SUKOB , the much awaited latest big-screen offering from Star Cinema, will have its North America premiere in July this year before doing a 12-city run in August in both U.S. and Canada. ABS-CBN Global is bringing stars Kris Aquino and Claudine Barretto to grace the premieres at The Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles on July 29, and at The Hawaii Theater in Honolulu on July 30.

“After our encouraging successes with the recent U.S. screenings of Dubai, Don’t Give Up On Us, Close to You and D’Lucky Ones, we thought it was time to widen our reach and deepen our connection with Filipino film lovers,” said Andrea Vergel de Dios who oversees ABS-CBN Global Film Distribution and Theatricals in North America. “Thus, we decided to hold two premieres which are special screenings with the stars. Kris and Claudine are actually going to watch the whole movie with their fans.”

“We also realized that many Filipinos in North America miss the experience of watching Filipino films on the big screen with their loved ones,” Vergel de Dios added. “That’s why we are having a 12-city run for this movie from August 4 to 24 to allow them to relive that experience and also to showcase the best of modern Philippine cinema to non-Filipinos.”

Aquino and Barretto are expected to be accompanied by husbands James Yap and Raymart Santiago, respectively. But only the lead stars will take part in the Meet and Greet activities which The Filipino Channel (TFC) Kapamilya Circle members attending the premieres can get the chance to attend.

CASTING COUP

Sukob reunites Aquino with award-winning director-scriptwriter Chito Roño. The pair worked on the thriller, Feng Shui, which grossed over P180 million in the Philippines and became the highest grossing Filipino film in 2004. The film also brings together two of the most popular and most controversial actresses in Philippine Cinema. Aquino and Barretto, who make the lists of the most beautiful and richest celebrities in the Philippines, are also known for being headstrong and outspoken.

Joining them in the cast are Wendell Ramos, Bernard Palanca, Maja Salvador, Boots Anson-Roa, Ronaldo Valdez, Jhong Hilario and Racquel Villavicencio. The screenplay is written by Chris Martinez and director Roño.

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCES

The story opens with Sandy (Aquino) and Phil (Ramos), overseas workers in Dubai, preparing for their wedding. Sandy learns from her mother, Daisy (Anson-Roa) of the mysterious disappearance of her friend Helen (Barretto).In spite of the recent death of her father, Helen goes ahead with her plans to marry her fiancé. Misfortunes soon befall the hapless couple and Helen’s widowed mother. In what looks like an accident, all three disappear or die and their bodies are never recovered.

Sandy, meanwhile, proceeds with her own wedding. Her relatives begin disappearing one by one. Someone tells Sandy that she is cursed by “sukob,” a superstitious belief that misfortune befalls a person who gets married within a year of a family member’s death or marriage. Sandy is puzzled because she believes no one in her family has died or gotten married recently. In searching for the truth, Sandy unearths a dark family secret. Now Sandy has to find a way to end the curse before it decimates the people she holds dear.

For showtimes and movie information, including advance purchase of tickets, please visit www.sukobthemovie.com or call 1.800.227.9676. Card-bearing Kapamilya Circle Members get ticket discounts.