To set the first Philippine Film Industry Month in motion this September, On The Job: The Missing 8 by Erik Matti, the only Asian film selected to compete, will represent the country in the 78th Venice International Film Festival, which runs until Sept. 11.
The crime thriller sequel to Matti’s film On The Job, the film will have its world premiere competing for the Golden Lion, the highest award in the Venezia 78 Competition, against 20 other entries. Academy Award Best Director Bong Joon-ho of multi-awarded South Korean film Parasite will preside over the competition jury.
The competing film centers around a corrupt media man, played by John Arcilla, who seeks justice for the disappearance of his colleagues, crosses paths with an inmate-hitman, played by Dennis Trillo. The film also stars Dante Rivero, Christopher De Leon, Lotlot De Leon, Leo Martinez, Joey Marquez, Eric Fructuoso, Vandolph Quizon, Agot Isidro, Sol Cruz, Wendell Ramos, Lao Rodriguez, Andrea Brillantes, Isabelle De Leon, Megan Young, Levi Ignacio, and Carlitos Sigueon-Reyna.
On The Job: The Missing 8 will be screened on Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m. at Sala Giardino and will have a red carpet gala premiere at Sala Grande at 2:30 p.m.
On Sept. 12, the first three episodes from the six-part HBO Asia Original series On The Job will premiere exclusively on HBO GO, with new episodes every Sunday.
"The participation of Matti’s On the Job: The Missing 8 in Venice commences the very first celebration of the Philippine Film Industry Month. We are proud and honored to be a part of this triumph which will inspire our hopeful Filipino filmmakers and significantly elevate the industry, further promoting the advocacy of the agency," said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.
On Sept. 9, the FDCP will hold events in Venice: On The Job Cocktails, Philippines Production Table and Spot on Screens at the Venice Production Bridge, and the Panel Discussion "From the Philippines to the World: The On The Job Franchise and Exploring New Ways of Global Content Distribution" moderated by Venice Film Festival Programmer Paolo Bertolin with On The Job director Matti and producer Dondon Monteverde as panelists.
Founded in 1932, Venice is the oldest film festival in the world. Along with the Cannes Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival, it is recognized as one of the three most prestigious film festivals in the world.
The festival is part of the Venice Biennale, a major cultural festival held every two years that features international art exhibitions, architecture, visual arts, cinema, dance, music, and theatre.
For more information on Venice Film Festival 2021 and the participating films and projects, visit their official website at www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2021.
