Cinemanila returns to Taguig with Cannes, Berlin, Venice films
Eighty films in seven days. In its 13th year, the Cinemanila International Film Festival will be held at the Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, November 11 to 17.
To be showcased are movies earlier featured in the world’s top festivals—Cannes, Berlin, Venice and Busan.
“The opening film, Wim Wenders’ ‘Pina,’ was shown in Berlin,” said filmmaker Tikoy Aguiluz, Cinemanila founding director. “It’s a dance film in 3D, dedicated to dancer-choreographer Philippine ‘Pina’ Bausch.”
Debuting, also in 3D, is an excerpt of Italian horror master Dario Argento’s “Dracula.” Argento is one of two lifetime achievement honorees this year, along with Filipino actress Nora Aunor. (Classic Nora films, like Ishmael Bernal’s “Himala” and Mario O’Hara’s “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos,” will be shown.)
“Argento can’t come to Manila,” Aguiluz said, “but he’s sending a video message.”
Argento is also an honoree at this year’s Italian Film Festival, running at Greenbelt Makati in the same week as Cinemanila and Cinema One (at Shangri-La Plaza mall).
Aguiluz sees no problem in having three festivals running simultaneously in Manila. The more, the merrier, he noted, as these diverse festivals would ultimately benefit film enthusiasts and filmmakers.
“Cinemanila is working closely with the Italian and Cinema One fests,” Aguiluz saied. “A Cinema One film, Mes de Guzman’s ‘Sa Kanto ng Ulap at Lupa,’ is in Cinemanila’s Digital Lokal competition.”
For filmmakers
Also in the Digital Lokal section are Vincent Sandoval’s “Señorita” (which competed in Locarno and Vancouver), Regiben Romana’s “Sakay sa Hangin” and Christopher Gozum’s “Lawas Kan Pinabli (Forever Loved).”
A special Cinemanila section this year is “Focus on Korea.” Aguiluz said, “Boo Ji-Young and other Korean filmmakers will be here. Young will present his film with Yang Ik-Joon, ‘A Time to Love.’”
Against all odds, Aguiluz perseveres in mounting the country’s only international film festival. He envisions Cinemanila as a “festival for filmmakers.” Festivals, he said, can teach aspiring directors the importance of being a total filmmaker. “Filmmaking doesn’t end with the production process. During festivals, filmmakers can also learn marketing and distribution,” he pointed out.
A short film seminar is scheduled, to be facilitated by Herbert Schwarze, programmer of the Oberhausen short film fest.
Aguiluz said Cinemanila is continuing its Sine Barangay program, “to make films more accessible to the masses.”
Mayor Lani Cayetano realizes the value of holding a festival in a booming city like Taguig. “Hotels are being constructed left and right. But I aim for balanced development. A film festival will enrich the soul of our progressive city,” she said.
For details, visit cinemanila.org.ph.
E-mail [email protected].
