Anne Curtis celebrates 29 years in showbiz, unveils three new film projects

June 23 ------ Nearly three decades after entering the entertainment industry, Anne Curtis is marking her 29th year in showbiz with gratitude and a slate of new projects, including her first collaboration with director Mikhail Red and reunion films with directors Ruel S. Bayani and Irene Emma Villamor.

The milestone was celebrated during Curtis' "A Toast to What's Next" media conference, where she reflected on her journey from a young aspiring actress to one of the country's most recognizable stars.

Looking back on nearly three decades in the business, Curtis said one of the people she remains most grateful to is her longtime home studio, Viva Entertainment. "I think definitely my Viva family, that they never gave up on me. I've been with the Viva family for 29 years. They never gave up on me when I was a 12-year-old kid who didn't know Tagalog. They gave me roles and really gave me an opportunity to shine, to hone, and to learn. For that, I'll always be truly grateful because we're still here," Curtis said.

The celebration also doubled as a preview of what lies ahead for the actress. Leading her upcoming projects is "Remote," a psychological horror film that will pair Curtis with Red for the first time. The project will be produced by Viva Films and filmmaker Evolve Studios. Curtis said she is particularly excited to return to darker, genre-driven storytelling. "This one with Mikhail Red, I'm very excited to do a psycho-thriller. It's been a while since I've done something like that. I really like doing genre films, not just love stories," she said.

She will also reunite with Bayani, who directed the blockbuster romantic drama "No Other Woman," one of the defining films of her career. Another reunion is in store with Villamor, following the commercial success of "The Loved One." The projects come as Curtis prepares to wrap up an ambitious action series for Netflix that she has been filming with director Erik Matti for the past three years. "When I saw the realization that it's been 29 years, I was surprised admitted. I definitely want to focus more on films. These past three years, we dedicated our lives to that project, and we know it's going to be worthwhile. It's a series on Netflix coming very soon. Hopefully after that, we'll make films again and explore different genres. I'm excited to start that again," she shared.

The actress said the experience of working on the action series has tested her physically and creatively, but she believes audiences will understand why it took years to complete once they finally see it. "We've been working on it for three years. Sometimes it's like, 'I'm so tired,' because of course it's action. But when I see the preview, it's so beautiful. It's so," she said.

Despite a career filled with box-office hits, hit television programs, endorsement deals and international fashion appearances, Curtis said there are still goals she hopes to achieve. Among them is attending the Cannes Film Festival not as a fashion guest but as part of a film being showcased on one of cinema's biggest stages. "A lot of people ask me what I haven't achieved yet. One of my biggest dreams is to attend the Cannes Film Festival for a film. We're invited by brands, but my heart still can't accept that it's not for art, for a film or for a series. Maybe that's one of my dreams," she said.

She added that the dream remains within reach regardless of age. "There's no time limit. You could even be in your 60s or 70s and still achieve that. I hope the right project happens," she said. Curtis also expressed optimism about the growing recognition being received by Filipino artists on the global stage, whether in fashion, film or television. "It's a great time for the Philippines. We're finally getting invited, we're getting recognized, and we're on the map. I hope this is just the beginning of great things for the Filipino film and television industry," she said.

Source: manilatimes.net