SC Films International, a distributor based in United Kingdom, bought the international rights of award-winning Brillante Mendoza’s newest film “Gensan Punch.”
In a report by ScreenDaily, the film is co-produced by the Philippines’ Center Stage Productions and Japan’s Gentle Underground Monkeys.
Mendoza has etched his name in the world of cinema both locally and internationally through his masterpieces like “Kinatay” in 2009, “Thy Womb” in 2012, and “Tirador” in 2008; with all these winning bagging awards. However, “Gensan Punch” is his very first sports biopic.
“While we are used to creating different films, this particular genre is quite new to me, something exciting,” he was quoted as saying in the report.
ScreenDaily also reportedly quoted Simon Crowe from SC Films International, saying, “We’ve long admired Brillante’s work from afar so it’s great to be finally working with such a talented and acclaimed filmmaker. We’re confident audiences around the world will respond as we have to the first footage.”
“Gensan Punch” tells the true to life story of Naozumi Tsuchiyama, a Japanese professional boxer with an artificial leg. The film features scenes both in the Philippines and in Japan’s Okinawa and Fukuoka as it follows Tsuchiyama’s beginnings in Gensan (General Santos City) where Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, and other boxing aspirants are from.
Tsuchiyama is played by Shogen who played roles in “Death Note” and “Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist.” Others who are part of the cast are Ronnie Lazaro, Beauty Gonzales, and Kaho Minami.
The film is scheduled to wrap up next month.
Takahiro Yamashita from Gentle Underground Monkeys said in the report that they are lucky that their shoots went well before the pandemic hit the production.