News

Sean Ellis’s Metro Manila has been selected for the Sundance Film Festival 2013.

Metro Manila, the latest feature length film directed by Oscar® and BAFTA nominated filmmaker Sean Ellis has been announced as having been selected for the World Dramatic Competition at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

Metro Manila tells the story of Oscar Ramirez and his family who, seeking a better life, move from the poverty stricken rice fields of the Northern Philippine mountain ranges and journey towards the capital mega city of Metro Manila.

Upon arriving in the big city, it isn't long before they fall foul to various city inhabitants whose manipulative ways are a daily part of city survival. Oscar lands a job as a driver for an armored truck company and is befriended by Ong, his senior officer. It soon becomes apparent that Ong has been waiting for the arrival of someone just like Oscar for some time.

Metro Manila was shot on location in the Philippines in 2011 with a Filipino cast and crew and the film uses the local Tagalog dialect throughout. The film was co-written with Frank E. Flowers and produced by Mathilde Charpentier through Chocolate Frog Films.

Sean Ellis commented ‘I'm extremely honoured and proud to have the World premiere of Metro Manila at Sundance as part of their World Dramatic competition. The reputation that Sundance has for supporting film and filmmakers is second to none and it is a privilege to be invited back to Park City once again.’

The film stars Jake Macapagal, John Arcilla and Althea Vega.

Independent Film Sales is represented World wide sales and ICM for North America.

You can read more about the production and experiences of Metro Manila at: