Pinay Actress Mercedes Cabral to Star in Park Chan-wook’s ‘Thirst’

By BOY VILLASANTA
abs-cbnNEWS.com

Young Filipina actress Mercedes Cabral has been choses to star in a South Korean film to be directed by 2004 Cannes Grand Prix-winning filmmaker Park Chan-wook.

Cabral, a 21 year-old UP Fine Arts student was Park’s personal choice from among several Asian hopefuls to star in “Thirst”, a horror-film now in pre-production. Shooting is scheduled to start in April.

“Hindi po ako makapaniwala na mapipili ako. Nagpadala lang po kami ng screener ko at nagustuhan naman nila. I am kinda nervous. (I couldn’t believe myself. We just sent a screener to Korea and they liked it very much),” Mercedes confided to abs-cbnnews.com.

A favorite in the independent film circuit, Cabral recently proved her acting skills by winning the Best Supporting Actress award at the 2007 UP Inbox TV and Radio Festival for her sterling performance in the digital film “Bitin,” produced by Good Vibes Productions.

She did another indie filmk, titled “Baliw (Insane)”, and has starred in several theatrical productions on campus.

Cabral is also part of the cast in a coming film about drug abuse and withdrawal produced by Outline Digital Films. That film will be directed by filmmaker Jowee Morel (”Mga Paru-Parong Rosas”; “Mona Singapore Escort”; “When A Gay Man Loves”)

Cabral will also play the girlfriend of the lead character in Brillante Mendoza’s most ambitious gay film, “Servando,” a film about the life of a “home service” male prostitute.

48-year-old Park Chan-wook won in the 2004 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix for his film “Oldboy.” According to reports, Hollywood director Quinten Tarantino is an avid fan of Park.

Tarantino was a juror during the 2004 Cannes and he pushed for Park to win the Palm D’Or, the highest recognition in the French filmfest. The other judges thought otherwise, however, and gave the prize to Michael Moore’s “Farenheit 9/11.”