7 documentary “Team Pilipinas: The Atom Araullo Specials” produced by broadcast journalist Atom Araullo that honors the athletes who represented the Philippines and bagged medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The CCP opens its theater with 30 percent capacity, excluding Balcony II. To ensure that everyone will have a safe theater experience, please read CCP’s new normal health protocol at bit.ly/CCPNewNormalProtocol.

Tickets are at Php300. Call TicketWorld at (+639) 17 550 6997 (Globe) or (+639) 99 954 5922 (Smart), or visit ticketworld.com.ph. Contact the CCP Box Office at (02) 8832 3704 / (02) 8832 1125 local 1409.