Kapuso actor Dennis Trillo is joined by comedian Jerald Napoles and Kapamilya star Matteo Guidicelli in a provocative and socially relevant movie that is based on a true story.
Titled Mina-Anud, the events in the film are based on real-life events that took place in 2009 in Eastern Samar, where bags of cocaine were washed up on the shores of a fishing village that turned the lives of the residents 180 degrees.
Being a relevant and timely quality film, Mina-Anud won the Basecamp Colour Prize at Singapore’s Southeast Asia Film Financing (SAFF) Forum in 2017.
Established in 2016, SAFF serves as an exciting platform in assembling the best feature-length film concepts and the top filmmakers and producers from Southeast Asia and Europe to meet with international co-producing partners, festival programmers, distributors, commissioners, and financiers.
Mina-Anud is about an impoverished community where the characters succumb to the temptations of money and material stuff through illegal activity.
It tells the story of people who resorted to illegal drug selling to earn instant cash and get a taste of luxuries of life, such as flat-screen televisions, motorcycles, cars, and jewelry.
Known as a dramatic actor, Dennis takes on the role of a drug pusher.
He plays Ding, the leader of Borongan surfers, who is also a family man with issues with his wife Gina, the breadwinner.
Jerald portrays Carlo, one of the best surfers in the village but seems to always come as second best. A single guy caring for his aging grandmother, Carlo dreams of joining an international surfing competition and marrying a Caucasian girlfriend.
Being unsatisfied with their lives, Ding and Carlo saw a chance to improve their lives by giving in to the temptation of selling illegal drugs for money.
No doubt that this is one of Dennis’s most daring roles yet in this timely movie.
“I’ve been wanting to do a film like this — totoo, matapang, para ito sa mga taong naghahanap ng iba, ‘yung mga hinahanap nila sa online like Netflix,” says Dennis.
“It’s the kind of film that’s fun to watch. It has a nice and interesting story. You’ll appreciate it more if you’re watching it with your barkada,” he adds.
Meanwhile, Jerald will prove his mettle as an actor when he was chosen for the role for which a number of good looking and highly competent actors auditioned for.
He explains, “I auditioned for the role, in fact, a lot of actors auditioned because of the story is inspired by true events. I didn’t think twice to try if I could get the role. Nabanggit na sa ‘kin ito noon ni Direk Kerwin, tapos biglang gagawin na pala talaga ni Regal and Epicmedia.”
Joining them is Matteo Guidicelli, who portrays Paul, an aspiring celebrity and TV show host who deals party drugs to Manila’s elite and showbiz circles.
“I’m so happy to be part of the film. The Filipinos deserve to see this film. Sana they give us a chance to entertain them and inform them at the same time. I am thankful na makapagbigay kami nang ganitong klaseng kwento,” Matteo says.
Interestingly, the film’s director, Kerwin Go, has seen with his own eyes the true events for which this film is based on.
“I was there and witnessed this first hand. The characters in the film are all based on friends and acquaintances who gave in to the temptation of easy money. Some made it out with their wallets heavier, some weren’t lucky and ended up in jail,” says Kerwin.
Joining the cast are Alvin Anson, Mara Lopez, Anthony Falcon, Marc Felix, Lou Veloso, Richard Manabat, Dionne Monsanto, Elia Ilano, Lui Manansala, and Luke Landrigan.
Showing only in cinemas nationwide on Aug. 21. Mina-Anud was chosen as the Closing Film of Cinemalaya 2019 on Aug. 10, at the CCP 9:00 p.m..