On July 15, Tahan Director Bobby Bonifacio and Mentorque Productions producer Bryan Diamante revealed their plans to submit Tahan to film festivals.
At the media conference for Tahan, Bonifacio cited that there are film festivals that accept movie entries from streaming platforms.
“May mga film festivals din po kasi na allowed din po na maisali ang pelikulang nasa online platform. So ayun po ‘yung mga tinitignan namin.”
Diamante highlighted their goal of creating award-winning films to build Mentorque Production’s credibility.
“Actually, that is the target talaga– as for Mentorque Productions, we really wanted to have talagang, award-winning films, and award-winning performances.
“So, with that along the way, ‘yun ‘yung first target namin. For us to, of course, gusto naming kredibilidad, bago kami eh. Actually, I’m learning also eh, ang dami ko ng natutunan sa pelikulang ito.”
Bonifacio recounted how the script written by Quinn Carillo
inspired him to take on the project.
“Ako naman po kasi noong inoffer po sa akin, first of all, ‘yung screenplay po talaga na sinulat ni Quinn, ayun po ‘yung nagustuhan ko sa kaniya, kung nakita ninyo naman po ‘yung pelikula, mukhang halata naman po na sumaya ako sa paggawa ng bawat eksenang ginawa. Mahilig po talaga kasi ako sa mga ganitong twisted na mga stories.
“And noong nabasa ko po ‘yung script ni Quinn, buong buo po siya. And ang sarap po niyang paglaruan pa. And doon po ako nagsabi agad na sige gawin ko ‘to, kasi na-impressed po ako doon sa script po.”
He also noted their current collaborations with seasoned directors Louie Ignacio and Joel Lamangan.
“Actually, may ginawa din po kami with Direk Louie Ignacio, and then with Direk Joel Lamangan, tatlo po ‘yung films na ginawa namin with Nay Len ng sunod-sunod, and along the way, ‘yun talaga ‘yung target namin, to get recognized.”
He indicated that Tahan was his first film as a producer under Mentorque Productions.
“This is actually my first film. So Mentorque Productions. I’ll take this opportunity din po to also– andiyan po pala ‘yung nanay ko sa taas. ‘Yung nanay ko noong bata ako lagi akong hinihila sa sinihan niyan eh. And now, it’s going to be the first film na tayo ‘yung nag-produce.”
He recounted how Mentorque Productions worked on creating the film Tahan.
“So amin–sa akin, as a producer, initially, nakausap ko si Nay Len (Ms. Len Carrillo) to produce. Of course, it’s also a challenge, alam naman natin ngayon there are thousands of content going out di ba?
“So, how could we actually standout, so one thing talaga, ‘yung ikinuwento sa akin ni Nay Len ‘yung kwento, and then noong nai-present sa akin ni Quinn ‘yung script, ‘yun ‘yung nakikita ko na commercially viable and isang bagay na mailalaban namin at mabibigyan pansin. ‘Yung pupukaw din sa imahinasyon na mga manonood.”
As for their movie, Tahan stars Cloe Barreto, Jaclyn Jose, and JC Santos.
Catch the premiere of Vivamax’s psycho-thriller Tahan, produced by Mentorque Productions and Viva, directed by Bobby Bonifacio, and written by Quinn Carillo, on July 22 via Vivamax.
