“The Halt” (“Ang Hupa”), the new feature film by Berlinale’s Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize winner Lav Diaz, joins this year’s lineup of films for the prestigious Director’s Fortnight, a non-competitive film showcase that runs alongside the Cannes Film Festival.

Co-produced by Spring Films and Sine Olivia Pilipinas and distributed by ARP Selection of France, “The Halt” is set in the year 2034 AD and revolves around Southeast Asia which has been “in the dark for the last three years, literally, because the sun hasn’t shone as a result of massive volcanic eruptions at the Celebes Sea in 2031. Madmen control countries, communities, enclaves and bubble cities. Cataclysmic epidemics razed over the continent. Millions have died and millions have left." The film stars Piolo Pascual, Shaina Magdayao, Joel Lamangan, Pinky Amador, and Hazel Orencio.

For the first time, multi-awarded filmmaker Diaz will participate in the Director’s Fortnight showcase this year. His cast and production team will join him to Cannes to take part in the Festival.

To further promote the growth of Philippine cinema in an international level, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will provide travel assistance for selected Filipino films which will participate in Cannes through the International Film Festival Assistance Program (IFFAP) under the International Relations Division.

“Championing Philippine cinema in the international scene is one of our goals, and the participation of our films in the Cannes Film Festival this year makes the celebration of the One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema even more relevant. We are delighted to provide assistance to our filmmakers and give them the chance to further explore opportunities for international film collaborations through this prestigious film festival,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Mary Liza Diño.

On the other hand, Johanna Pyykkö’s “The Manila Lover” which is co-produced by Epicmedia (Philippines) and Barbosa Film (Norway) has been selected for the 58th La Semaine de la Critique (The International Critics' Week), a parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival that aims to discover emerging talents. “The Manila Lover” lead actress Angeli Bayani will go to Cannes to participate in the Festival.

Mapúa graduate Celina Mae Medina’s thesis film “Ophelia” will also be presented at the Cannes Short Film Corner as part of the market screenings.

The Cannes Film Festival is one of the three most prestigious film festivals in the world, along with the Venice Film Festival and Berlin International Film Festival.

The 72nd Cannes Film Festival will happen from May 14 to 25, 2019 in Cannes, France, the Director’s Fortnight will take place from May 15 to 25, 2019, while the Short Film Corner will be from May 20 to 25, 2019.