Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2017 Films in a Nutshell

Last June 30, the 12 official finalists were announced from the pool of almost 50 submissions. The members of the PPP Selection Commitee were Manet Dayrit (video editor), Oggs Cruz (film critic), Ricky Lee (screenwriter), Erik Matti (director), Jose Javier Reyes (director), Iza Calzado (actress), and Lee Briones (cinematographer). 

The films encompass different genres and the festival will run from August 16-22 in cinemas nationwide. Here are the official finalists:

Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B (The IdeaFirst Company)

Genre: Dark Romance

Director: Prime Cruz

Starring Ryza Cenon, Martin del Rosario, and Vangie Labalan

Jewel is a mysterious woman who lives alone in the city. She has a secret which has led her to settle into a lonely existence. That is, until she meets Nico, a broken-hearted, down-and-out guy who also feels unlovable like she does. Jewel is torn between wanting to love him and wanting to save him from herself. 

AWOL (Skylight)

Genre: Action-Thriller
Director: Enzo Williams

Starring Gerald Anderson

Lt. Abel Ibarra, team leader of 'Musang', an elite sniper group under the Philippine Army's Scout Ranger division, wants out of the battlefield to spend more time raising his young and only daughter, Bea. After the success of his last mission against a notorious Moro terrorist group in Mindanao, Abel is finally pulled out of operations and is transferred to base camp to mentor young sniper cadets. 

Bar Boys (Tropic Frills, Inc.)

Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: Kip Oebanda

Starring Carlo Aquino, Rocco Nacino, Enzo Pineda, Kean Cipriano, Odette Khan, and Mike Liwag

Four best friends enter law school and are forced to make sacrifices along the way. The sacrifice sleep, love, family, and even their principles to succeed. However, the dog-eat-dog nature of the institution ultimately forces them to sacrifice each other.

Birdshot (TBA Studios)

Genre: Coming of age thriller

Director: Mkhail Red

Starring John Arcilla, Ku Aquino, Arnold Reyes, and Mary Joy Apostol

The film tells the story of a young Filipina farm girl who wanders into the boundaries of a Philippine reservation forest. Deep within the reservation, she mistakenly shoots and kills a critically endangered Philippine eagle.

Hamog (CPI/Cinema One)

Genre: Drama
Director: Ralston Jover

Starring Zaijan Jaranilla, Teri Malvar, Sam Quintania, Bor Lentejas, and Mike Liwag

A child's play at the end of innocence, heading towards a journey at the beginning of life. It showcases 4 street children called "batang hamog" who gets dragged into consecutive and unexpected events in their daily routine of crime and survival in the busy street.

Paglipay (Universal Harvester Inc.)

Genre: Romance
Director: Zig Madamba Dulay

Starring Garry Cabalic and Anna Luna

In order to fulfill his arranged marriage with a felow Aeta, Atan crosses the mountain river going to town to earn money for the bandi (bride price). As he adapts himself to the modern way of life, he meets a city girl who would make his life turn around. Atan faces cross-cultural modifications amid changes in the mountain brought about by immense modernity.

Patay Na si Hesus (T-Rex Entertainment Production)

Genre: Comedy/Satire
Director: Victor Villanueva

When Iyay (Jaclyn Jose, Cannes 2016 Best Actress) learns that Hesus, her estranged husband, has died, she gathers her children and tells them that they are going on a trip - an inter-island road trip smack in the middle of the Philippines, to be exact. Her children, together with their set of eccentricities, reluctantly journey with her in her extra-mini minivan.

Pauwi Na (Universal Harvester Inc.)

Genre: Romance/Drama

Director: Paolo Villaluna

Starring Bembol Roco, Cherry Pie Picache, Meryll Soriano, Jerald Napoles, Jesus Mendoza, and Chai Fonacier

This is the story of a family on a journey from poverty in the city to an imagined paradise in the countryside. Broke, desperate, and with a little more than the clothes on their backs, the family decided to pedal their way thousands of miles in a tragicomic exodus to the green fields of the province.

Salvage (CPI/Cinema One/Frontrow Entertainment)

Genre: Horror

Director: Sherad Sanchez

Starring Jessy Mendiola, JC De Vera, Joel Saracho, Karl Medina, and Barbie Capacio

A news crew is given an unwanted assignement of covering news in rebel-ridden Mindanao where there have been rumors of aswang killings. Following a lead that brings them to the remote barrio where the serial deaths began, a group of armed men in military uniform attempts to abduct the cynical team. As they escape towards the forest, they go through a macabre journey where they encounter the convoluted definition of what it means to be salvaged.

Star na si Van Damme Stallone (Unitel x Straight Shooters)

Genre: Family

Director: Randolph Longjas

Starring Candy Pangilinan, Paolo Pingol, Jadford Dilaco, Sarah Brakensiek, Ebong Joson, Acey Aguilar, and Erlinda Villalobos

Based on real-life characters and events, this tale is about Nadia, a single mom from Bocaue, Bulacan, who goes through the trials and tribulations of raising Vanvan, a child with Down Syndrome.

Triptiko (Michelena Brothers Production)

Genre: Suspense/Comedy/Drama

Director: Miguel Franco Michelena

Starring Albie Casiño, Joseph Marco, Kean Cipriano, and Kylie Padilla

A yuppie who "just got lucky" is struck by a string of unlucky circumstances; a male model's life is upended because of evil boils appearing on his body; a folk singer's romantic ideal's are put to the test as his beloved slowly changes into something he does not understand.

100 Tula Para Kay Stella (Viva Communications, Inc.)

Genre: Romance/Drama

Director: Jason Paul Laxamana

Starring Bela Padilla and JC Santos

Throughout his four years in college, Fidel, a stuttering student, tries to finish 100 poems dedicated to Stella, an aspiring but frustrated rock star, to win her heart.