THIRTY-FOUR films with combined budget of one billion pesos — that is what Viva has in store for 2020.
Viva’s 2019 was a banner year. Some of its most notable releases include “Maria” – the first Filipino Netflix film, “Ulan” – a surreal romance, “Just a Stranger”- a May-December affair, “Sanggano, Sanggago and Sanggwapo” – the comedy comeback of ‘90s comedians, “Jowable” — last year’s surprise hit, the gentle love of “Unforgettable,” the daring “Adan,” the silent and deadly “Mañanita,” the first team up of Anne Curtis and Vice Ganda in the “Mall the Merrier,” and the Metro Manila Film Festival’s hit “Miracle in Cell No. 7.” It was truly a miraculous year for Viva Films.
After producing 19 films last year — the most number of theatrical releases by any entertainment company in the Philippines — the media giant is offering Filipino viewers a host of projects with experimental and daring subjects, online content turned commercial releases, book to film transformations and foreign adaptations with a Filipino twist.
“Hindi ako naniniwala na patay ang local movie industry,” said the company’s big boss, Vic del Rosario. Indeed, Viva Films’ 2020 Vision of producing 34 films with an investment of 1 billion pesos is proof of the company’s confidence in Philippine Cinema.
“Istorya ang priority ng Viva and good direction,” Del Rosario also said of their company’s continuing quest for good content.
Original Viva Films include “Vodka, Beers and Regrets,” “Devoted,” “Hindi Tayo Pwede,” “Rooftop,” “Tiliing,” “Untrue,” “Nightshift,” “The Other Woman,” “Love the Way You Lie,” “Walang KaParis,” “You F Oh,” “Pakboys,” “Mang Jose,” “Ultimate Oppa,” among others.
They will also re-imagine films as part of their 2020 vision. As global borders for content diminish, Viva seizes the opportunity to share the best of foreign films with local adaptations with a Pinoy twist. With the success of “Miracle in Cell No. 7” and “Miss Granny,” Viva will be serving films from all over the world, including “A Hard Day,” “Spellbound,” “Wedding Dress,” “The Housemaid,” “A Man and a Woman,” “Sunny,” “More Than Blue,” “The Wedding Breaker,” and “Instructions Not Included.”
And with the onslaught of superheroes in the big screen from Marvel and DC, the company is all set to unveil our own Pinoy Superheroes. From the creative genius of National artist Francisco Coching and the legendary “Komiks King” Carlo J. Caparas, Viva brings to the big screen our own “Pedro Penduko,” “Joaquin Bordado,” “Elias Paniki,” “Gagambino,” “Kamandag,” “Valora,” “Berdugo,” “Totoy Bato,” and “Panday.”
