The 14th Cine Europa film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza will run from September 9-18, 2011. Watch for free: “INTACT” (Spain) directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo with special appearance by Hollywood actor Max Von Sydow. The film has won 2 Goya Awards: best Director and Best Actor-Leonardo Sbaraglia

Written and photographed

By Jude Bautista

No less than FDCP (Film Development Council of the Phil.) Chairman spoke at the press conference of the Cine Europa Film fest which will run from September 9-18 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza. In his speech Santos gave a valuable insight about film, “What lies at the heart of culture is understanding what makes us human, everything we have in common. And so it is with the medium of film. Just as movies provide a window to ourselves, it also provides a window looking out at other landscapes, other lives, other selves.”

FDCP Chairman Briccio Santos during the 14th Cine Europa film festival press con at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza. The fest will run from September 9-18, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Santos continued by explaining the significance of the fest, “The interesting and colorful subject matter offered in this year’s festival is culturally refreshing, surprising and uplifting. And by looking out of this window we look forward when others will look out of their windows into our culture. FDCP through FCEP (Film Cultural Exchange Program) is committed to bringing this relationship to a higher level of understanding.  So we can explore further areas of engagement involving film development. So it is with great joy and pride that we express our support for this year’s EU (European Union) festival, the diverse films it presents and the spirit of cultural understanding it tells us.”

EU Press Information head Lubomir Frebort during the 14th Cine Europa film festival press con at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza. The fest will run from September 9-18, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

The partnership between the EU and the FDCP has also allowed the films in Cine Europa to be exempt from having to be rated or screened by the Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). EU Head for Political and Press Information Lubomir Frebort said, “On the EU side we were very much pleased with the readiness and willingness from the FDCP to get in negotiation on the partnership agreement. I believe this is a very unique situation. I don’t think we have anything like it in any other country in this region.”

Seated from right: Bulgarian Consul Rene Ledesma, FDCP Chairman Briccio Santos, EU Press Information head Lubomir Frebort and Shang Rila Plaza Mktg. Div. Head Marline Dualan. Photo was taken during the 14th Cine Europa film festival press con at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza. The fest will run from September 9-18, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Now on it’s 14^th edition, Cine Europa will start it’s screenings at Shang Cineplex in Mandaluyong and will move on to Liceo de Cagayan De Oro University, Cagayan De Oro from September 23 to 25 and to Cebu’s Ayala Center Onstage from September 20 to October 2. Tickets to the screenings are free based on a first come first served basis. Audience members will also get a chance to win a ticket to Europe via KLM Royal Dutch Airlines through a raffle on the opening of the fest.

Organized by the European Union, there are a total of 19 films from the countries of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

From right: Goethe Institut Philipinen Director Richard Kuenzel welcomes Bulgarian Consul Rene Ledesma to the 14th Cine Europa film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza. The fest will run from September 9-18, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Frebort also explained the other benefits of the cooperation, “In 2005 we started the educational component by having lectures among students from various universities in Cebu city. And we really hope that with this new partnership we will be able to expand the educational side of our festival. And we will be able to bring in more film makers from different European countries to share their experience with their colleagues here in the Philippines.”

Among the current titles, “Goethe” English title (Young Goethe In Love) has both a literary and historical significance. This amusing and poignant portrait of the German poet centers on the youthful love affair that affected his life. It also shaped the writing of his masterpiece “The Sorrows of Young Werther.” The film is often compared to “Shakespeare In Love.”

The 14th Cine Europa film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza will run from September 9-18, 2011. Watch for free: “Young Goethe in Love” (Germany) From right: Alexander Fehling in title character and Miriam Stein

Seated from right: Bulgarian Consul Rene Ledesma, FDCP Chairman Briccio Santos, EU Press Information head Lubomir Frebort and Shang Rila Plaza Mktg. Div. Head Marline Dualan Standing from right: French Cultural Counsellor Christian Merer, PIA Cultural Officer Cristina Moricca, Goethe Institut Philipinen Director Richard Kuenzel, Asst to the Ambassador of Belgium Anne Bloemen, Monika Kozdova of the Czech Embassy, FDCP Exec Dir Miguel Dela Rosa, EU Public Affairs officer Thelma Gecolea, French Cultural attaché Astrid Renoux, French Audio Visual Attaché Martin Macalintal, Spanish Embassy Cultural Assistant Lilia Perez, Chargé D’Affaires Doris Serban and Anna Czarina Peleo of the Romanian Embassy. Photo was taken during the 14th Cine Europa film festival press con at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza. The fest will run from September 9-18, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Written and photographed

By Jude Bautista

“This year for the first time our movies do not have to go through screening and review since the MTRCB (Movie television Review and Classification Board) adopted classification of the EU (European Union) member states where the film originated,” said European Union Head for Political and Press Information Lubomir Frebort. He spoke at the press conference of the Cine Europa Film fest which will run from September 9-18 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza.

From right: EU Head of Political and Press Information Lubomir Frebort, FDCP Chairman Briccio Santos and Cinemalaya Spl. Jury awardee (Niño) Loy Arceñas during the 14th Cine Europa film festival press con at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza. The fest will run from September 9-18, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Frebort credited the FDCP (Film Development Council of the Phil.) for the new exemption, “This year is special for us because we just forged a partnership with the FDCP I’d like to give special thanks to them for this commitment with more access to the films of the European countries.” He explained that the new ruling was through the “assistance, cooperation and linkage between the council and the MTRCB.”

According to him the cooperation will benefit the Phil, “By doing so we are looking forward to bringing high quality films from Europe but at the same time we also hope that this new partnership will also allow us to bring more Filipino films to our partners and viewers in the European countries.”

Bulgarian Consul Rene Ledesma during the 14th Cine Europa film festival press con at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza. The fest will run from September 9-18, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Now on it’s 14^th edition, Cine Europa will start it’s screenings at Shang Cineplex in Mandaluyong and will move on to Liceo de Cagayan De Oro University, Cagayan De Oro from September 23 to 25 and to Cebu’s Ayala Center Onstage from September 20 to October 2. Tickets to the screenings are free based on a first come first served basis. Audience members will also get a chance to win a ticket to Europe via KLM Royal Dutch Airlines through a raffle on the opening of the fest.

Organized by the European Union, there are a total of 19 films from the countries of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Shang Rila Plaza Mktg. Div. Head Marline Dualan during the 14th Cine Europa film festival press con at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza. The fest will run from September 9-18, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

FDCP Chairman Briccio Santos elaborated on the legality of the exemption, “In the law the mandate of FDCP is RA 1967. It says if films are shown under FDCP they don’t have to go through MTRCB. An example is the ‘Sineng Pambansa’ where we have 9 festivals a year all over the country. In this case we simply expanded and invoked that same mandate with an agreement with the MTRCB regarding passing that responsibility to FDCP. So we are still operating within the law. It’s just that sometimes because of the years that we have not exercised that mandate, na kagawian it became a habit.”

Santos was also able to clarify why Cine Europa qualifies for it, “We think that we need to treat the diplomatic fests in a very separate light. In the first place they have chosen these films, culturally sensitive films. This has already gone through the cultural arm of the embassies.  And therefore we assume that these films have already been selected in that light. And we will just adopt as harmonious as possible as graciously as they have brought these films to our country. We should really be grateful for what they have done in the past decade.”

Santos cites the MTRCB, “I think Chairman Llamanzares is doing a fine job. We commend her for understanding our cultural vision. She will always become a partner. There’s always an agreement and cooperation between our agencies. So long as we keep that, I think it will hold beyond our time and become an institution on its own because we can always invoke the mandate of the FDCP.”