Action thriller BuyBust is opening the 14th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival today at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater). The opening film will be screened at 7:00 p.m., following the opening program at 6:00 p.m.
Directed by Erik Matti, the film follows rookie police officer Nina Manigan who joins the anti-narcotic elite squad. Soon, two teams are deployed to conduct a buy-bust operation in the slums of Manila. Realizing that the mission is poorly executed, the anti-narcotics squad finds themselves trapped by a gang of slum settlers and needs to fight their way out to escape.
Co-produced by Reality Entertainment and Viva Films, BuyBust is deemed as one of the most ambitious first full-on action films in recent local cinema history. With a budget of over P80 million, the film employed more than 300 stuntmen and utilized over 250,000 grams of gunpowder.
Production began in 2016, with the filming lasting 56 days starting in March 2017. The film premiered on June 29 at the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) and was the festival’s closing feature film.
The film is topbilled by actress Anne Curtis who played the lead role, and MMA fighter Brandon Vera.
The screening of BuyBust will be invitational, with limited tickets available to the public on a first-come, first served basis.
Cinemalaya, the country’s biggest indie film festival in the Philippines, will run from today until Aug. 12, at various venues of the CCP and selected Ayala Mall Cinemas.
For more information, visit www.cinemalaya.org, www.culturalcenter.gov.ph, or Cinemalaya Facebook page. You may also call CCP Media Arts at 832-1125 local 1704 to 1705. For ticket inquiries, call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704.