The 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival is on

Nine movie outfits or a total of 14 movie scripts have been submitted to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, which will open on Christmas Day. 

Spotlight: Superstar Nora Aunor and Drama Queen Judy Ann Santos in a grand showbiz comeback

by Nickie Wang

Two prominent showbiz names are making a big comeback on television. The first is hailed as the country’s lone superstar, who was out of the country for eight years, and the other is touted as soap opera queen, who took a short break after giving birth to her first child.

HIMALA wins CNN Best Film of All Time

Nora Aunor in Himala, 1982

The CNN APSA Viewers Choice Award for Best Asia-Pacific Film of all Time, voted for by thousands of film fans around the world, was awarded to HIMALA on Nov. 11 in a special ceremony held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

The awards night was attended by more than 700 film industry luminaries from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the United States.

Himala, a 1982 film that starred Philippine superstar Nora Aunor and directed by Ishmael Bernal, bested nine other Asian films like Old Boy (South Korea), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (China), The Seven samurai (Japan), Chungking Express (China), Internal Affairs (Hong Kong), Gabbeh (Iran), Gallipoli (Australia) , Spirited Away (Japan), and Pather Panchali (India).

APSA is an international cultural initiative of the State Government of Queensland, Australia, through Queensland Events Corporation and was first staged in 2007.

With the help of CNN, UNESCO and the International Federation of Film Producers Associations, APSA acclaims films that best reflect cultural origins and cinematic excellence across  the Asia Pacific region. This year APSA screened 180 films.

For complete list of winners click here.

Himala vies for best movie of all time

Nora Aunor in Himala, 1982

Award-winning film Himala is nominated for best movie of all time at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA).

Directed by Ishmael Bernal, this 1982 movie that starred Nora Aunor will compete for favorite Asia Pacific film of all time up against other Asian films like Old Boy (South Korea), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (China), The Seven samurai (Japan), Chungking Express (China), Internal Affairs (Hong Kong), Gabbeh (Iran), Gallipoli (Australia) , Spirited Away (Japan), and Pather Panchali (India).

APSA is an international cultural initiative of the State Government of Queensland, Australia, through Queensland Events Corporation and was first staged in 2007.

With the help of CNN, UNESCO and the International Federation of Film Producers Associations, APSA acclaims films that best reflect cultural origins and cinematic excellence across  the Asia Pacific region. This year APSA screened 180 films.

Voting is until October 31 and winners will be announced on November 11.

Click here to vote for Himala.