Now on its 16th edition, the annual Cine Europa Film Festival, once again, opens its doors to free public screenings of compelling European film titles for Filipinos.
This year, the festival partners with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the Independent Filmmakers’ Cooperative (IFC) to create a more expansive cinema program for its ever-increasing audience.
This two-month celebration of film and culture happens from September to October 2013 across the Philippines. It features 21 European films from 18 countries, as well as two Filipino classics from master filmmakers, a Filipino documentary, and a series of lectures and networking events.
Cine Europa 16 ceremonially opened on Sept. 4 with the invitational screening of the highly acclaimed Danish film “A Royal Affair” at the Shang Cineplex.
A Diverse Line-up of European Films
This year’s main line-up promises a diverse European Union Ambassador Guy Ledoux, these films promotes a pathway to rediscovering Europe, as well as the human drama, the struggles, the triumph, the humor, the hope, and the love that can unfold in movies.
Featured Films for this Year’s Cine Europa
Austria – “Das Pferd auf dem Balkon (The Horse on the Balcony)
Belgium – “A Pas de Loup” (With a Wolf’s Gait)
Bulgaria – “Footsteps in the Sand”
Czech Republic – “Musíme si Pomáhat” (Divided We Fall)
Denmark – “A Royal Affair”
France – “Les Bien Aimes”
Germany – “Barbara” and “Wilkommen in Deutschland”
Greece – “O Xenagos” (The Guide)
Hungary – “Made in Hungaria”
Italy – “Pranzo di Ferragosto” (Mid-August Lunch) and “La Stanza del Figlio” (The Son’s Room)
The Netherlands – “Achtste Groepers Huilen Niet” (Cool Kids Don’t Cry)
Norway – “Kautokeino-opprøret” (The Kautokeino Rebellion)
Romania – “Tatal Fantoma” (Phantom Father)
Slovakia – “Nedodrzaný Sl’ub” (Broken Promise)
Spain – “Silencio en la Nieve” (Frozen Silence)
Sweden – “Svinalängorna” (Beyond)
Switzerland – “Operation Libertad”
United Kingdom – “Project NIM” and “Dreams of a Life”
Screenings in Six Cities Across the Philippines
This year, Cine Europa’s “Sweet 16” celebration is scheduled in six key cities across the country. For the Luzon leg, there’s the Metro Manila program that runs from Sept. 5 to 15 at the Shang Cineplex and the Baguio program that runs from Sept. 17 to 22 at the Cinematheque Baguio City.
The film screenings and events also find their way to the Visayas through the Iloilo program running from Sept. 24 to 29 at the Cinematheque Iloilo City and the Cebu program running from Oct. 4 to 6 at the Ayala Center Cebu.
The fest wraps up in Mindanao with the Cagayan de Oro City run from Oct. 10 to 13 at Liceo de Cagayan University and the Davao City run from Oct. 15 to 20 at the Cinematheque Davao City.
Stronger European-Filipino Ties Through Cinema
In line with its continuing success as one of the most anticipated international film festivals in the country, this year’s extensive program offers a greater involvement of Filipino works. In so doing, the festival also provides the Filipino audience with a taste of its own cultural heritage. Moreover, it further builds on the increasingly important educational component of the festival through a number of events that explore the links between European and Filipino films.
The Manila leg is set to a hold lecture entitled “Archiving Filipino Film Heritage” on Sept. 8, 10:00 a.m., courtesy of the FDCP, Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA) Film Archives, and ABS-CBN Restoration Group. The screenings of the restored copies of “Genghis Khan” by Manuel Conde and “Oro Plata Mata” by Peque Gallaga follow at 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively.
A lecture called “New Pinoy Documentaries” is slated on Sept. 14 at 10:00 a.m., which features speakers from the IFC. Screenings of the documentary “Jazz in Love” by Baby Ruth Villarama follows at 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
For more details, check out http://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/philippines.
