Entertainment · Film · 1 day ago
Philippines Massacre Drama Seeks Final Financing at Busan Film Market
Filmmaker E del Mundo is developing her debut feature, “Once Upon a Time in the Philippines,” which is seeking financing at the Busan Asian Project Market.
The fictional story follows Sam, a 19-year-old gas station worker drawn into killings by a political clan’s private army.
It is inspired by the 2009 Maguindanao massacre in the Philippines, when armed men killed 58 people, including at least 32 journalists and media workers.
The victims were travelling to submit election filings when their convoy was stopped.
The film explores how people and institutions can become part of political violence, rather than treating it as the work of one person.
Its producers say the project is in advanced financing after years of development.
They are using the Busan market to find partners and close the remaining funding gap.
If they succeed, they aim to take the film into production.
Once Upon a Time in the Philippines, a debut feature by E del Mundo, is seeking final financing at the Busan Asian Project Market.
Inspired by the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, the film follows Sam, a 19-year-old caught up in killings by a political clan’s private army.
The story is set in an invented location that evokes the southern Philippines.
The production team is meeting potential partners in Busan to close the remaining financing gap and move the film into production.
The project has received support from film funds and development programs in several countries.
- Who
- The film is directed by E del Mundo and produced by Kyle Nieva, Gian Carlo Librojo and Pamela Reyes.
- What
- Once Upon a Time in the Philippines is seeking final financing at the Busan Asian Project Market.
- When
- The project is at the Asian Project Market during the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Contents & Film Market; the article was published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- The Asian Project Market in Busan, South Korea.
- Why
- The team is seeking partners to close the remaining financing gap and take the film into production.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I came to believe that atrocities of this magnitude are rarely the work of a single monster. They are made possible by a multitude of people who obey, participate, remain silent, or simply stop asking questions,
The massacre cannot be treated only as a closed chapter in history. It reveals structures of political power, fear, and impunity that continue to shape Philippine society,
After such a long development journey, we hope Busan can be the final bridge between development and production,
Armed men stopped a convoy in Maguindanao and killed 58 people, including at least 32 journalists and media workers.
The event inspired E del Mundo’s debut feature, Once Upon a Time in the Philippines.
The project is seeking final financing at the Busan Asian Project Market.
- Film
- Once Upon a Time in the Philippines
- Director
- E del Mundo
- Lead character
- Sam, a 19-year-old gas station worker
- Historical inspiration
- 2009 Maguindanao massacre
- Death toll
- 58 people, including at least 32 journalists and media workers
- Financing event
- Asian Project Market, Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Contents & Film Market
Sources
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