Leonor Will Never Die

63rd TIFF: Greek Premiere

Leonor Reyes was once a major player in the Filipino film industry after creating a string of successful action films, but now her household struggles to pay the bills. When she reads an advertisement looking for screenplays, Leonor begins tinkering with an unfinished script about the quest of young, noble Ronwaldo, forced to avenge his brother’s murder at the hand of thugs. While her imagination provides some escape from reality, she goes all-in after an accident involving a television knocks her out, sends her into a coma, and transports her inside the incomplete movie. Now Leonor can play out her wildest dreams firsthand and discover the perfect ending to her story. With her feature film debut, a newcomer director expresses a joyous love for cinema through the film’s irreverent form and the wide-eyed, endearing lead performance. Ramirez Escobar concocts a winning mixture of zany misadventures, awesome period re-creations, and self-reflective storytelling while grounding the story in the genuine emotions of a family suddenly torn apart.

Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.


Direction: Martika Ramirez Escobar
Script: Martika Ramirez Escobar
Cinematography: Carlos Mauricio
Editing: Lawrence S. Ang
Sound: Corinne De San Jose
Music: Alyana Cabral, Pan De Coco
Actors: Sheila Francisco, Bong Cabrera, Rocky Salumbides, Anthony Falcon
Production: Arkeofilms
Producers: Monster Jimenez, Mario Cornejo
Production Design: Eero Yves S. Francisco
Executive producer: Aurora Oreta, Martika Ramirez Escobar, Quark Henares
Format: DCP
Color: Color
Production Country: Philippines
Production Year: 2022
Duration: 100΄
Contact: Cercamon
Awards/Distinctions: World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award (Innovative Spirit ) – Sundance Film Festival 2022, Amplify Voices Award – Toronto IFF 2022

Martika Ramirez Escobar

Martika Ramirez Escobar was born in Manila in 1992. Her love for the bizarre is best reflected in her films and photography. After graduating with honors from the University of the Philippines, her thesis Stone Heart competed at the 19th Busan International Film Festival and screened around the world. Also won Best Film at Cinemalaya. Her latest work, Quadrilaterals, premiered at the 9th DMZ Docs. She is an alumna of the Berlinale Talents Tokyo, Asian Film Academy, Southeast Asian Film Lab, Luang Prabang Talent Lab, Fantastic Film School, Mowelfund Film Institute and is a recipient of the Purin Film Fund. She is currently working as a freelance director/cinematographer for various production houses in Manila.

Filmography

2020 Living Things (short)
2022 Leonor Will Never Die