Actor and producer Piolo Pascual strengthened his status as a leading man once again by winning the Best Actor award for his performance in Mallari at the recent Box Office Entertainment Awards presented by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation (GMMSF), Inc.
The award is Piolo’s second Best Actor award for the film, following his win at the inaugural Manila International Film Festival in January, held in Hollywood, USA.
Mallari, which debuts on Netflix on June 21, is produced by Mentorque Production. It was an entry in the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival. The film delves into the psyche of Fr. Juan Severino Mallari, the Philippines’ only documented serial killer from the 19th century.
It’s a meticulously crafted film, the first Filipino movie distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, blending historical accuracy with psychological horror.
Accompanied by Mentorque producer John Bryan Diamante aka Bryan Dy, executive producer Rona Banaag, Clever Minds co-owner and supervising producer Omar Sortijas, director Derick Cabrido, and co-stars Janella Salvador and Ron Angeles, Piolo personally accepted the prestigious award.
The film’s impact extended far beyond domestic borders, becoming an official part of the inaugural Manila International Film Festival, a visionary project launched by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority/MMFF Acting Chairman Attorney Romando S. Artes. Mallari’s success and positive reception have opened doors for numerous collaborations, much to the delight of the budding producer.
Meanwhile, Mentorque Productions, in collaboration with Project 8 Projects owned by directors Dan Villegas and Antoinette Jadaone, is gearing up for the 2024 Cinemalaya Film Festival this August.
The completion of shooting for Kono Basho in Japan was recently announced by Mentorque’s President and CEO on his Facebook, showcasing two women dressed in black kimonos.
Moreover, recent sightings of Bryan Dy with Angkas President George Royeca and directors Dolly Dulu and Ivan Andrew Payawal hint at a potential collaboration with Angkas for an upcoming project.
In another post, Bryan is seen alongside TEN17P producer-director Paul Soriano, his wife Toni Gonzaga-Soriano, and Mikee Morada and Alex Gonzaga-Morada, owners of TinCan Productions, suggesting exciting partnerships in the works.
Currently, Bryan is focused on his entry for the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival, the fantasy-drama Biringan.
