For years, Hollywood and local movies took over the country’s big screens, providing blockbuster franchises that captured different markets around the Philippines. However, since then film has evolved, with the Asian genre experiencing a resurgence in the movie industry. Films from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China not only hold their own in the industry, but even outperform local and Hollywood pictures. With good quality motion pictures and a different and unique source of content, Asian Films are creating a rapid rise in popularity and a growing want for Filipino fans to experience movie-watching of Asian films on a much bigger scale. Seeing the growing necessity of screening Asian films in movie houses, SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. (SMLEI) and Viva International Pictures now bring you the most sought-after Asian films to your favourite SM Cinema theatres.
SM Lifestyle Entertainment, President– Mr. Edgar C. Tejerero and the founder of Viva Entertainment Inc., Mr. Vic Del Rosario, officially signed a contract for the creation of the SineAsia. The event celebrated the collaboration of the two entertainment giants, paving the way for the popular demand of Asian films dubbed in Filipino.
SineAsia will provide the newest and most unique library of Asian films for the Filipino family through different movie platforms including exclusive features in SM Cinema and Walter Mart Cinemas. All films will be ‘tagalized’ for the customer’s ease of watching. To pay tribute to the fast rising Asian film genre, SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc., the management company of SM Cinema and WM Cinemas, created The SineAsia Theater: a movie house dedicated to the viewing of never-before-seen, premiere and commercial Asian films. The theatre, beginning with its exterior, will emanate the authenticity of the oriental flicks to be played on the big-screen, giving movie-goers an experience like no other. The SineAsia Theater is the first Asian tagalized theater in the country.
Gangnam Blues
Gangnam Blues, starring Lee Min Ho, will be the official attraction for the grand launch in March 2015. Earning USD 7.6 Million in its first week, the film is expected to reap more sales as it opens in 13 Asian countries, including the Philippines. In timely fashion, SineAsia’s opening movie pays tribute to the iconic song “Anak” of Freddie Aguilar, as heard in the film’s official soundtrack. Other movies lined up for SineAsia are: From Vegas to Macau, Once Upon a Time in Shanghai, SPL 2, Mourning Grave, My love, my Bride and Rise of the Legend which stars artist like Chow Yun Fat, Tony Jaa, Nicholas Tse and Kim So-Eun. SMLEI has committed to reinvent one dedicated theatre each in 8 SM Cinema branches—namely, SM Megamall, SM Sta. Mesa, SM Fairview, SM Iloilo, SM Bacoor, SM Cebu, SM Manila and SM North EDSA— to make way for the SineAsia Theater. Depending on the large demand for the Asian movies to be shown in SM Cinemas, SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. is prepared to extend the theatres to all branches nationwide.
Inferno
My Love My Bride
Rise of the Legend
SPL2
Vegas to Macau
With films provided solely by Viva International Pictures, SineAsia will showcase exclusive Asian tagalized films coming from the biggest studios in Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand & Taiwan such as CJ Entertainment, Showbox, TOEI Company LTD, 9ers Entertainment, Showgate, Megavision Pictures, EDKO Films Ltd., Wada, Lote, Sahamongkol, TOHO, Kadokawa Pictures TBS and Star Alliance. All movies that will be presented are the best that Asian cinema can offer.
Prior to the contract signing, Viva International Pictures launched their Tagalized Movie Channel (TMC) in October 2014. TMC was the first local pay-channel to feature Tagalized non-Filipino films in the country.
Travel to all corners of Asia one movie at a time with the all-new SineAsia.
Click www.facebook.com/rezirb to view more photos of the event.
About SMLEI
SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Incorporated or SMLEI is the lifestyle and entertainment solutions company of SM Prime Holdings Inc. that offers the best in movies, events and leisure. The pioneer brand of SMLEI, SM Cinema begun in 1986 as SM’s household brand for movie watching. Now with almost 273 fully digitized theatres in 48 branches nationwide, and three big brands under its name, SM Cinema is the country’s leader in movie entertainment. As the front-runner in theatre innovation, SM Cinema will be expanding to more regions, and building another major brand in the coming months that the Philippines has yet to experience.
