5 of TBA Studios’ Biggest Titles Are Coming To Netflix This August-September

5 of TBA Studios' Biggest Titles Are Coming To Netflix This August-September

Global streaming giant Netflix will release the must-watch movie of the year Dito at Doon (Here and There) on the service worldwide on Sept. 2. Four other critically acclaimed films from TBA Studios will start streaming on Netflix Philippines in the coming weeks. Find out if your favorite TBA Studios movie is on the list.

 

1. Sunday Beauty Queen – August 15

Local subscribers of Netflix Philippines will soon be able to watch the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Picture and 2017 CinemAsia Film Festival Audience Award for Best Documentary Sunday Beauty QueenSunday Beauty Queen is a heartwarming documentary by Baby Ruth Villarama about domestic workers in Hong Kong who join a weekend beauty pageant on their days off.

 

2. Bliss – August 15

Also dropping on Netflix Philippines on August 15 is Jerrold Tarog’s psychological thriller Bliss, a story about a burned-out actress who finds herself under the care of her jaded husband and a creepy nurse named Lilibeth.  This controversial film boasts of critically acclaimed performances from its cast led by Iza Calzado, who won the Yakushi Pearl Award (Best Performer) at the 2017 Osaka Asian Film Festival. 

 

3. Dito at Doon (Here and There) – September 2

Dito at Doon (Here and There) is without a doubt one of the most-talked-about Filipino films of the year.  This timely quarantine love story landed lead actress Janine Gutierrez the Rising Star Award at the recently concluded 2021 New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF).  Set during the first months of the pandemic, the movie revolves around political science graduate Len (Gutierrez) and her online/offline frenemy Caloy (JC Santos).  With polarizing views and challenges of not being physically together, will their relationship survive?

 

4. I’m Drunk, I Love You. – September 15

If you can’t get enough of JP Habac’s auteurship from Dito at Doon, Netflix Philippines will also release his feature-length directorial debut, I’m Drunk, I Love You.  Hailed as one of the “25 Best Rom-coms Of The Last 25 Years“, this well-loved and now iconic film stars Maja Salvador and Paulo Avelino in a relatable story about being intoxicated with unrequited love.

 

5. Smaller and Smaller Circles – September 21

TBA Studios’ adaptation of F.H. Batacan’s best-selling mystery novel Smaller and Smaller Circles will start streaming on Netflix Philippines on September 21. Director Raya Martin’s faithful interpretation of this award-winning story takes on the nation’s political amnesia.  Nonie Buencamino and Sid Lucero star as Jesuit forensic scientists trying to solve an urban serial murder case.

 

Looking for more world-class Filipino movies on Netflix? Current TBA Studios titles streaming on the platform are epic historical films Heneral Luna and Goyo: The Young General, coming-of-age thriller film Birdshot, and romance dramas How She Left Me (Kung Paano Siya Nawala), Write About Love, and Us, at the End of the Year (Tayo Sa Huling Buwan Ng Taon).

To know more about these films, follow TBA Studios on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube. Join the conversation online using the hashtag #ProudlyTBA.

5 hard-to-find Filipino shorts, docus streaming online this August

5 hard-to-find Filipino shorts, docus streaming online this August

In case you missed their limited theatrical and festival runs, five award-winning short films and documentaries will be available for on-demand viewing this month on major streaming platforms.

Shorts Bundle

Premiering on Aug. 20 on the platforms are Goyo prequel Angelito, QCinema Film Festival 2019 Best Short Film Judy Free, Australia Independent Film Festival 2018 Best Documentary Life Is What You Make It, and The Interpreter, a Japanese story directed by award-winning Filipino filmmaker Benito Bautista. 

Angelito is a 20-minute short film that follows the story of brothers two days after the death of Antonio Luna. It bridges Jerrold Tarog’s magnum opuses Heneral Luna and Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral.

Judy Free immerses viewers in a young girl’s reality where her father who’s been away abroad for almost a decade suddenly comes home as an animated doodle figure.

Life Is What You Make It explores the life of award-winning Filipino theatre producer Jhett Tolentino from his migration into the United States and his entry into theatre production in New York.

The Interpreter is a short romantic thriller in the age of digital and online dating apps, set in Tokyo, Japan. 

The Shorts Bundle is exclusive on Cinema ‘76 @ Home and TBA Play for cinephiles abroad. Catch the complete bundle for Php 250/USD7.99 or in a two-film bundle for Php 150/USD4.99.

A is for Agustin

Grace Simbulan’s eye-opening documentary A is for Agustin will be streamed on Cinema ‘76 @ Home, TBA Play, KTX.ph, iWantTFC, Upstream and Ticket2Me starting on Aug. 27.

Set in a remote mountainous region of the northern Philippines, the film follows the story of an illiterate indigenous man who decides to go back to school. With the goal of making a better life for himself, 40-year old Agustin starts learning his ABCs.

A is for Agustin is Simbulan’s first full-length documentary. The film took eight years to complete as Simbulan fully immersed herself with the indigenous community where Agustin belongs.

It has been selected and nominated in several notable festivals and award-giving bodies, including QCinema International Film Festival 2019 – Official Selection, FAMAS Awards 2020 -Best Documentary Nominee, Gawad Urian 2020 -Best Documentary Nominee, Guam International Film Festival 2020, Grand Jury Award Nominee for Best Documentary, and Udine Far East Film Festival 2021 -Non-Competition Film (Documentary) Selection.

To know more about the films, follow TBA Studios on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube. Join the conversation online using the hashtag #ProudlyTBA.

Watch throuple love story ‘Show Me What You Got’ starting July 30

Watch throuple love story ‘Show Me What You Got’ starting July 30

This steamy polyamorous sex drama is shot in black-and-white, giving the film a tasteful ‘arthouse style’ flavor.

TBA Studios is releasing the seductive adult drama “Show Me What You Got” on July 30 and it will be available on all major streaming platforms in the country.

Helmed by Svetlana Cvetko, “Show Me What You Got” revolves around the intriguing romance between three attractive, free-spirited twentysomethings in Los Angeles— a grieving coffee shop waitress Christine (Cristina Rambaldi), a struggling actor and semi-professional fighter Nassim (Neyssan Falahi), and Marcello (Mattia Minasi), a man living in the shadow of his father, an Italian soap opera star.

The three form a wholehearted ménage à trois, finding joy together by joining political protests, making art, and falling deeper into their unconventional love, until one must return to Italy.  Their experience there threatens the delicate balance of their relationship.

“Show Me What You Got” holds an admirable 80% Fresh rating across all critical reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.  AIPT reviewer Nathaniel Muir said it is “a beautiful-looking movie that is reminiscent of the French New Wave.”

“Known for her luscious and exquisite cinematography, Cvetko presents a captivating and well-acted story with great style for a film about contemporary love and life awakening, which includes LA anti-establishment undertones and unfocused careers,” Film Threat’s Sabina Dana Plasse wrote.

The black-and-white romance film also had a strong festival presence in the last two years. Among the accolades it received were Cariddi D’oro Award for the Best Film at the 2019 Taormina International Film Festival, Best International Film Award at the 2019 Terra Di Siena International Film Festival, Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature and Best Cinematography award at the 2019 High Falls Women’s Film Festival, Best Cinematography at the 2020 Santa Fe Film Festival, Best of The Fest Grand Jury Prize at 2020 San Antonio Film Festival, and Best Supporting Actress and Best Cinematography at the 2020 Loudoun Arts Film Festival.

When does intimacy become love? And is the romance between three souls as valid and pure as other kinds of relationships? Find out on “Show Me What You Got”, streaming on Upstream, KTX, iWantTFC, and Ticket2Me, starting July 30.

For more information, check out the Cinema ’76 Film Society Facebook page .

TBA STUDIOS’ NEWLY ACQUIRED TITLES “BOUNDARY” AND “A IS FOR AGUSTIN,” SET FOR MARKET SCREENINGS IN CANNES

TBA STUDIOS’ NEWLY ACQUIRED TITLES “BOUNDARY” AND “A IS FOR AGUSTIN,” SET FOR MARKET SCREENINGS IN CANNES

TBA Studios recently acquired the dramatic thriller “Boundary” and award-winning documentary feature, “A is for Agustin.  Both films will have premiere screenings in Cannes’ global film market, Marché du Film, this coming July 6 to 15.

Inspired by true stories of taxi drivers of metropolitan Manila, “Boundary, a riveting crime thriller helmed by Filipino American filmmaker Benito Bautista, explores the lengths and sacrifices that a person is willing to take in order to survive. This is Bautista’s first feature length film, but already the film has garnered critical acclaim during its premiere. 

It also earned several nominations and wins including Best Film Award – NETPAC Category (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) at the 2011 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, and nominations at the 35th Gawad Urian Awards for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor for both its lead stars Ronnie Lazaro and Raymond Bagatsing.

Another acquisition is “A is for Agustin, a powerful and compelling documentary feature by Grace Simbulan. Set in a remote mountainous region of the northern Philippines, the film follows the story of an illiterate indigenous man who decides to go back to school. With the goal of making a better life for himself, 40-year old Agustin starts learning his ABCs.

“A is for Agustin” is Simbulan’s first full-length documentary. The film took eight years to complete as Simbulan fully immersed herself with the indigenous community where Agustin belongs.

It has been selected and nominated in several notable festivals and award-giving bodies, including QCinema International Film Festival 2019—Official Selection, FAMAS Awards 2020—Best Documentary Nominee, Gawad Urian 2020—Best Documentary Nominee, Guam International Film Festival 2020—Grand Jury Award Nominee for Best Documentary, and Udine Far East Film Festival 2021—Non-Competition Film (Documentary) Selection

This year’s Marché du Film will be held online. For this virtual film market, the screening schedule for “A is for Agustin” are Online #9 – July 7, 2021 9:00 and Online #10 – July 11, 2021 15:30“Boundary” will have its screening on these dates: Online #17 – July 8, 2021 11:00 and Online #6 – July 12, 2021 17:30.

For more information on these films and TBA Studios, visit https://www.tba.ph/

Critics’ Faves ‘LINGUA FRANCA’ and ‘BOUNDARY’ Now Streaming On TBA PLAY

Critics’ Faves 'LINGUA FRANCA' and ‘BOUNDARY’ Now Streaming On TBA PLAY

International premium video-on-demand service TBA Play is bringing two critically acclaimed films “Lingua Franca” (2020) and “Boundary” (2011) to cinephiles overseas starting June 18.

Lingua Franca

Get into the Pride Month Spirit by watching “Lingua Franca”—starring as well as written and directed by Isabel Sandoval, who won Best Actress for her role in the film at the 18th Pacific Meridian International Film Festival. “Lingua Franca” also won the Jury Award which is the top prize for Best Narrative Feature at the 2020 Bentonville Film Festival, an American festival that highlights stories told by minority voices in entertainment, such as the LGBTQ+ community, women, and people with disabilities.

In this beguiling drama, an undocumented Filipina immigrant who’s paranoid about deportation works as a caregiver to a Russian-Jewish grandmother in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. When the American man she’s secretly paying for a green card marriage backs out, she becomes involved with a slaughterhouse worker who’s unaware that she’s transgender.

“Lingua Franca” is now streaming on TBA Play in Southeast Asia. Watch it here.

Boundary

One of the Philippines’ most acclaimed films of the past decade, “Boundary” stars Ronnie Lazaro and Raymond Bagatsing in a gritty story about a taxicab driver and his naive passenger’s ominous ride from the dark streets of Manila to the isolated hills of Antipolo.

Directed by Benito Bautista, “Boundary” won the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2012 Guam International Film Festival and Best Film – NETPAC Award (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) at the 2011 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.

“Boundary” is now streaming in more than 60 countries via TBA Play. Watch it here

TBA Play is currently available in over 60 countries, including USA, Canada, and select territories in the Middle East, and North Africa.
TBA Play is also partnered with international distribution and sales company, TVCO to bring TBA Play content to key markets in Europe.

For a full list of countries and updates on availability in other regions, tba.ph and follow https://www.facebook.com/tbaplaymovies.

Cinema ‘76 Café offers a unique al fresco, movie-themed dining experience

Cinema ‘76 Café offers a unique al fresco, movie-themed dining experience

Filipino moviegoers have surely missed going to the cinemas. While that experience is irreplaceable, TBA Studios offers an alternative option that will surely bring fond memories to local cinephiles as it launches Cinema ’76 Café on June 11.

Cinema ’76 Café is an al fresco dining spot located on the third floor of the Anonas LRT City Center in Quezon City.  Envisioned to be a haven for film and coffee lovers alike, the open-air neighborhood coffee shop has a unique movie-themed inspired décor.  Some visual references include posters from TBA Studios’ well-loved films and a very comfortable ‘bench seating’ reminiscent of Cinema ’76 Film Society’s signature couch seats.

Aside from delicious hot and iced coffee beverages, the café offers a wide array of drinks—bottled Coffee Matcha, Salted Caramel Latte, and Popcorn Frappe are just some of the ones guaranteed to be instant favorites. For pastries and desserts, Cinema ‘76 Café recommends its delectable Mango Cake. This tasty treat is said to be a playful nod to the iconic mango scene from TBA Studios’ 2018 blockbuster “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral.”

The cafe accepts dine-in customers, takeouts, and online deliveries.

Apart from the safe outdoor dining set up on its balcony, Cinema ‘76 Café also ensures the safety of its customers while continuing to deliver quality food and service. Before entering, customers need to step on a disinfectant mat, apply alcohol provided, and have their temperatures checked. They also have to fill up the contact tracing form either manually or via QR code.

Tables and chairs, and other fixtures and surfaces are disinfected after every use. Cinema ‘76 Café also uses an air sterilizing and disinfecting machine round-the-clock. Stringent safety protocols are also in place for food preparation and handling.

Online delivery and payment

Cinema ‘76 Café also offers faster and more convenient ways for customers to order safely from their homes. Cinema ‘76 Café has partnered with online food delivery apps FoodPanda and GrabFood.
For those looking for some personal touch, you can chat with Cinema ‘76 staff via Facebook, InstagramTwitter, or order directly via phone or Viber at +63906 236 2365.


Dine-in and take-out customers can choose from multiple payment options. Cinema ‘76 Café accepts cash as well as BDO transfers, GCash, and Lyka Gems for cashless payment. Senior Citizens and PWDs can also avail of their regular discounts.

Cinema ’76 Café is also offering curbside pickup for take-out orders.  Customers can simply call or message in advance to avail of this service.

Cinema ’76 Café is officially open starting Friday, June 11, 2021. For its soft launch operations, the café will operate daily except weekends from 1 pm to 7 pm.

# # #

Cinema ‘76 Café
2/F Anonas LRT City Center, Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City
Initial operating hours: Mondays – Fridays / 1 pm – 7 pm
+63906 236 2365
Available in GrabFood and FoodPanda 

 

 

‘DITO AT DOON’ PREMIERES GLOBALLY VIA TBA PLAY

'DITO AT DOON' PREMIERES GLOBALLY VIA TBA PLAY

Film aficionados outside the Philippines will no longer be left behind as they get the chance to see “Dito at Doon” (“Here and There”) via the international premium video-on-demand service.

Filipinos and cinephiles abroad can sit back and enjoy the must-watch movie of the year “Dito at Doon” (“Here and There”) through TBA Play starting on May 1.

The most talked-about movie in the Philippines right now, “Dito at Doon” (“Here and There”) has been receiving rave reviews from critics and public alike since its domestic online release on March 31, with the film being called a “touching and timely romantic tale” with “stellar performances from its lead cast Janine Gutierrez and JC Santos”.

“Tellingly, ‘Dito at Doon’ (‘Here and There’) is both a time capsule and a tribute to the Filipinos who continue to survive the pandemic.  It is a story that needs to be told and be seen by Filipinos wherever they are in the world,” said Eduardo A. Rocha, TBA Studios, CEO and Executive Producer.

“With TBA Play, Filipinos living abroad will no longer feel left behind in seeing our world-class films like ‘Dito at Doon’ (‘Here and There’) that not only entertain but also reveal the Filipino experience,” he added.

TBA Play is a premium video-on-demand service catering to millions of Filipinos abroad yearning to connect with their friends and families back home.  Through this platform, viewers can now catch the best and the latest Pinoy movies anytime, anywhere with no ad interruptions.  TBA Play houses a catalog of award-winning and well-loved films featuring some of the brightest stars in the Philippine entertainment scene.

TBA Play is currently available in over 60 countries, including USA, Canada, and select territories in Middle East, and North Africa. TBA Play is also partnered with international distribution and sales company, TVCO to bring TBA Play contents to key markets in Europe.

TBA Studios also shares that the public can expect more exciting news in the coming months as TBA Play continues to beef up its programming line up and add new countries to its list.

Set during the first months of the pandemic, “Dito at Doon” (“Here and There”) revolves around political science graduate Len (Janine Gutierrez) and her online/offline frenemy Caloy (JC Santos). With polarizing views and challenges of not being physically together, will their relationship survive?

Directed by JP Habac of  “I’m Drunk I Love You” and “Gaya sa Pelikula” fame, “Dito at Doon” also features theater actors Victor Anastacio and Yesh Burce, with the special participation of Janine’s mom, veteran actress Lotlot de Leon. 

“Dito at Doon” (“Here and There”) is exclusive on TBA Play for a limited time only in USA, Canada, and select territories in Europe, Middle East, and North Africa starting May 1.  Viewers can watch their film of choice starting at USD7.99 / EUR7.99 while ‘Dito at Doon’ will have an early bird rate of USD8.99 / EUR8.99 until April 30. For a full list of countries and updates on availability in other regions, tba.ph and follow https://www.facebook.com/tbaplaymovies.

 

ABOUT TBA PLAY

Watch the most talked-about Filipino movies anytime, anywhere with no ad interruptions through TBA Play, the latest movie streaming platform catering to millions of Filipinos worldwide.

TBA Play houses a catalog of award-winning and well-loved films featuring some of the brightest stars in the Philippine entertainment scene. Accessible and affordable, TBA Play is currently available in over 60 countries across 4 regions worldwide with multiple language settings for viewers’ convenience. Pricing starts for as low as USD 7.99.

TBA Play is operated by TBA Studios, one of the leading film production companies in the Philippines and producers of the blockbuster movies “Heneral Luna,” “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral,” “I’m Drunk, I Love You.,” and “Sunday Beauty Queen.”

“DITO AT DOON” WILL BE RELEASED DIRECT-TO-DIGITAL STARTING MARCH 31

“Dito At Doon” WILL BE RELEASED DIRECT-TO-DIGITAL STARTING MARCH 31

TBA Studios’ upcoming film “Dito at Doon” will proceed with its scheduled online release this coming March 31, 2021, while its theatrical release is currently on hold.  The JC Santos – Janine Gutierrez romance movie was supposed to arrive in theaters nationwide on March 17.

The change comes after careful decision among the film’s producers with everyone’s health and safety as their utmost priority.

“We have decided to release ‘Dito at Doon’ exclusively online for the time being.  This was a very difficult decision for the whole team, but one that has everyone’s best interest in mind,” said E. A. Rocha, TBA Studios’ CEO.

Contemporary Love Story

Set during the pandemic, “Dito at Doon” revolves around political science graduate Len (Janine Gutierrez) and her online/offline frenemy Caloy (JC Santos).  With polarizing views and challenges of not being physically together, will their relationship survive?

Directed by JP Habac of “I’m Drunk, I Love You.” fame, “Dito at Doon” also features host and stand-up comedian Victor Anastacio and theater actress Yesh Burce, with the special participation of Janine’s mom Lotlot de Leon. 

The film was developed and shot during the pandemic, and was slated to be the first big local movie to be released a year since the pandemic started.

“We know how much it means for a lot of people to finally share this experience together on the big screen and we feel positive that there would still be a chance for us to do so. But for now, we are happy to offer an accessible and convenient alternative for Filipino movie fans eagerly waiting to see ‘Dito at Doon’,” Rocha added.

Online Streaming

Fans can catch the much-anticipated romantic film at ktx.phCinema ’76 @ HomeiWant TFC, and Ticket2Me. 

Book now to avail of the on-going early bird promo and enjoy “Dito at Doon” for only Php 300. This special offer is for a limited time only. Regular price is at Php 350.

Film aficionados outside the Philippines will have a chance to see “Dito at Doon” (“Here and There”) too as TBA Studios prepares a worldwide release via TBA Play, the company’s premium  video-on-demand (PVOD) platform soon.

“We are so grateful to everyone who has shown love and support for this film.  We hope that they would continue to extend that support not just for ‘Dito at Doon’, but the whole Philippine Film Industry as well.  It has been a challenging year, but we at TBA Studios remain hopeful.  We appreciate everyone’s patience and we look forward to bringing this timely yet timeless, heartwarming film to you very soon.” Rocha expressed.

To know more about the movie, visit our Facebook Page, follow TBA Studios on TwitterInstagram, and Youtube.

Join the conversation online using the hashtags #DitoAtDoon #ProudlyTBA.