The red carpet premiere of Balota, directed by Kip Oebanda and starring Marian Rivera, took place on Oct. 11 at Gateway Mall 2 Cinema 11 in Quezon City, drawing a large crowd of fans eager to see the actress.
The event was attended by several celebrities, including Ruru Madrid, Bianca Umali, Kyline Alcantara, Kobe Paras, Fumiya, Kate Valedez, and Zeinad Harake. Also present were Mona and Ivana Alawi, other Kapuso stars like Pokwang, Miguel Tanfelix, Rita Daniela, Kelvin Miranda, Nadine Samonte, GMA top executives, and Marian’s husband, Dingdong Dantes, who proudly accompanied her.
Following the screening, the room filled with cheers and applause for Marian and the film’s cast and crew. The event was briefly delayed as fans surrounded the actress for selfies and photos.
Balota is set for its nationwide theatrical release starting today, Oct. 16, with newly cut versions of the film.
Produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Entertainment Group in cooperation with Cinemalaya, the film also became an official selection at the 44th Annual Hawai’i International Film Festival, which took place on Oct. 6, with screenings scheduled in Hawaii through Oct. 21.
The satirical thriller highlights the steadfast dedication of teachers to preserving the integrity of elections by fusing comedy, drama, and suspense.
The protagonist of the tale is Emmy (Marian), a teacher who, amid a heated mayoral race, absconds with the last copy of the election results. Emmy works to outsmart those trying to sabotage the election process with the help of her community.
Marian, who has received recognition for her performance as Emmy, said that Balota fulfilled her as an actress and rekindled her love for filmmaking. For the part, she also received her first Balanghay trophy from Cinemalaya for Best Actress.
In addition to her recent win at Cinemalaya, Marian has received numerous accolades, including the “Box-Office Heroes” award at the 7th Eddys (The Entertainment Editors’ Choice) Awards, the “Box Office Phenomenal Stars of Philippine Cinema” recognition from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc., and the “Bida ng Takilya Award” at the 2024 FAMAS Awards. She was also named “Takilya Queen” at the 40th PMPC Star Awards for Movies and won “Best Film Actress” at the 2024 Platinum Stallion National Media Awards.
The ensemble cast of Balota includes seasoned actors like Gardo Versoza, who plays a former sexy star running for mayor, and a new generation of actors such as Will Ashley, Raheel Bhyria, and Royce Cabrera. TikTok content creators Sassa Gurl and Esnyr also star in the film, bringing humor and sharp dialogue to their roles.
Oebanda, known for the highly acclaimed Liway, directs Balota with a keen eye for both drama and satire. The film has also received recognition, including a gold award at the 2022 Filipino Arts & Cinema International Film Festival in San Francisco.
