Cordillera film industry produces first full-length movie, starring Igorot talents
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ITI IMA TI GUBAT. Cordillera film industry Be Unrivaled Productions, is halfway through the shooting of its first full-length movie: 1941 “Cordillera Iti Ima ti Gubat”, a story based on some unpopular events in the history of Baguio City following the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in 1941. From left: Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao; Philippine national artist Kidlat Tahimik; Be Unrivaled Productions and Sine Cordillera director and executive producer Jennylyn delos Santos-Floresca (Direk Jianlin); and ABS-CBN’s Ang Probinsyano fight director Perry de Guzman, during a press conference held by the production firm and Sine Cordillera on July 20, 2021 at the Penthouse of Citylights Hotel in Baguio City. Photo by: Merriam del Rosario-FNS
ITI IMA TI GUBAT CAST AND CREW. Cordillera film industry Be Unrivaled Productions, films its first full-length movie and second official entry to the Cannes Film Festival: 1941 “Cordillera Iti Ima ti Gubat”, a story based on some unpopular events in the history of Baguio City following the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in 1941. Be Unrivaled Productions and Sine Cordillera director and executive producer Jennylyn delos Santos-Floresca (Direk Jianlin) leads the cast and crew during a press conference held by the production firm and Sine Cordillera on July 20, 2021 at the Penthouse of Citylights Hotel in Baguio City. Photo courtesy of Direk Jianlin
BAGUIO CITY –Cordillera’s Be Unrivaled Productions has started shooting its first full-length movie entitled 1941 “Cordillera Iti Ima ti Gubat”, and is now barely halfway through its anticipated completion. Be Unrivaled Productions and Sine Cordillera director and executive producer Jennylyn delos Santos-Floresca (Direk Jianlin) led the whole cast and crew to a press conference on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at the penthouse of Citylights Hotel, here.
The PhP5M+ film is written and directed by ABS-CBN’s Ang Probinsyano fight director Perry de Guzman together with Direk Jianlin, and is based on unpopular events that occurred in Baguio City following the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in 1941.
De Guzman said the film is quite different from what is usually shown in the Philippine capital, Manila, for the protagonists in this film are the Igorots.
1941 “Cordillera Iti Ima ti Gubat” takes us back to the old times, when our forefathers fought as warriors almost to their despair and how a romantic relationship surprisingly evolved in the midst of turbulence and brutal feats during a tumultuous situation.
“Ibalik natin ang lumang panahon…ang pag-ibig ng Hapon at ng Igorot” (let’s bring back the old times…the love between a Japanese and an Igorot), de Guzman said.
Philippine national artist Kidlat Tahimik, added that the very strong Filipino culture which is “pakikipagkapwa” (the strength of Filipino personality which regards others with dignity and respect and deals with them as fellow human beings), is also a special part of the story.
The Kankana-ey language, aside from Japanese and English, will also be spoken in the film.
The film introduces many of Cordillera’s variety of talents, including those who had previously made it to the international arena.
“With our rich culture, we have many stories to tell, and we want to give tribute to our Igorot talents and bring the message to the public to make them aware,” Direk Jianlin said.
Stars in the film include: Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao; The Face of Sine Cordillera Dexter Jaimee Tampoa; Musician and Broadcast Journalist Peter Omaweng Wasing; 2018 Pinoy Got Talent finalist the Bardilleranz; Be Unrivaled Productions’ The Singing Mineros; other Cordilleran talents; and Filipino-Briton actor and model Mark Phillip Neumann.
The film’s soundtrack will include at least three songs originally composed and performed especially for the movie, two (2) in Kankana-ey and one in Japanese, by Azure Altaki and Jeo Solar-cordilleran artists who are more popularly known as The Singing Mineros.
1941 “Cordillera Iti Ima ti Gubat” is intended to be released as another entry to the Cannes Film Festival when completed.
This will be the second time a movie by Be Unrivaled Productions enters the Cannes Film Festival, in case. Their first official entry is a short film entitled “Dayas”, which was showcased during the first Montañosa Film Festival here last March 20-28, 2021. //Merriam del Rosario-FNS
