Paul Soriano attends Cannes premiere of Hollywood noir film ‘Diamond’

MANILA, Philippines, May 21 ------ Filmmaker Paul Soriano walked the red carpet at the 79th Cannes Film Festival for the world premiere of “Diamond,” the Andy Garcia-led crime drama he co-produced alongside a powerhouse Hollywood cast. Soriano personally attended the premiere in Cannes, France, joining actor-director Andy Garcia, fellow producers Frank Mancuso Jr. and Jai Stefan, and members of the film’s ensemble cast during the out-of-competition screening on the Croisette.

The film drew strong reactions from festival audiences, with Variety reporting that “Diamond” earned a seven-minute standing ovation after its premiere. Deadline later reported the applause stretched to nine minutes, describing the movie as Garcia’s “passion project” and a love letter to Los Angeles and classic film noir.

Garcia wrote, directed, and stars in the contemporary noir as Joe Diamond, a private detective haunted by his past whose sharp instincts and uncanny powers of observation help him solve crimes that have stumped the LAPD. Garcia also co-composed the film’s score with acclaimed jazz musician Arturo Sandoval. The movie features an ensemble cast that includes Dustin Hoffman, Brendan Fraser, Bill Murray, Demián Bichir, Danny Huston, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Yul Vazquez, Robert Patrick, and Rachel Ticotin.

According to Variety, “Diamond” spent nearly 15 years in development and was shot across iconic Los Angeles locations, including the Bradbury Building and the Paramour Estate. Garcia reportedly conceived the story while helping his daughter with a school assignment inspired by Raymond Chandler-style detective fiction.

For Soriano, the Cannes premiere marks another major step in bringing Filipino talent into the international film arena. Known for directing films such as “A Journey Home,” “Thelma,” “Kid Kulafu,” and “Dukot,” Soriano won Best Director and Best Screenplay honors at the Film Academy of the Philippines Awards in 2012 for “Thelma.” He also co-produced "Magellan" by acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz. “Diamond” marks Garcia’s return to Cannes for the first time since “Ocean’s Thirteen” screened at the festival in 2007.

Source: manilatimes.net