Kalayaan chosen for Rotterdam's CineMart

PEP: CineMart, the International Film Festival Rotterdam's co-production market, has included the Philippine film Kalayaan among the 35 titles it chose from 500 submissions for 2009. Kalayaan will star Lao-Australian actor Ananda Everingham and will be directed by Adolfo Alix Jr. of Bicycle Pictures. Alix plans to shoot Kalayaan by February 2009. Being chosen for CineMart will allow Alix to present his project to major producers worldwide and make his project eligible for the Prince Claus award worth €15,000 and the Arte France Award worth €10,000. The film revolves around the Spratly Islands (also known as the Kalayaan Group of Islands) located off the southern coast of Palawan are being claimed by different countries. Running from January 25 to January 29, CineMart is now in its 26th year. SYNOPSIS: Julian, a soldier stationed in Kota Island, is packing his things. He is ready to leave Kalayaan, part of the Spratly Islands being claimed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. He already completed his three months of service. But news of a pending coup d'etat in Manila orders him to stay in the small island until further notice. With nothing much to do, he spends his waiting hours walking by the beach front. His only option for survival is to cope with reality or lose his own sanity. - Philippine Entertainment Portal