Villainesses unite in Netflix’s ‘Kontrabida Academy’

Metro Manila, Philippines - It was a night of pure wickedness and villain energy when Netflix gathered some of the iconic “kontrabida” (villainess) stars for the launch of “Kontrabida Academy.”

The film, top-billed by Eugene Domingo as Mauricia and Barbie Forteza as Gigi, premiered on the streaming platform alongside a red carpet event in Makati City on Thursday, Sept. 12, that brought together legendary on-screen antagonists.

Written and directed by Chris Martinez, the one-hour and 48-minute dark comedy is described by Netflix as “campy.” It follows Gigi (Forteza), a woman overlooked and underestimated, who enrolls in a school for TV villains and later fights back using the dirty tricks she learned from the masters.

The movie also features celebrated kontrabida icons Gladys Reyes, Jean Garcia, Dimples Romana, Mylene Dizon, Pinky Amador, Rex Cortez, and Michael de Mesa, with appearances by industry veterans Celia Rodriguez and Odette Khan.

“Kontrabida Academy” is streaming on Netflix.