Partners in Crime is an upcoming Philippine action-adventure comedy film produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films. The film is directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina and top-billed by comedy actor Vice Ganda and vlogger-actress Ivana Alawi.[1] It will be one of the official entries for 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival and is set to be released on December 25, 2022.

Background

In 2020, ABS-CBN announced their line up of films for the years 2020 and 2021 in which a Ganda-Alawi tandem was included with a working title of "Super Praybeyt Benjamin", a third sequel of the Praybeyt Benjamin films formerly done by the late Wenn V. Deramas and offered to Cathy Garcia-Molina. However, due to restrictions brought upon by the pandemic, the film was put on hold.[2] On July 8, 2022, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Executive Committee announced the first four official entries of the yearly Metro Manila Film Festival which were entered as script submissions.[3] The script was submitted few months prior and the film was included in the first four entries that were initially announced.[4] The other 3 entries were Star Cinema's Labyu with an Accent, Rein Entertainments' Nananahimik ang Gabi and Ten17P's The Teacher. The film will be the first directing film of Molina to Ganda and revealed her excitement to work with him.[5] This season of MMFF will be the first after two years of absence in cinemas due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Molina further stated that it’s about time to welcome the audience back to the theaters.[5]

Production

In late August 2022, Ganda met with the staffs and production team to aid in the artistic creation of the film.[5] The film started the initial production on September 12, 2022 and began filming on September 19, 2022.[6] On September 9, 2022, a story conference was held by the press together with the lead stars Ganda and Alawi and director Molina. During the event, Alawi expressed her excitement to work with Ganda, whom she and her mother look up to.[7]The team started filming at the Far Eastern University in Manila.

Plot

The film is a tale of two exes who cross paths again, only to be both involved in a crime. How they will survive and how they will get out of the situation?”[8][9]

Cast

• Vice Ganda
• Ivana Alawi

References