The Artist’s Oscar best Actor Jean Dujardin and César Best Actress Berenice Bejo. The Artist is the opening and closing film of the Citi Rustans French Film Fest at the Shang Cineplex Shang Rila Plaza Mall from June 8-17, 2012.

Written by

Jude Thaddeus Bautista

The Citi-Rustans French Film Festival will open with the award winning film “The Artist”, from June 8-17 at the Shang Rila Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza mall.  The Artist by director Michel Hazanavicius has won a staggering 5 Oscars (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Original Score, Best Costume), 3 Golden Globes and 6 César awards. Starring Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo. It is about a silent film star whose fortunes change with the advent of sound. American actors John Goodman, Penelope Miller round out the cast set in the roaring age of the 1920’s in Hollywood.

Opening the French Film fest 3rd from left: H.E. Amb of France Gilles Garachon, from left Adolf Alix, Shang Plaza GM Lala Fojas, Olivier Assayas, Stephan Rybojad and French Audio Visual Attaché Martin Macalintal. The Citi-Rustans French Film Fest at the Shang Cineplex Shang Rila Plaza Mall will run from June 8-17, 2012. Photo by Jude Bautista

This year is the 17^th edition of the prestigious French Film fest, Martin Macalintal French Audio Visual Attaché explained why they adopted a new name for this year’s fest, “Thanks to Shang Rila of course, thanks to Citibank and Rustans who are giving us generous support to make it happen. With the Oscars the screening rights to ‘The Artist’ have become very expensive. We’re only getting 3 screenings, 2 in Manila the second one for the public and the third in Cebu.”

Dante Mendoza welcomes Olivier Assayas. The Citi-Rustans French Film Fest at the Shang Cineplex Shang Rila Plaza Mall will run from June 8-17, 2012. Mendoza’s “Captive” (starring Isabel Huppert and Angel Aquino) premiered June 9 as part of the fest. He has recently wrapped up “Thy Womb” with Nora Aunor. Photo by Jude Bautista

There will be a total of 17 French films that will be screened. Esteemed director Olivier Assayas will be part of the fest and will feature a retrospective of his work. He will also be meeting with Filipino directors and interacting with students at the Cultural Center of the Phil and the U.P. Film Institute.

Center H.E. French Amb Gilles Garachon w him from left Shang Plaza EVP & GM Lala Fojas and Shang Rila Plaza Mktg. Div. Head Marline Dualan. The Citi-Rustans French Film Fest at the Shang Cineplex Shang Rila Plaza Mall will run from June 8-17, 2012. Photo by Jude Bautista

The Citi-Rustans French Film fest has always been an exchange of films between countries. As June 12 Phil. Independence Day falls on the duration of the fest, selected Filipino films that have been exhibited in fests in France will be screened.

(2nd from right) H.E. French Amb Gilles Garachon w him are directors (from right) Adolf Alix, Raya Martin, French Audio Visual Attaché Martin Macalintal and FDCP Archivist Marty Magsanoc. Alix’s and Raya Martin’s “Manila” starring Piolo Pascual will be screened on June 12 as part of the Citi-Rustans French Film Fest at the Shang Cineplex Shang Rila Plaza Mall which runs from June 8-17, 2012.

“Busong” by Aureus Solito was in (Director’s Fortnight, Cannes 2011), “Manila” by Raya Martin and Adolf Alix Jr. (Official Selection, Cannes 2009), “Bakal Boys” by Ralston Jover (Participant Cinéfondation Atelier 2012).

Brillante Mendoza the first Filipino to win the Best Director award at Cannes for “Kinatay” in 2009 will have the Phil. premiere of his latest film “Captive” on June 9. The screening however, is by invitation only. “Captive” will be released in local theaters by September.

Macalintal adds, “France is very supportive of the priority program of the FDCP (Film Development Council of the Phil) in supporting Phil. cinema. Particularly in saving whatever there is of our film heritage. You may be aware of the A.O. signed by Pres. Aquino obliging all entities govt. agencies, producers to submit their audio visual materials be it on film or digital to the National Film Archives of the FDCP.

(from left): CCP Pres. Raul Sunico, Director Dante Mendoza, Cinemalaya Festival Director Chris Millado. The Citi-Rustans French Film Fest at the Shang Cineplex Shang Rila Plaza Mall will run from June 8-17, 2012. Mendoza’s “Captive” (starring Isabel Huppert and Angel Aquino) premiered June 9 as part of the fest. He has recently wrapped up “Thy Womb” with Nora Aunor. Photo by Jude Bautista

President Aquino has signed Administrative Order (AO) No. 26 last April with the aim of protecting and preserving films and audio-visuals in the possession of various government agencies.

All government agencies are directed to turn over their existing films (in 35mm, 16mm, or Super8) and other audiovisual materials (U-Matic, Betacam, Betamax, VHS etc.) both originals and copies, to the National Film Archive of the Philippines (NFAP) as part of the government’s efforts to preserve the country’s artistic, cultural and historical wealth.

Christian Merer French Embassy’s Counselor for Cooperation and Cultural affairs said, “In France we have the Ministry of Culture. Here in the Phil the problem it’s difficult for us to work with so many separate agencies. You don’t have a ministry of culture or something like it. We don’t need to separate so much. Here you have for cinema you have NCCA, you have FDCP, you have Cinemalaya, Cinemanila and Sineng Pambansa. How to manage this even for young film makers?” According to Merer the NFAP program of collating video and film will help governments or film festivals etc. go to one agency to look for and coordinate in finding Filipino films they need.