Overview of ‘Moonglow’

Prominent Filipino filmmaker Isabel Sandoval, recognized for her celebrated work on “Lingua Franca,” is currently in the final stages of her new project titled “Moonglow.” This romantic noir film is set in the politically charged environment of the Philippines during the Marcos regime in 1979.

Film Financing and Development

‘Moonglow’ has been selected for the prestigious Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), coinciding with the Hong Kong FilMart. The film’s budget stands at $1.08 million, but Sandoval’s team is currently pursuing an additional $100,000 to $150,000 for the completion of post-production tasks, which include achieving a film transfer with a vintage aesthetic fitting the era.

Plot Summary

The story revolves around Dahlia, a police aide who is disillusioned by the rampant corruption in her environment. After stealing money from her corrupt police chief to provide aid to displaced slum residents, she finds herself in a precarious situation when her boss assigns her to investigate the crime. Complications arise as she is forced to work alongside Charlie, her former lover, who is the nephew of her chief.

Artistic Inspiration and Direction

Reflecting on her influences, Sandoval stated, “I’ve always been enamored with the methodical, slow-burn thrillers of Jean-Pierre Melville. The idea of marrying those sensibilities with the lyrical camerawork and romanticism of Max Ophüls is how the film started,” as she aims to blend thriller elements with romantic cinematic techniques.

Production Insights and Collaboration

Producer Alemberg Ang shared his admiration for Sandoval’s previous work, stating, “After I saw Isabel’s Cinemalaya film, ‘Apparition,’ I was a fan… I immediately jumped into it.” Ang is known for his contributions to films such as “Plan 75” and “Some Nights I Feel Like Walking.”

Notably, the sound design of ‘Moonglow’ is being led by Tu Duu-chuh, a renowned sound designer, whose experience with prominent figures in Asian cinema brings an added layer of expertise to the project.

Future Aspirations

As a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Sandoval expressed her desire for ‘Moonglow’ to replicate the festival success of her past works. “Having had films that I’ve directed premiere at Venice and Locarno… it would be my dream for ‘Moonglow’ to chart a similar path but for it to also do and play well in Asia in a way that my previous films have not,” she elaborated.

Next Steps for ‘Moonglow’

The production team is actively seeking festival placements and distribution partners at the ongoing Hong Kong market as they finalize the project.