Warner Bros. partners with local film company

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US-based global media conglomerate Warner Bros. has entered into a strategic partnership with local film company Mentorque Productions to help revive the country’s movie industry.

Under the partnership, Warner Bros. will handle the theatrical distribution of Mallari locally, its first local mainstream film distribution.

The contract signing between Rico Gonzales, director of Warner Bros. Philippines and John Bryan Diamante, president of Mentorque Production was held over the weekend in Okada Manila.

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“I’m hoping that the usual moviegoers who patronize Warner Bros movies will somehow patronize this film as outside from the usual market of Filipino movies, and at the same time, this opens Warner Bros to tap audience who don’t usually watch (local) movies” Gonzales.

Both firms are also looking into expanding the partnership through Warner’s distribution of Filipino films to the Asian region collaborations in streaming, and further along the game, the possibility of co-productions

Diamante said the company has spent P80 million for the production of Mallari film to pass the Warner Bros. standard.

“Warner Bros is very particular on their standard and they have rules, (to comply), somehow we have to spend more,” he added.

Warner Bros.’s recent interest in local films started at the same time Diamante had decided to level up Mentorque’s lineup, from regional concerts and indie films to major film productions with mainstream and international potential.

For now, Warner Bros. has an exclusive partnership with Mentorque, but Gonzales said the company is open to partner with other local film company.

“We’re definitely open to the possibility of distributing films of other producers. But for now, this is the first and exclusive partnership with Mentorque,” he added.

A new Metro Manila Film Festival entry, Mallari, a mind-bending horror starring award-winning Filipino actor Piolo Pascual, is inspired by the true story of Fr. Severino Mallari, the Philippines’ first and only serial killer.

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