Veteran actor Joel Torre shares with ABS-CBN that he has just finished shooting a film in Africa, a horror film entitled, “Surviving Evil”. Joel is the only Filipino cast in the film, where he acted side-by-side the likes of Billy Zane (from Titanic).

Surviving Evil is directed by Terence Daw.

The much-anticipated “Batman” movie, The Dark Knight, earned a massive PhP62.6 million (July 17 to 20 weekend period), as announced by Warned Brothers (FE) Inc. General Manager Francis Soliven.

The Dark Knight opened in 92 theaters locally. GMA News reports the following theaters as having amassed the highest ticket sales: Trinoma (P3.91 million), SM Mall of Asia (P3.17 million), Glorietta 4 (P2.65 million), Greenbelt 3 (P2.54 million), IMAX (P2.44 million), Power Plant (P2.41 million), SM Megamall (P2.36 million), SM North EDSA (P2.16 million), Eastwood (P2.07 million), and Gateway (P2.04 million).

Mylene Dizon is this year’s Cinemalaya Best Actress, for her role in the film ”100″; Best Actor is Baron Geisler, for his role in “Jay”, Cinemalaya 2008 Best Film.

Best Supporting Actor is Yul Servo for “Brutus” while Best Supporting Actress is Eugene Domingo for ”100″. Chris Martinez got the Best Director Trophy for “100″.

Othere winners include:

Audience Choice - “100″ (directed by Chris Martinez)
Best Cinematography (tie) - Jay Abello, “Brutus” and Dan Villegas, “Huling Pasada”
Best Screenplay - Chris Martinez, “100″
Best Editiing - Francis Pasion, “Jay”
Special Jury Prize - “Brutus” (directed by Tara Illenberg)
Best Sound Design - Lito Cruz, “Ranchero”
Best Original Music - Joey Ayala, “Brutus”

Robin Padilla will be training a mixed martial arts for Totay Bato remake. He needs to do the training as the story won’t just evolve in boxing but rather in different martial arts. Fans of Robin Padilla and the People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao are excited about this development.

Sexy star Maui Taylor’s movie, Torotot, gets an R-18 rating from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Director Mario J. delos Reyes was aiming for a R-13 rating but the MTRCB maintained that some parts of the film are objectionable. Torotot is said to be based on a newspaper account by ABS-CBN news anchor Julius Babao, about violence brought about by infidelity.

GMA kapuso Starstruck graduate, and now ABS-CBN kapamilya star Cristine Reyes will be launched as a sexy tv actress in “Eva Fonda, 16″. 

Eva Fonda, 16 was first released in 1976 as a movie written by Pablo S. Gomez. The movie became a blockbuster and launched the career of Alma Moreno. It also paved the way for the bomba (sexy) films in the Philippines.

Related news, Cristine’s sister, award-winner Ara Mina, is reportedly happy and excited with the way things are going for her younger sister’s career.

Eight films made it in the Metro Manila Film Festival 2008:

1. Baler (Viva Communications)
2. Desperadas 2 (Regal Entertainment, Inc.)
3. Shake, Rattle & Roll X (Regal Entertainment, Inc.)
4. Magkaibigan (Maverick Films,  Inc.)
5. One Night Only (Canary Films)
6. Escaleras and Ungasis (20 years After) (OctoArts Films)
7. Tanging Ina Nyong Lahat (Star Cinema)
8. Dayo (Cutting Edge Productions)

ABS-CBN kapamilya prime actor John Lloyd Cruz and the country’s pop princess Sarah Geronimo is the newest love team, under Star Cinema’s new movie, All About Love. The two first teamed up in a hit special episode in Maala-ala Mo kaya.

John Lloyd also will be celebrating his 25th birthday tomorrow, June 24.

The Quezon City Film Development Commission (QCFDC), led by Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista and QCFDC executive director Jerico “Nico” Antonio, will be launching the 2008 Quezon City Independent Film Festival during the third quarter of the year. The  film festival will feature works of student filmmakers from Quezon City-based universities and colleges, namely, UP Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, Miriam College, St. Paul University QC, Trinity University of Asia, and Angelicum College. This new film fest will showcase short films (animation, narrative, experimental, documentary and music video) and full-length features, a photo exhibit, and mobile phone video contest. Nico hopes to get sponsors for the short films, photo exhibit, and mobile phone and video competition to be able offer cash prizes.

Ten films will be featured in this year’s Cinemalaya.  The screening, to be held on July 11-20, will showcase ten full length entries adhering to the theme, Anong Kwento Mo? — how Filipinos always have an interesting story to tell.

The Cinemalaya entries for this year include 100 by Chris Martinez, Baby Angelo by Joel Ruiz and Abi Aquino, Brutus by Tara Illenberger, Concerto by Paul Morales, Huling Pasada by Paul Sta. Ana, Jay by Francis Pasion, My Fake American Accent by Onnah Valera and Ned Trespeces, and Ranchero by Michael Cardoz.