Entertainment
Philippines’ Rein Entertainment Launches Slate Headed By ‘Drug War: A Conspiracy Of Silence’, ‘Salvageland’
EXCLUSIVE: Following its work on premium series The Bagman, Philippines production outfit Rein Entertainment is launching a slate of films and series here at Busan’s Asian Contents and Film Market (ACFM) headed by crime drama series Drug War: A Conspiracy Of Silence and Lino Cayetano’s ‘Neo-Western’ movie Salvageland.
Drug War: A Conspiracy Of Silence, directed by Shugo Praico, follows a sharp-minded priest from a privileged background who works with a conscience-stricken policewoman to uncover the circumstances behind the death of his missing protégé.
Currently in production, the 6 x 60-minute series stars Ian Veneracion, who won best actor at the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival for Rein Entertainment’s A Silent Night (Nanahimik Ang Gabi), also directed by Praico.
Salvageland stars Richard Gomez and Elijah Canlas in the story of an idealistic police officer and his father, a cynical veteran of the force. Father and son are forced to confront their clashing values and issues of integrity and duty when the son attempts to help a woman flee from an abusive gang leader. Production on the film is scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2025.
Rein Entertainment is also in post-production on Praico’s eco-horror movie, Caretakers, starring Iza Calzado and Dimples Romana as two mothers torn between modernity and ancestral spiritual beliefs.
The company has partnered on the film with Regal Entertainment, one of the Philippines’ oldest studios, which is renowned for its horror legacy, and Mother Earth Foundation, an initiative working towards a zero waste Philippines.
Rein is also working with critically-acclaimed filmmakers on two further projects: Korea-set suspense thriller Friday The 14th, directed by and starring Bela Padilla; and horror film Obosen, directed by Raya Martin and written by Ralston Jover.
Founded in 2017 by Praico, Cayetano and Philip King, three veterans of the Philippines film and TV industry, Rein Entertainment also has credits including LGBTQ+ romcom BetCin and two seasons of crime drama series Bagman, starring Arjo Atayde, which were acquired by Netflix. Arleen Cuevas works on the company’s international projects, while Charm Guzman manages production.
“We believe Philippines content can compete with the best of Southeast Asia and the rest of the world and we’re excited to work and collaborate with potential partners at ACFM in Busan,” said Cayetano.
Currently in the last stages of production, The Bagman, a reboot of the two seasons of Bagman, again stars Atayde and is co-produced by Rein, ABS-CBN, Nathan Studios and Dreamscape Entertainment. ABS-CBN is also attending ACFM to sell international rights to the series.
Rein is attending ACFM under the umbrella of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), together with producer Maryruth Roven Maximo who has been selected for the market’s Platform Busan initiative for emerging producers.