| Suarez: The Healing Priest | |
|---|---|
 Official release poster | |
| Directed by | Joven Tan |
| Starring | John Arcilla |
Production company | Saranggola Media Productions |
| Distributed by | Viva Films |
Release date |
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| Country | Philippines |
| Language | Filipino |
Suarez: The Healing Priest is a 2020 Philippine biographical film directed by Joven Tan. The film depicts the life of Filipino priest and faith healer Fernando Suarez. [1] It is one of the official entries for the 2020 Metro Manila Film Festival.
Also guests are Bobby Andrews, Gina Parreño, Menggie Cobarrubias, Christian Vasquez, Marissa Sanchez, Rubi Rubi, Michelle Vito, Buboy Villar, Andrea del Rosario, Lui Manansala, Lou Veloso, Yñigo Delen, Yayo Aguila, Dexter Doria, Archi Adamos, and Glenda Garcia, among others. [2] [3]
Several directors and producers has been involved in a biographical film project about Filipino priest and faith healer Fernando Suarez. The final film entitled Suarez: The Healing Priest was directed by Joven Tan. Suarez personally requested John Arcilla to portray him in the film. Portions of film was shot at the foot of the Taal Volcano shortly prior to its eruption in January 2020. [4]
Suarez himself also was involved in the filming, including in one scene where he led a "digital healing segment". Suarez died on February 4, 2020. By that time, the film was almost complete. [5] [6]
The film was released via online streaming platform UpStream on December 25, 2020, as one of the ten official entries of the 2020 Metro Manila Film Festival. [7]
Suarez: The Healing Priest garnered nine nominations but only won the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award at the awards night of the 2020 Metro Manila Film Festival.
Critic's response are also lukewarm. Fred Hawson gave the movie a 5/10 and noted that it was "a pleasant watch overall, but a little too earnest, too defensive, too idealistic." [8] Oggs Cruz of Rappler called the film "awful" and criticized the director for the "haphazardly crafted" outcome, but praised Arcilla for his "sophisticated" performance. [9] Neil Ramos, in his review in Manila Bulletin , is more sympathetic of the film, calling it "a poignant look into the man’s life." [10]
The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is an annual film festival organized by the Metro Manila Development Authority and held nationwide in the Philippines. The festival, which runs from Christmas Day through New Year's Day and into first weekend of January in the following year, focuses on Filipino produced films. During the course of the festival, movie theaters show only films that are approved by its jurors and exclude foreign films except in 3D theaters and IMAX theaters. It is one of the two Filipino major film festivals to exclude foreign films in a week-long period, the other being the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino happening during August.
The 28th Metro Manila Film Festival was held in Manila, Philippines from December 25, 2002, to January 10, 2003. Two significant changes to the festival began with this edition: the festival became nationwide in scope, and its duration lasted two weeks instead of ten days.
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Haunted Mansion is a 2015 Filipino supernatural horror film written and directed by Jun Lana, starring Janella Salvador, Marlo Mortel, Jerome Ponce, Iza Calzado and Janice de Belen. It was the debut film of Janella Salvador after her successful stint on television. It was an official entry to the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival. It was released on December 25, 2015.
The 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is the 41st edition of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. It is organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), a government agency. During the festival, no foreign films are shown in Philippine theaters.
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Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2: Forever is Not Enough is a 2016 Filipino comedy film distributed by Quantum Films. It is the sequel to the 2011 film Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank. The film was directed by Marlon Rivera, written by Chris Martinez, and stars Eugene Domingo, Jericho Rosales, Kean Cipriano, Cai Cortez, Khalil Ramos and Joel Torre. While the first film was a satire on the Philippine indie film industry and the dishonesty of Filipino filmmakers participating in foreign film festivals, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2 satirizes the mainstream film industry.
BuyBust is a 2018 Philippine action thriller film co-written and directed by Erik Matti. It stars an ensemble cast top-billed by Anne Curtis and Brandon Vera. The plot centers on a team summoned by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to conduct a drug bust in a Manila slum. Realizing the mission is poorly executed, the team find themselves trapped by settlers and attempts to escape by fighting their way out. The film has been viewed as a social commentary on the controversial Philippine Drug War initiated by the Duterte government.
All of You is a 2017 Philippine romantic comedy film directed by Dan Villegas and starring Jennylyn Mercado and Derek Ramsay. It is produced and released by Quantum Films, MJM Productions and serves as an official entry to the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival.
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The 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is the 45th edition of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. It is organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). During the festival, no foreign films are shown in Philippine theaters (except IMAX and 4D theaters).
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Muslim Magnum .357: To Serve and Protect, also known as simply Muslim Magnum .357, is a 2014 Filipino action film directed by Francis 'Jun' Posadas and starring Jeorge "E.R." Estregan and Sam Pinto. It is a remake of the 1986 film Muslim .357 directed by and starring Fernando Poe Jr., to whom the film is dedicated.
The 2020 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is the 46th edition of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival. It is organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). It is the first edition of the festival to be held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and also the first to make its entries available to an audience outside the Philippines as part of the festival's official run.
Mang Kepweng: Ang Lihim ng Bandanang Itim is a 2020 Philippine fantasy horror-comedy film directed by Topel Lee starring Vhong Navarro. It is a sequel of the 2017 film, Mang Kepweng Returns and is an official entry to the 2020 Metro Manila Film Festival. Unlike the first film, this film is distributed by Star Cinema.
The 2021 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is the 47th edition of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival. It is organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). It was the second of the two editions to be held during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.
The 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is the 48th edition of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. It is being organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). During the festival, no foreign films are shown in Philippine theaters (excluding IMAX and 4D theaters).
Rewind is a 2023 Philippine science fiction romantic drama film directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar from a story and screenplay written by Enrico C. Santos, with Joel Mercado co-written the former. It stars Dingdong Dantes as a man who is given a chance to travel back in time to save his wife from an accident and fix their deteriorating relationship. The supporting cast includes Coney Reyes, Ariel Ureta, Pepe Herrera, Joross Gamboa, and Ina Feleo. It was produced by three film companies: Star Cinema, Agosto Dos Media, and APT Entertainment.