MANILA—There was an uncomfortable silence when a representative of the organizing committee for the 13th edition of Cine Europa relayed to the attendees at the press event held at Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City that it has been somewhat disappointing that cinemas have been saturated with Hollywood run-of-the-mill popcorn movies lately. Even though there was not a way to ascertain whether the silence meant agreement or disagreement with the statement, one thing is for sure: a non-Hollywood run-of-the-mill popcorn movie is always welcome in this side of Asia. Just ask the people behind Cine Europa.
The tradition of bringing outstanding European films with genres varying from drama, fiction, romance and action to the Philippines started in 1998 and now it is on its 13th year. For the past 12 years, Filipino film enthusiasts were exposed to powerful films from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Romania, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and United Kingdom and Switzerland, and now, lucky year 13 will bring films from Bulgaria, Greece and Slovakia as well for the first time.
"This year’s festival will reach out to an even larger Filipino audience, showcasing European cinema at its best, and illustrating the diversity and richness of Europe’s cultural heritage," says Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, head of the delegation of the European Commission (EC) to the Philippines. "The overwhelming support and enthusiastic response to Cine Europa have inspired all of us to step up our efforts in ensuring that this festival continues to be a distinctive gift to all Filipino film lovers."
As with past years, this year’s films were carefully selected to cater to the Filipino audiences and most will relish the chance to see films not normally shown in regular cinemas or even cable TV for that matter. An Education is the only one familiar to Filipinos as it was one of the ten films nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award last March.
Cine Europa 13 will also showcase Laughing Star, a documentary depicting Philippine history from the Spanish revolution to the Marcos regime, in a special screening to be held at Alliance Francaise in Makati City. The film is directed by Werner Schroeter, a multi-awarded German filmmaker, who sadly passed away last April. Schroeter developed the idea of doing a film about the country when he was invited to the Manila International Film Festival in 1983. After consulting with the UP Film Center and friends from the Philippine movie industry, Schroeter became inspired to do the film. Before his death, Schroeter expressed desire to return to the Philippines and the screening of Laughing Star would be a way to fulfill that wish.
And it looks like for many film afficionados, their wish to have a taste of Europe and its culture is just a cinema away.
( Published September 3, 2010 in Red Carpet Magazine p. 2 )
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