Direk Romm's movie, SUPPORT (AKAY) tops in the selection at Accra Indie Filmfest in Ghana

A depressed mother, a boy who doesn't know his identity and a blind man who sees the truth in everything warmed the hearts of the judges of the Accra Indie Filmfest in Ghana. Direk Romm's  "Support" (Akay) is one of the chosen films of the festival. According to the festival director, "Support is amazing. It was able to stand out among 4,000 entries from around the world". 

The film has already won several awards and citations when it was shown in the Philippines. It gave its lead star, Ailla Nolasco, two Best Actress awards from the 5th Inding Indie Film Festival and the 30th Dangal ng Bayan Entertainment awards. It also won Best New Actor award for Kimber Lee who got a nomination for Best Actor at the Christian Film Festival where Burlat also got a Best Director nomination. Moreover, it also honored Paolo Magsino the Best Cinematographer award at the 5th Inding Indie Film Festival. Last year, "Support" was one of the finalists at the 16th We Care International Film Festival in New Delhi, India.

Direk Romm just received an email today from the organizers that he will be interviewed for the festival during its formal opening. "It's an honor that even in Africa, our film is recognized through its merits. Crossing our fingers that it will reap some honors during the awards night next month.", Burlat quipped.

Lately, Burlat has been gaining recognition and awards in international film festivals proof positive that his films are of high quality. His films "Covered Candor" (Tutop), and Cuckoo have been gaining several accolades in foreign festivals.

Good luck at the Accra Indie Filmfest Awards Night in Ghana, Direk Romm!

15 New Faces will be introduced in Direk Romm's IT'S ENTERTAINMENT Variety show on television

The launching of a variety show on television has gained so much attention from teens all over the Philippine archipelago. A brainchild of the multi-awarded actor and director cum socio-civic  influencer Romm Burlat, "It's Entertainment" is a venue to discover raw talents to be introduced in this weekly program over at the Manila Times TV.

The 30 hopefuls will vie for the Top 15 slots to be announced on the Big Night in August. The finalists have already been  into several online tasks like dancing, hosting, acting, news casting and leadership skills training with Direk Romm in the past few weeks. These tasks will be included as criteria in the selection of Top 15 plus a one-on-one interview with some other judges. The fans and supporters of each finalist will also help them via online and text votes. The Top 30 is almost complete. So far, here are the finalists coming from all over the Philippines.

Direk Romm amasses 28 international awards and recognition as actor and director and for his films

There is no stopping for Direk Romm Burlat. Despite the pandemic, he continues to reap honors in international film festivals and awards. The latest were  recognition from Istanbul Film Film Awards, Prague International Film Festival and Sweden Film Awards.

To-date, he has amassed 12 awards as an actor and director and 16 recognition for his films.  These 28 recognition are as follows:

Best Director, 16^th We Care International Film Festival (New Delhi, India) Film: Ama Ka Ng Anak Mo (Father of Your Son) 2019

Best Actor (in a Horror), Actors Awards (Los Angeles, California, USA) Film: Tutop (Covered Candor) 2020

Best Supporting Actor, Oniros Film Awards (St. Vincent, Italy) Film: Agaw Pansin (Attention Grabbing) 2020

Best Actor Finalist, Prague International Film Festival (Czech Republic) Film: Tutop (Covered Candor) 2020

Best Director Finalist, Prague International Film Festival (Czech Republic) Film: Honor Roll 2020

Best Director Finalist, Prague International Film Festival (Czech Republic) Film: Cuckoo 2020

Best Producer Finalist, (Covered Candor), Oniros Film Awards (Italy)

 Other International Recognition:

Outstanding Filipino Film Director, 38th People’s Choice Excellence Awards 2017

Outstanding Asian Film Director, 40th Top Choice Global Awards 2019

Outstanding Movie Director and Actor, World Class Excellence Japan Awards 2019

Outstanding Asian Film Director, 15th Golden Eagle Excellence Awards 2019

Best TV Talk Show Host, 1st Southeast Asian International Achievement Awards 2019

Most Outstanding Asian Entertainment Director, Golden Eagle Excellence Awards 2018

The achievements for his films are as follows:

Winner, Best Horror Film (Covered Candor), Oniros Film Awards (Italy)

Winner, Best Horror Feature Film (Covered Candor), Istanbul Film Awards (Turkey)

Finalist, Best Feature Film, (Covered Candor), Oniros Film Awards (Italy)

Finalist, Cuckoo, Festival Internacional de Cinema da Figueria da Foz (Portugal)

Finalist, Beki’t Ako (Gay & I), ShanghaiPRIDE Film Festival (Shanghai, China)

Finalist, Beki’t Ako (Gay & I), TQU Queer Film Festival (Berlin, Germany)

Finalist, Beki’t Ako (Gay & I), Playa del Carmen LGBTQ Film Festival (Mexico)

Finalist, Akay (Support), 16^th We Care Film Festival (India)

Finalist, Ama Ka Ng Anak Mo (Father of Your Son) 16^th We Care Film Festival (India)

Finalist, Sindi (Set Alight), London Lift-Off Film Festival

Semi-Finalist, Agaw Pansin (Attention Grabbing), Oniros Film Awards (Italy)

Semi-Finalist, Tutop (Covered Candor), Cinema Lab 2020 (Colombia)

Selected, Balikuko (Twist of Fate), London Lift-Off Film Festival (England)

Selected, Ama Ka Ng Anak Mo (Father of Your Son), London Lift-Off Film Festival (England)

Selected, Save The Seas, International Underwater Film Festival Belgrade (Serbia)

Selected, Ilagan Tourism AVP, International Tourism Film Festival Riga (Latvia)

 Locally, Burlat won 8 Best Director awards, 1 Best Actor, 1 Best Supporting Actor and 1 Best Talent Manager award. His films are currently in the Official Selection of film festivals in the US, Italy, Ghana, Spain, England and India. Let us wait if there are additions to his harvest in the international film market.

The tandem of Direk Romm and Direk Marvin spells magic at international film festivals

The chemistry of Direk Romm Burlat and Direk Marvin Gabas started with the twin-bill "Cincowentro" and "Cincowentro Dos" where they both directed. Burlat was also an actor in the sequel. The two movies gained recognition in local film festivals. It was followed by the award-winning "Cuckoo" which is now moving around film festivals abroad amassing awards for Bidaman Ron Macapagal and Direk Romm.  The movie was directed by Burlat but Gabas did the screenplay.

Last year,  Burlat who owns ROMMantic Entertainment Productions thought it wise to produce, direct  and act in a horror film. He wants a follow up of a Best Actor award which he first won via the movie, "Sindi" where he also won Best Director at the Gawad Filipino Awards. So for him to fully concentrate on his role, he offered the directorial job to another award-winning director who is Gabas who had his hands full in directing "Tutop" with an international title of "Covered Candor". The first plan was a short film until they both decided to make it a full length film so it will have a chance to be exhibited in theaters.

Tutop was shown at Cine Adarna, UP Film Center as an official entry to the Gawad Sining Film Festival.  Both Burlat and Gabas were nominated Best Actor and Best Director/Best Screenplay respectively. The awards night ended with Gabas getting the Best Screenplay award.

Direk Romm, being the producer had the film sent to other film festivals all over the world believing the well-crafted film has a chance of being recognized in international film festivals. He was right. The movie first became a semi-finalist at the Colombia Film Lab 2020 in Colombia, South America. But it was the Oniros Film Festival in Italy where Tutop harvested quite a number of awards. The movie won Best Horror Film and a Best Supporting Actress award for Faye Tangonan. It was also a finalist for Best Feature Film and Best Producer award. Last month, Direk Romm realized his dream of a second Best Actor award when he won Best Actor in a Horror at the Actors Awards in Los Angeles, California. This was followed by another award for the film from the Istanbul Film Awards in Turkey. "Covered Candor" won  Best Horror Feature Film, the lone Asian winner in that festival. After which, the Sweden Film Awards bestowed on Burlat a Best Actor finalist citation and Gabas a Best Director citation. Just last week, Direk Romm was again bestowed the honors as a finalist in the Best Actor category in the Prague International Film Festival in Czech Republic. Now, the movie got nominations at the Kosice International Film Festival in Slovak Republic.

Due to the success of their tandem, Direk Romm has commissioned Direk Marvin again for two award-winning projects. First is "Berta", the story of the gay orphaned who had his dreams fulfilled and lost it when he fell in love with a drug dependent who left him for a woman. Based on a true story, Berta is now roaming the streets of Cebu in a different mental state. His life has been trending in the social media. The second movie is "Imik" which is about a deaf-mute who's a witness to a crime of the century. Both these projects will be directed by Direk Marvin with Direk Romm playing the leads. 

Before the shoot of these two movies, Burlat will finish his two directorial jobs: "And I Loved Her" and "Bakit Nasa Huli Ang Simula" and starts filming "Ban-Uk", "Venus in my Mind" and "Bata Pa Si Abel".

These two award-winning directors will also have their previous movies shown on television very soon.

Direk Romm to direct Nora Aunor and Maricel Soriano?

There's no stopping for Direk Romm Burlat. After winning back-to-back international awards and getting two shows on TV, rumors have it that he is directing the two female legends, Superstar Nora Aunor and Diamond Star Maricel Soriano in his upcoming movies. We tried to find time so Direk Romm can squeeze in a time for the interview.

"Direk Romm, is it true that you are directing the Superstar and the Diamond Star?" With an impish smile, he replied, "It is a tall order but a dream come true to direct two of the acting giants in the Philippine movie industry." I know the bashers who are all over the archipelago will raise collective eyebrows. Sabihin nila, anong karapatan ng isang Romm Burlat to direct Nora Aunor and Maricel Soriano? We are not talking of "karapatan", whoever gets the chance to do it with a producer who trust your capabilities, then the project must go on.  It doesn't have to be the great filmmakers Joel Lamangan, Chito Rono, Binibining Joyce Bernal, Olivia Lamasan, Joey Reyes or Cathy Garcia-Molina. They may be busy with other projects because they are already up there. So chances are, first-time producers look for other possibilities but hey, I am going further. The truth is I was scheduled to direct both of them in separate projects last year. I already have talked with Ate Guy on the phone and she was amenable of directing her. She was welcoming my entry as one of her directors. Nevertheless, with some revisions of the script, the entire story has changed and the entire cast also changed. Eventually, the project was given also to another director. In the case of Marya, I talked to her manager last year for a film project in Cebu. Marya was fine with adjusting her TF as long as she likes the story like her film Inang Yaya. The script was not finished in due time and she has to start taping the " The General's Daughter" so the Cebu producer had another very good actress Sylvia Sanchez as replacement. I had talked to Jojo (Sylvia) about the project quite a few times. She was also a good choice for the role. But there were several changes in the production which I wasn't in favor of so it ended up with someone else doing the project. I have no news anymore what transpired after that."

"Di ka ba nanghihinayang sa projects?'', we asked. He retorted, "I always believe na kung para sayo talaga ang isang bagay, mapupunta yon sayo no matter what. But if it was not meant to be, then it won't land on your lap. But the good news is, one producer already had an initial meeting with me last year and may have a follow up meeting after the lifting of the community quarantine. The working title of the movie is "That Silver Lining" which will have Nora Aunor, Kim Chiu, Albert Martinez and Ron Macapagal in the leads. It has a very good story concept. I am optimistic the project will push through. Moreover, we may be filming the true-to-life story of "Berta", the alleged gay teacher who fell in love with a drug dependent and now roams the streets of Cebu not in his normal state of mind. It will have me on the lead with the Diamond Star hopefully. Lahat ito on the planning stage pa naman, so we'll never know kung anong kahihinatnan. It is always God who will decide on everything. He gives us kung anong dapat para sa atin. He knows better than us. Basta ako trabaho lang ng trabaho, love my work and help other artists, veterans or newbies para mabibigyan sila ng projects. For me, what God will give me, I will give it back to those people who really need it. Mas maganda yong marami kang matutulugan. Mas masaya ka pag maraming happy dahil sayo."

Direk Romm is getting ready to resume shoots of his two full-length movies, "Bakit Nasa Huli Ang Simula" and "And I Loved Her". He is also doing three shorts, "Venus In My Mind", "Ban-Uk" and " Nang Pinulot Ang Pira-pirasong Pangarap". On top of these, he is preparing for his two television shows on The Manila Times TV: a celebrity talk show billed "Of Critics and Critiques" and a variety show for the teens named "It's Entertainment".

Direk Romm goes on a back-to-back show on television

After the lifting of the Community Quarantine, multi-awarded director/actor, Romm Burlat will be back with a vengeance. He is not only scheduled to continue shooting the scenes of his two movies, "And I Loved Her" and "Bakit Nasa Huli Ang Simula" and starting with other films like "Ban-Uk", "Venus In My Mind" and "Nang Pinulot Ang Pira-Pirasong Pangarap", he is also scheduled to go back to TV hosting with two shows: a talk show billed "Of Critics & Critiques" and a variety show named "It's Entertainment", both on The Manila Times TV.

" Of Critics & Critiques" is a show which focuses on review of Hollywood and local films, Every episode, Burlat will have a Filipino Celebrity guesting live in the studio and a Foreign Celebrity guest on a phone patch. It is the first time on local TV to have a show which deals on critics who critiques the movies currently showing. On the other hand, "It's Entertainment" is  a variety show for the talented Filipino teens age 13-19. Direk Romm assured us that this is not identical to a successful show in previous decade billed "That's Entertainment". Burlat quipped, "It may be similar in its title and the goal of recognizing talented youth but in concept and format, it's way different from the show of the great Star Maker, Kuya Germs."

It can be recalled that last year, Direk Romm won Best TV Talk Show Host in the 1st Southeast Asia International Excellence Awards  for his travel show on TV, " Romm Around The World".

Aptly named " Jack of All Trades", Burlat is not only a director, an actor, a TV Host but also a writer, talent manager and a resource speaker. He just had a back-to-back win in international film awards as Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor in Los Angeles, California and Italy respectively. Last year, he won Best Director in a film festival in India.

Direk Romm Burlat: The next German "Kuya Germs" Moreno?

After the very successful variety show program, "That's Entertainment" for the then young celebrity wannabes, no other variety show followed which showcases talents of the younger generation and the venue to discover new actors of Philippine movies. The show which took television by storm was conceptualized by the terrific star maker, German Moreno, popularly known as "Kuya Germs".  He initially wanted teenage celebrity siblings to star in the show and name it as Brothers and Sisters. But after watching the American film, "That's Entertainment", Moreno decided to change the title of the show. Premiering on January 6, 1986 on GMA Network, the show featured sixteen teenagers. The show later joined the network's Saturday afternoon line-up. The show first aired from the GMA Building in EDSA and eventually moved to Broadway Centrum in 1987 to accommodate a wider studio audience. (Source: Wikipedia). This variety produced popular loveteams of  Sheryl Cruz-Romnick Sarmenta, Manilyn Reynes-Janno and Tina Paner- Cris Villanueva. " "That's Entertainment" also made stars out of Billy  Crawford, Lea Salonga, Ian Veneracion, Gladys Reyes, Judy Ann Santos, Piolo Pascual, Sunshine Cruz among others.

After more than two decades, parents of talented teenagers clamor for a variety show of that type on television to showcase their children's talents hopeful that it will be the venue for their kids to be discovered. With the agreement on the new TV station, The Manila Times TV with multi-awarded actor/director Romm Burlat, soon a new show will be launched on TV billed "It's Entertainment".

When asked if this is similar to Kuya Germ's show, Burlat said, "It is not." It sounds the same and we have a similar goal to discover talents. Nevertheless, the format and concept are way too different." We followed it up with another question. " Are you the next Kuya Germs Direk Romm ? Are you not afraid of bashers if you will be compared to the great Star Maker?". Smiling, the amiable director answered. " Kuya Germs is already an institution, You can not even compare him with anyone. He remains to be an idol not only to me but to everyone. Critics are always there. You may be good or not in a certain task, there will always be people who won't like you. But this kind of people just deserve to be ignored. But they will make me even stronger to pursue my dream of becoming a variety show host on TV."  I may be nothing compared to an institution but I will try my best to give a very entertaining show after the Covid scare."

We threw him another question if this show won't clash with his talk show, Direk Romm just quipped, "It won't as they are aired on different days and they have different concepts".

Direk Romm Burlat who just won back-to-back international awards as Best Actor at Actors Awards in Los Angeles, California and Best Supporting Actor at the Oniros Film Awards in Italy would be very busy this year and next. After the lifting of the Community Quarantine, he will be shooting the remaining scenes of "And I Loved Her" and "Bakit Nasa Huli Ang Simula" and  starting with the films, "Ban-Uk, Venus in My Mind" and "Nang Pinulot Ang Pira-Pirasong Pangarap" plus one commercial.

Good Luck to this Jack of All Trades!