Pinoy Indie Film BOSES to have New York screening

The Indie film BOSES (Voice) will have a special screening in New York to be held on May 1. This indie film was one of the most popular and successful entries of the 2008 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

(According to the synopsis of the film) Boses is about the redemption of the human spirit and the healing power of music. Onyok (Julian Duque), a child made mute by abuse at the hands of his own father, is sent to a shelter for abused children where he is cared for by social workers. Nothing seems to work for Onyok until he meets Ariel (Coke Bolipata), who is haunted by grief and guilt over the death of his girlfriend. The reclusive violin teacher discovers that Onyok is a gifted child. Together they battle their demons until they regain their voice, rediscover their spirit and realize that forgiveness is within their reach.

The film's cast includes Ricky Davao, Cherry Pie Picache, Meryll Soriano, and Julliard-trained violinist Coke Bolipata and his student, Julian Duque, a child violin prodigy.

This screening is a project of the Assumption Alumni Association, the four-hour event will take place on Friday, May 1, 2009, 6 pm at Saint Paul the Apostle Church Hall, Columbus Ave. & W. 60th Street (near Lincoln Center) in Manhattan. Aside from the film screening, there will be a musical concert featuring Ricky Davao and a chance to talk with the actor and Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil, director of Boses and an alumna of Assumption.

This film has been endorsed in the Philippines by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Catholic Education Board. Its first international screening was conducted during the 2008 Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival.

As reported by The Philippine Entertainment Portal, the proceeds of the film will benefit Daang-Sine, a creative group focused on educating and creating awareness on social issues through film, and various organizations in the Philippines working to stop violence against children.

PEP, also reports that incidentally, the 6th Golden Screen Awards recently announced its nominations for the best films of 2008. The awards night will be held on April 30 at Metro Bar in West Avenue, Quezon City. Boses leads the pack with 12 nominations:

Best Motion Picture
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Cherry Pie Picache
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Ricky Davao
Best Breakthrough Performance - Coke Bolipata and Julian Duque
Best Director - Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil
Best Original Screenplay- Froilan Medina, Rody Vera
Best Cinematography- Nap Jamir
Best Editing - Orlean Joseph Tan
Best Production Design - Bianca Gonzales
Best Sound - Allan Marcelo Hidalgo, Orlean Joseph Tan

source: Philippine Entertainment Portal