RITZ Azul almost fell off her chair at a virtual conference on Tuesday amid the announcement of the final selection of the top 10 entries for this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
The actress represented her movie, the Regal Films’ horror thriller “The Missing,” which was chosen as one of the magic 10.
But midway through the conference, she was belatedly told by another producer that her fantasy comedy movie “Mang Kepweng: Ang Lihim ng Bandanang Itim” also made the cut.
“Gulat na gulat ako sa nangyari today pero grateful po ako na ‘yung dalawang movies na ginawa ko last year ay pumasok sa MMFF this year. It’s a rare opportunity po,” she excitedly shared.
In “The Missing,” Azul portrays a restoration architect who suffers depression while at work in a haunted house in Saga, Japan. She co-stars with Joseph Marco and Miles Ocampo in the movie directed by Easy Ferrer who also blended it with Filipino horror elements.
What’s more surprising is Azul’s revelation that she channeled her own mother in depicting her character. “My mother also suffered depression. Nakita ko how a word or situation, no matter how subtle, can trigger her. It also worsened with medication. Thankfully, she has overcome it now,” she said.
In “Mang Kepweng,” Azul plays support, as the queen of the fantasy world Engkandia, to the titular character of Vhong Navarro.
“Seryoso ang role. Nahirapan lang ako dahil sa kalokohan nina Vhong at Ryan Bang on the set,” she said.
The eight other films selected are “Magikland,” “Coming Home,” “Tagpuan,” “Isa Pang Bahaghari,” “Suarez: The Healing Priest,” “Pakboys Takusa,” “The Boy Foretold by the Stars” and “Fan Girl.” (ABS-CBN)
