FREE MOVIES: Cine Europa Film Festival at Shangrila Plaza

The 15th edition of the Cine Europa Film Festival will open today, September 5, 2012 at Shangri-La Plaza. It will include a performance by the Manila String Quartet, a painting exhibition by local artists and the screening of the movie "Upperdog" to mark the inclusion for the first time of a movie from Norway.
                                  
To mark its fifteenth year (15th) Cine Europa will draw on its collaboration with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to double the number of Film Festival locations from three to six. Yes, folks, screenings will now be at: 

• Shangri-La Plaza (September 6 to 16)
• Ayala Center in Cebu (September 21 to 24)
• Liceo de Cagayan in Cagayan de Oro (September 27 to 30)
• Davao (October 4 to 7)
• Baguio (October 11 to 14)
• Iloilo (October 18 to 21). 

Cine Europa 15 is first and foremost an opportunity for Filipinos to enjoy the taste of Europe's particular cinematic traditions. It is also an opportunity for us Europeans to wear our heart on our sleeve and share our hopes, fears and dreams with our Filipino friends according to Julian Vassallo  of the The European Union Delegation to the Philippines.

This year's educational component and the screening of select Filipino movies will also explore the links between the European and Filipino cinema which are deeper than many people may think. Educational round tables will tackle different aspects of cinematic art while information will be made available on Filipino filmmakers may be able to access European funds.

                        

For the first time, organisers of Cine Europa are tapping the resources of the Independent Film Cooperative (IFC) to enhance further the educational component of the festival with round table discussions with prominent film personalities and experts exploring the links between European and Filipino films while also offering screenings of selected Filipino movies with European connections.

Four Filipino films will be featured in the festival:

•  September 8, 2012 at 1 pm at the Shang’s Premiere Theatre- "Paglipad ng Anghel" by Clodualdo del Mundo Jr.
•  September 15, 2012 - Documentary film "Kano". "Bakal Boys", considered as the most awarded Filipino film in 2009.
•  "MNL 143" that premiered in the Edinburgh film festival last July 2012 will also be featured.

From its humble beginning of just only 11 films in 1998, Cine Europa will now present 21 films from:

•  Austria
•  Belgium
•  Bulgaria
•  Czech Republic
•  Denmark
•  Finland
•  France
•  Germany
•  Italy
•  The Netherlands
•  Norway
•  Romania
•  Slovakia
•  Spain
•  Sweden
•  Switzerland
•  United Kingdom.

The Manila leg of Cine Europa will open with the movie "Upperdog" which tackles multiculturalism from the experiences of two young Koreans adopted by two different families from Oslo. Directed by Sarah Johnsen, "Upperdog" received various "Amanda" awards - the equivalent of Oscars in Norway. In Cebu, the festival will open with the Italian movie by Bernardo Bertolucci, "L'Ultimo Imperatore" (The Last Emperor).

The Manila edition of Cine Europa will be inaugurated by the Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the Delegation of the European Union, Lubomir Frebort in the presence of European Ambassadors and Consuls as well as Ms. Lala Fojas, Executive Vice-President and General Manager of Shangri-La Plaza Corporation.

Cine Europa 15 is organised by the European Union Cultural Group in Manila which gathers together the Embassies and Cultural Institutes of the European Union. 

The Embassies of Norway and Switzerland, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Independent Film Cooperative, the Shangri-La Plaza Mall (Manila), Arts Council of Cebu and Liceo de Cagayan de Oro (Mindanao) are Partners of Cine Europa 15.