Direk Romm Burlat wins Best Actor in California,USA and Best Supporting Actor in Italy

Multi-awarded director/producer/actor and socio-civic influencer, Romm Burlat, won two international awards recently. He won Best Supporting Actor in the movie, "Attention Grabbing (Agaw Pansin)" in the prestigious Oniros Film Awards in Italy. He bested 52 semi-finalists for this category. In just a matter of three days, Burlat won another international award. This time, Best Actor in a Horror for his outstanding performance in the full length film, "Covered Candor (Tutop)" in the Actors Awards in Los Angeles, California. In both films, Burlat played mad characters. In "Attention Grabbing", Direk Romm is a mentally-deranged man who raped a woman she used to love and gave him a son. In "Covered Candor", he portrays a crazy father who kills ills in the society like prostitutes and snatchers to feed a cannibal son.

When asked how did he prepare for these characters, Direk Romm jokingly said, "Nothing. In real life, I am "baliw" so it was not difficult to play these challenging characters". He then guffawed. "In Attention Grabbing, I was also the director but I gave the directorial job of Covered Candor to the horror director, Marvin Gabas, since it's his forte. Aside from that, I want to concentrate on my role which demanded gamut of emotions from me". Burlat continued, "These two international awards are fitting gifts for my birthday which was celebrated a week before I received these awards."  Burlat also got nominated as Best Actor  in the Gawad Pelikula Filipinas Awards where is in competition with more established actors, Dingdong Dantes, Ogie Alcasid, Dennis Trillo, Paolo Contis, Raymond Bagatsing and Louise Abuel.

It can be recalled that last year, Burlat won Best Director at the 16th We Care International Film Festival in New Delhi, India which prompted the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to honor him with a Film Ambassador recognition early this year. Next year, expect Direk Romm to be back as FDCP honoree for these two new international awards.

To date, Direk Romm Burlat has 8 Best Director awards, 2 Best Actor awards, 2 Best Supporting awards, 11 international recognition, 3 international awards in films and 8 other international awards. He also won last year as Best TV Talk Show Host and Best Talent Manager in 2018.

Burlat is scheduled to continue shooting, "Bakit Nasa Huli Ang Simula" and "And I Loved Her" and starts shooting "Ban-Uk", "Venus in My Mind", Nang Pinulot Ang Pira-pirasong Pangarap" and "Bata Pa Si Abel" after the lifting of the Community Quarantine.

Bidaman Ron Macapagal wins Best Actor Honorable Mention at the Oniros Film Awards in Italy

Multi-talented and well-rounded Bidaman Ron Macapagal won Best Actor

Honorable Mention at the prestigious Oniros Film Awards in Italy for his sterling performance in the suspense thriller, "Cuckoo". Playing the role of Leandro, he is a simple young man who witnessed the killing of his mother when he was in his adolescence. This paved the way to him becoming crazy. "Cuckoo" which is about a man's descent to madness was shortlisted at the Cine Filipino and was also a finalist at the Festival Internacional de Cinema da Figueria da Foz in Portugal. His first movie made in 2017, "Cuckoo" gave Macapagal an earlier Best Actor award in the 30th Asia-Pacific Excellence Awards in films in 2018.

At 22, this award is Bidaman Ron's 7th Best Actor award following his wins for the films "Mammangi", "Beki't Ako", "Ama Ka Ng Anak Mo". To date, Macapagal has done more than 10 films, both short and mainstream movies. Most of his films were directed by his manager, Direk Romm Burlat. Macapagal was also a recipient of last year's "Outstanding Men and Women of the Philippines."

After the lifting of the Community Quarantine, Macapagal is scheduled to finish his scenes in the full length movies, "Bakit Nasa Huli Ang Simula" and "And I Loved Her". After ABS-CBN gets its provisionary franchise, Macapagal will be back on "It's Showtime" and "It's Showtime Online".

Congratulations Bidaman Ron Macapagal!

Direk Romm Burlat wins Best Supporting Actor at the Oniros Film Awards in Italy

Direk Romm Burlat won Best Supporting Actor in the Oniros Film Awards in Italy. He bested other performances in a support role as a mentally-deranged father in the suspense thriller, "Attention Grabbing". It's local title is Agaw Pansin. Burlat, who is also the director of the film earlier won Best Director at the 4th Lutas Film Festival. Attention Grabbing is Burlat's 2nd international award. It can be recalled that last year, he won Best Director in the 16th We Care International Film Festival  for the movie, "Father of Your Son (Ama Ka Ng Anak Mo)" in New Delhi, India.

At the Oniros Film Awards,  Burlat's ROMMantic Entertainment Productions won Best Horror Film for his movie, "Covered Candor( Tutop)" and a Best Supporting Actress award for Faye Tangonan. His other entry, "Cuckoo" gave Bidaman Ron Macapagal a Best Actor Honorable Mention award and the movie was finalist for Best Film.

"It was unexpected. There were like 52 entries and I was lucky enough to be nominated and eventually won the award. The movie which was made almost four years ago was my first film. It has already received quite a number of awards in other festivals", Burlat quipped. Of course, I am so happy with this new award. On May 10th, the Actors Awards in Los Angeles. California had me nominated as Best Actor for another film, "Covered Candor." I don't have any expectation. Just hope that I may get the award but if not, I will still be very happy since I got nominated along with other lead actors from other countries."

After the pandemic, Direk Romm will be filming quite a number of films. To wit, we have "And I Loved Her", "Bakit Nasa Huli Ang Simula",  'Surrogate", "No More Maybes", "Ban-Uk", "Venus In My Mind" among others.

Direk Romm Burlat to host another talk show on TMTv

After having bowed out on television hosting for almost a year, Direk Romm Burlat will be back on TV as host of a showbiz talk show aptly named "Of Critics and Critiques". He will be doing an analysis or a critique for local and Hollywood movies released every week. Aside from that, Direk Romm will have some celebrity guests comprising of actors, directors, production people and even extras.

It can be recalled that last year, Burlat hosted a travel show billed Romm Around The World on EuroTV.  With the 90 countries and principalities he had visited, Direk Romm was the right choice for the show which earned for him the award as Best TV Talk Show Host in the 1st Southeast Asia International Excellence Awards for Television.

When asked how could he manage hosting a  TV show when he is loaded with film assignments, the amiable director quipped, " It's just a matter of proper time management. I always believe that a busy person has a time for everything. I could have let this opportunity pass but hosting is one of my first loves. I love talking and sharing my knowledge and experience to people. However, I will make sure that this TV work won't clash with my film shoots."

"Of Critics and Critiques" will be aired  every Wednesday at 8pm on The Manila Times TV Network and cable channel. Its first episode will air in June this year.

Direk Romm Burlat nominated Best Actor along with Dingdong Dantes, Dennis Trillo, Raymond Bagatsing, Ogie Alcasid, Paolo Contis and Louise Abuel in the Gawad Pelikula Filipinas Awards

Direk Romm Burlat is in Cloud Nine upon receiving the information that he got nominated as Best Actor for his performance as a weird, slightly mentally-ill father of a carnivorous son in the horror-drama-suspense thriller, "Tutop" (International Title: Covered Candor) in the Gawad Pelikula Filipinas Awards. "Until now, the news still didn't sink in. Am I dreaming?", says Burlat. "We did the film because it has long been planned for me to direct a horror film with a heart. It took me a year before I decided to produce "Tutop". When it was about to start filming, I backed out as director so I can fully concentrate on acting as Precensio, the lead of the film. I then called a director-friend whose forte is horror. Thus, it ended on the lap of Direk Marvin Gabas.", the amiable director added.

"Tutop" is an excruciating, demanding, exhausting role for me since I don't only use my senses to portray the guilt, anger, pity, hatred and love of being a Precensio but I have to be physical in many scenes. I kill notorious people like hold uppers and prostitutes for the sake of my son. It's a total gamut of emotions playing the character but it's all worth it. I watched a few Jack Nicholson films like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and The Postman Always Rings Twice to give me a bird's eye view of how a cuckoo really behaves.", Direk Romm said in an interview.

Aside from Burlat, the other nominees for Best Actor are: Ogie Alcasid for "Kuya Wes", Louise Abuel for "Edward", Raymond Bagatsing for "Quezon's Game", Dennis Trillo for "Mina-Anud", Paolo Contis for "Through Night and Day" and Dingdong Dantes for "Syd and Aya: Not A Love Story".

"Nomination for me is enough. Let the "acting veterans" win the award. I am already overjoyed by the fact that films from small-time producers can still be considered vis-a-vis the mainstream films. It is a good sign in the Philippine showbiz industry. Normally only those being produced by big movie outfits like Star Cinema, Viva and Regal but now things have changed which is a good sign that everyone has a chance, small or big actors alike", Burlat ended.

(Note: Covered Candor (Tutop) has just been included in the Top 6 Finalists for Best Feature Film in the international film awards,  Oniros Film Awards in Italy. Ms.Faye Tangonan is also a finalist as Best Supporting Actress)

Good looking teens from Davao, Cebu, Malabon, Manila and Paranaque will star in the millenial version of " Bagets"

ROMMantic Talent Management and ROMMantic Entertainment Productions in its nationwide search for new stars to be launched in its forthcoming films and events ended with five good looking talented teens topping them all.

Ren Regner, 19, 5'8" is a model and dancer from Davao City. Roy Reyes, half-Australian is 18 years old and stands 6'0 feet tall. He is a model from Cebu. Rob Torres, who was an aspirant of  "The Voice Philippines" is an actor, singer, guitarist and composer. He is 5'9" tall at 17 years old. A basketball player and model, Jaydee Bueno is 17 years old and stands 5'11". The last but not the least is a national modelling competition winner, Rod Caparas. He is 18 years old and the tallest of them all at 6'1".

JayDee and Rod will be launched in two movies: "Nang Pulutin Ang Pira-pirasong Pangarap" and "KaTropa".  Ren and Roy will do some acting workshops and will be in the cast of "Ban-Uk" and "Minsan May Isang Pamilya". Rob who has appeared in an introductory role in "And I Loved Her" will be launched as  a lead star in "Bata Pa Si Abel" and in intriguing family drama, "Ama, Anak, Inaanak" with Bidaman Ron Macapagal.

Nevertheless, the five of them will reprise the role played by Aga Muhlach, Herbert Bautista, Raymond Launchengco, JC Bonnin and William Martinez in the  millenial version of the 80s megahit, "Bagets".

"Bagets" will be directed by their manager, Romm Burlat.

"Bata Pa Si Abel" launches the team up of Rob Torres and Ezra Ramirez

" Bata Pa Si Abel", a film about the challenges in the age of  puberty launches the team up of two good looking teens. Actor-singer Rob Torres is 17 years old while Ezra Ramirez is 15.

Rob, aside from being  a good singer and guitarist,  has some background in theater. He also has finished shooting his scenes for the romantic comedy, "And I Loved Her". Ezra on the other hand, aside from modelling on the ramp and on print, already appeared in the movies "Cincowentro" and "Cincowentro Dos", "Tutop" and "Bakit Nasa Huli Ang Simula". 

Direk Romm Burlat, who is also their manager is directing the film, "Bata Pa Si Abel". This is Torres' and Ramirez'  first team-up but Direk Romm believes the two teens will blend in terms of chemistry on the screen. " I have a strong feeling their team up will click. After this movie, they will be both doing "Bigkas Ng Puso", quipped Direk Romm.

We wish Rob and Ezra good luck in their first film together!