Celebrate leap day and the last day of the month of hearts with your loved ones while helping raise funds for the children of Payatas. The Mountain View, a multi-awarded film by Gerry Balasta will be screened in Manila for the first time on February 29, 7:30 pm at The Block, SM North EDSA.

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The Mountain Thief premieres in Manila!

International award-winning film, The Mountain Thief, is finally coming home to Manila after its successful film festival run, bagging not only numerous awards and nominations but also the hearts of its sympathetic audiences. Filmed entirely at Payatas disposal facility and acted by scavengers selected and trained by the filmmaker, the film depicts a sensational tale of murder, love and survival in the mountains of trash. The actors portrayed characters similar to their own, adding an overwhelming power to their performances. It is great passion and sincere intention that brought a startling insight into a nightmarish world, made more remarkable because of the glimpse of the ever-enduring human spirit.

The film’s social context and its undeniable power to initiate change instigated microphilanthropy. The project was initially aimed to raise funds for a child actor who was in dire need of surgery and to provide scholarship funds to another child actor who needed special education. Today, the project has evolved into extending livelihood assistance to actors and their families. From the project’s successful beginnings, the founders were encouraged to further the cause by using The Mountain Thief as a catalyst for philanthropy. Thus, the New-York based Mount Hope Project, Inc. and now the Philippine-based Mount Hope Initiative, Inc., were founded. Both entities are non-profit organizations with the overall aim to help the Payatas community of waste pickers and their families. Because of the power of the film, there is an opportunity to make a direct impact, not only in the lives of the actors, but also in the entire community, that it may serve as an agent for change and a source of hope for a better future.

This much-awaited homecoming brings to light two major endeavors; the premiere of an international award-winning film by Filipino-American director, Mr. Gerry Balasta, and the opportunity to fund an educational scholarship program for the actors’ children.

The premiere of “The Mountain Thief” is made possible by the Quezon City Local Government, the Bunge Emissions Group and Pangea Green Energy, in cooperation with the Payatas Poverty Alleviation Foundation and other corporate and individual sponsors. The benefit will be held on the 29th of February 2012 at SM North EDSA, Cinema 2 from 7:30pm to 9pm. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the work of a world-renowned Filipino talent and earn a chance to change lives!

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Tickets are available at Pipino, 39 Malingap Street, Teachers Village, QC.

For ticket information, please contact +63.949.7467826 or (02) 913.4988.

Visit http://mountainthief.com for more information on the movie.

Who's in for a movie date? Hope to see you there! :)