24 Jan – Award-winning filmmaker Lav Diaz is set to compete again at the Berlin International Film Festival, this time with his new movie, "Ang Panahon ng Halimaw" (translation: "Season of the Devil"). According to InterAksyon, the movie, which stars Piolo Pascual and Shaina Magdayao will be contending in the main competition against 23 other films when the 68th edition of Berlinale runs from 15 to 24 February 2018 in Germany. Described as "an anti-musical" by producer Bianca Balbuen, the movie is a co-production between the Philippines and Malaysia, with her Malaysian fiancé Bradley Liew also co-producing and handling the financial and logistic aspects of the production which was shot in Malaysia and completely in black-and-white. According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the movie is about a poet-activist who investigates on his missing wife in a remote village controlled by the military during the reign of the Marcos dictatorship. The movie also co-stars include Pinky Amador, Bituin Escalante, Hazel Orencio, Bart Guingona, Joel Saracho, Don Melvin Boongaling and Lilit Reyes. It is noted that Diaz's previous movie, "Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis" previously won the Alfred Bauer Silver Bear award at the 2016 Berlinale. Last year, the Bianca and Bradley producing duo took home the Best Picture award at the first ever Malaysia Golden Global Awards for their film, "Singing in Graveyards".