Filipinos’ Deep Cinematic Ties with Spain

2nd from right: Amb. Jorge Domecq from left: Instituto Cervantes Gen. Coordinator Carlos Palomo, Phil. Film Export Service Office Exec Dir. Jose Miguel Dela Rosa and Instituto Cervantes Deputy for Cultural Affairs Jose Fons. PELÍCULA-PELIKULA, the Spanish Film Festival, will run October 3 to 13, 2013 at Greenbelt 3. Photo by Jude Bautista

Written by

Jude Bautista

“On the 1^st of January 1897, at the house of Señor Francisco Pertierra at No.12 Escolta, located in the walled city of Intramuros Manila, the first moving images were projected in the Philippines. A man with a hat, a boxing match, a Japanese dance and a plaza outside the Parisian opera house-these were the early film clips brought and shared by the Spanish people to the Filipinos. Thus began the more than century old love affair of the Philippines with Cinema.” Phil. Film Export Service Office Exec Dir. Jose Miguel Dela Rosa described the first cinematic experience in our country.

Macarena Garcia plays Carmen in BLANCA NIEVES (SNOW WHITE). PELÍCULA-PELIKULA, the Spanish Film Festival, will run October 3 to 13, 2013 at Greenbelt 3. Photo by Jude Bautista

Dela Rosa delivered the message during the press conference for PELICULA-PELIKULA, which will run from October 3-13, 2013 at the Greenbelt 3 Cinema. Organized by the Spain-AECID, Instituto Cervantes, Ayala Cinemas, the Film Development Council of the Phil (FDCP) and Manila Contemporary, the fest is now on its 12^th edition.

Instituto Cervantes Gen. Coordinator Carlos Palomo talks about PELÍCULA-PELIKULA, the Spanish Film Festival, which will run October 3 to 13, 2013 at Greenbelt 3. Photo by Jude Bautista

According to Instituto Cervantes Gen. Coordinator Carlos Palomo, “This year the festival will be graced by the presence of Spanish actress Alejandra Lorente and the Argentenian director Gabriel Nesci. And this year for the first time the fest includes Chabacano films. As you know the Chabacano language is the only Spanish based creole in Asia. It has survived for more than 400 years making it one of the oldest creole languages in the world. Thus becoming the best witness of the common past between Philippines and Spain.”

Spanish Amb. Jorge Domecq talks about PELÍCULA-PELIKULA, the Spanish Film Festival, which will run October 3 to 13, 2013 at Greenbelt 3. Photo by Jude Bautista

The film fest that has brought not only the best films from Spain and Latin America but also internationally renowned film makers and talents to share and talk about their work, None of this would be possible without the support from sponsors. During his speech Spanish Ambassador Domecq personally thanked all the supporters of the fest that allowed it to be possible, “Allow me to underline that this edition of PELIKULA is presented by the embassy of Spain-AECID, Instituto Cervantes, Ayala Cinemas, the Film Development Council of the Phil (FDCP) and Manila Contemporary. I wish to highlight that PELIKULA is also made possible thanks to the sponsorship and cooperation of Greenbelt, San Miguel Corporation, Qatar Airways, the Embassy of Argentina in cooperation with Maersk Global Service Centers, Cemex, Emperador Distiller, the City Government of Zamboanga, Ayala Museum and the Spanish Program for Cultural Cooperation. (SPCC). And with special thanks to Centunion Philippines, Ayala Land Premier, Tyler, Alba’s Restaurante Español and the Intercontinental Hotel Manila.”

ALEJANDRA LORENTE is Paula in AQUEL NO ERA YO (THAT WASN’T ME). Alejandra Lorente will have a special appearance in PELÍCULA-PELIKULA, the Spanish Film Festival. It will run October 3 to 13, 2013 at Greenbelt 3.

The Festival will be graced by the presence of foreign filmmakers. On October 3, 7pm, Spanish actress Alejandra Lorente will present her touching short film “Aquel no era yo” (2012) and have an open forum after the screening. On October 7, 7pm, Argentinean director Gabriel Nesci will introduce his feature “Días de vinilo”. This will happen at the Noche del cine argentino, organised in collaboration with the Embassy of Argentina. Director Gabriel Nesci will have a cinema workshop at the School of Arts of St. Benilde-DLSU.

AQUEL NO ERA YO (THAT WASN’T ME) deals with child soldiers in Africa. PELÍCULA-PELIKULA, the Spanish Film Festival, will run October 3 to 13, 2013 at Greenbelt 3. Photo by Jude Bautista

This year’s selection includes Blancanieves, the main winner at the latest Goya Awards. The rest of the line-up shows a list of genres ranging from romance, comedies (Promoción fantasma) to suspense or drama (El artista y la modelo). Among the documentaries, Colgados de un sueño, a film on the time painter Fernando Zobel spent in Spain, is of special interest for the Filipino moviegoer.

The Filipino cinema is also present in this edition. On October 8, at 7pm, director Raya Martin will present his film La última película. This year’s PELÍCULA will also include, for the very first time, Chabacano films alongside Spanish and Latin American titles. “Noche chabacana” is slated for the 9^th of October and will feature the best of Chabacano films released within the recent years, to be presented by their directors. This new addition is a project made possible by the collaboration of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the city government of Zamboanga and the Spanish Program for Cultural Cooperation (SPCC).

Apart from the screenings, talks and forums are also lined up for this occasion. Other special nighttime events are also lined up for PELÍCULA with the participation of “Sacude”, a Spanish company of vertical dance at the Fashion Walk of Greenbelt 5. This is scheduled for October 11, 8pm.

Audience Choice Award

Also not to be missed in every edition of PELÍCULA is the selection of the “Audience Choice” Award. During the 11-day festival, the audience will be given stubs in which they can rate the movies they have seen. For every five movies, members of the audience qualify to join the raffle in which they get a chance to win a round-trip ticket to Spain and other exciting prizes.