Metro Manila is being screened as part of The Big Picture Film Festival in Sydney this month, which brings together some of the very best films from around the world with a message of social justice.

The film is about a young family seeking a brighter future in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Moving from the province to the city, they fall prey to the rampant manipulations of Manila's hardened locals. 

It has received positive reviews and won the Audience Award at last year's Sundance Festival. In December, it also won the British independent film of the year. You can book your tickets here or read a review from the Guardian here. Excerpt below:

March 22, 8.30pm Event Cinemas, George Street

March 28, 8.30pm  Event Cinemas, Liverpool 
 

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Metro Manila named British independent film of the year

Low-budget thriller set in the Philippines is standout winner at 2013 Bifas, with director Sean Ellis also named best director

A shoestring-budget heist thriller set in the Philippines – partly because its Brighton-born director couldn't get a film made in the UK – was on Sunday night named British independent film of the year.

Metro Manila picked up three awards at the 16th Moet British independent film awards at a ceremony that also brought success for Le Week-End, Filth, The Look of Love and Starred Up.

In an interview with the Guardian Metro Manila director Sean Ellis said he decided to make a film in the Philippines because he could not drum up any interest in making what is his third film in the UK. "In this country our favourite word is no," he said.

Ellis drew up a script, remortgaged his house and headed to Manila with a tiny budget and a Canon 5D digital camera which meant he did not need an enormous crew.

The resulting film, a mix of social drama and crime thriller, was released in September to positive reviews, with the Guardian calling it "one of the the finest, under-the-radar surprises of the year." In September it was chosen as the UK's entry in the foreign language section of next year's Oscars.

Metro Manila was named best British film from a shortlist that also included Philomena, The Selfish Giant, Starred Up and Le Week-End.

Ellis himself was named best director while its third award was for best achievement in production.

Source: Guardian Online

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