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| "Asian Persuasion" director Richard Gervais and producers Michael Ang and Jhett Tolentino with the Audience Award trophy during the Soho International Film Festival (Image Source: Business Mirror/Troi Santos) |
"Asian Persuasion" has clinched the prestigious Audience Award for Best Full-Length Film at the highly acclaimed Soho International Film Festival. The festival took place on September 21, 2023 at Fushimi Times Square in Manhattan, New York. The film was also one of the eight nominees for Best U.S. Showcase Feature Film. “Asian Persuasion”, which is the directing debut of Tony and Grammy award-winning Broadway producer Richard Gervais, is produced by Jhett Tolentino and Michael Ang, who is also making his debut as a screenwriter for this movie. The film's cast includes notable talents such as Dante Basco (“Hook,” “The Fabulous Filipino Brothers), KC Concepcion (“For the First Time”), Paolo Montalban (“Cinderella”), and Kevin Kreider (“Bling Empire”).
In a story posted on myx.global, it was noted that "the film, which was shot in New York City, features a predominantly Asian cast and production team featuring representation from 21 different countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, and Vietnam." After winning the Audience Award, the elated "Asian Persuasion" team expressed their heartfelt appreciation on social media. They shared their gratitude, saying, "Thank YOU to those who cheered and howled during our world premiere last Saturday and for your votes!" In an Instagram post, KC Concepcion is thrilled that their film won the award, saying “Ang saya!!” and extends “big love to the entire production".
The film tells the outlandish story of a down-on-his-luck chef Mickey de Los Santos (Dante Basco) who, together with his best friend Caspian (Kevin Kreider), cooks up a crazy scheme to marry off his ex-wife Avery Chua (KC Concepcion) by setting her up with a fake internet dating profile to find her a suitor to re-marry to avoid his substantial alimony obligations. After the Soho International Film Festival, "Asian Persuasion" has made waves in the Richmond International Film Festival last September 28, 2023 and is set to be shown at the San Diego Filipino Film Festival on October 8, 2023.
For fans in the Philippines, the film will be released nationwide on November 29, 2023. Catch the “Asian Persuasion” cast and creators in their Philippine mall tours on the following dates:
• November 27 - SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City
• November 28 - Greenbelt, Makati City
• November 29 - SM City Seaside Cebu
• December 1 - SM City Iloilo
• December 2 - Ayala Malls Capitol Central, Bacolod City
• December 5 - SM City Clark
