MANILA, Philippines - Jay Altarejos? digital film, ?Ang Lihim ni Antonio (Antonio?s Secret),? a tale of love and sexual exploration, will have its world premiere 7:30 tonight at the UP Film Institute.

Antonio (Kenji Garcia) is a curious teen who?s just coming to terms with his sexuality. His search for identity unfolds as his family breaks up. His mother (Shamaine Buencamino) cannot believe that her husband has abandoned them. Tragedy looms as Antonio meets his uncle Jonbert (Josh Ivan Morales), who becomes his sexual obsession.

?Lihim? follows Alterejos? ?Ang Lalake sa Parola,? rated ?B? by the Cinema Evaluation Board for ?innovative storytelling.? It was reportedly the top grosser among digital films shown in Robinson?s Cinemas last year.

Written by Lex Bonife, the film is a co-production of BeyondtheBox and Digital Viva.

Off to France

Meanwhile, Aureaus Solito?s ?Pisay? is representing the country in the 14th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema in France, the oldest and largest Asian film fest in Europe, ongoing till tomorrow.

?Pisay,? about the struggles of eight students of Philippine Science High School during the politically volatile ?80s, won Best Director and Best Production Design awards in Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2007.

The Film Development Council of the Philippines funded Solito?s trip to France, as well as those of actors EJ Jallorina, Carl Barrameda, Claudine Najera and production designer Endi ?Hai? Balbuena, Solito told the Inquirer.

In a review published October 2007 in the influential Cahiers du Cinema magazine, critic Emmanuel Burdeau described ?Pisay,? thus: ?Beautiful ? simple and sophisticated, direct and campy ? gets better as it goes along. The praise is valid for [all of] Filipino cinema, which is undergoing something of a renaissance.?

?Pisay?s? local theatrical run starts Feb. 20.

?Selda?

More indie news: Sid Lucero is this year?s Gawad Tanglaw Best Actor award for his role as Rommel, a young man who accidentally kills a boy and goes to prison for it, in the Paolo Villaluna-Ellen Ramos film, ?Selda.?

The Tanglaw (a.k.a. Gawad Tagapuring mga Akademiks ng Aninong Gumagalaw) for Best Supporting Actor was shared by Emilio Garcia and Michael de Mesa, for the same movie.

?Selda,? which also bagged the Best Editing and Best Cinematography awards, will be screened at Robinsons IndieSine Feb. 13 to 19.

The film, Villaluna and Ramos? follow-up to the critically acclaimed ?Ilusyon,? also stars Ara Mina, Soliman Cruz and Ping Medina.