Chabacano shorts in Spanish fest

SUE PRADO in Sheron Dayoc’s “Mientras su Durmida”

When organizers included Chabacano short films in the lineup of this year’s Película-Pelikula, also known as the Spanish Film Festival, the Zamboanga crisis had yet to hit the headlines.

“We feel for Zamboanga,” related Jose Maria Fons Guardiola, deputy for cultural affairs of the Instituto Cervantes. “Whenever we visit Zamboanga, we feel at home.”

That’s because the people of Zamboanga speak Chabacano, a derivative of the Spanish language.

Jorge Domecq, Spanish ambassador to the Philippines, pointed out that filmmakers from Zamboanga have shown a lot of potential in recent years. “I hope the situation will not harm the heritage of the city and the work of filmmakers there.”

JOSEPH Vincent Suarez’s “El Sentimiento del Maga Quieto”

The 12th Spanish fest will be held at Greenbelt 3’s Cinema 1 from October 3 to 13. The Cortos Chabacanos section will be shown on October 9 (7 p.m.) and October 10 (4:30 p.m.).

The inclusion of Chabacano films is consistent with the festival’s goal to promote Spanish culture and language, said Domecq. “Chabacano has been in existence for the past 400 years, making it one of the oldest Creole languages in the world.”

According to the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the Chabacano short films included in the fest are Aedrian Araojo’s “El Rezo di Maria Ressa,” Joseph Vincent Suarez’s “El Sentimento del Maga Quieto” and “Marital Status,” Mark Lee’s “Retrato” and Sheron Dayoc’s “Mientras su Durmida.”

The curator of the Chabacano section  is filmmaker Dexter de la Peña.

Collaboration

Also featured in the fest is Filipino filmmaker Raya Martin’s collaboration with Canadian director Mark Peranson, “La Última Película,” on October 8 (7 p.m.).

MACARENA Garcia in “Blancanieves”

Set in the Yucatan peninsula on the eve of the Mayan apocalypse, “La Última Película” is co-produced by Canana Films, owned by Mexican actors Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna.

At least 16 full-length feature narrative, documentary and animated films and 9 shorts are showcased in this year’s fest, said Guardiola.

Centerpiece of the fest is Pablo Verges’ “Blancanieves,” a silent film based on the “Show White” fairy tale set in 1920s Seville.

“Blancanieves” swept the 2012 Goya awards, winning 10 trophies, including best film and best actress (for Maribel Verdu).

“It is interesting to note that three silent films were made in 2011 and 2012: ‘Blancanieves’ from Spain, Michel Hazanivicius’ ‘The Artist’ from France and Raymond Red’s ‘Kamera Obskura’ from the Philippines,” said Guardiola.

A wide array of genres is represented in this year’s fest: Drama (“El Artista y la Modelo”), romantic comedy (“Promoción Fantasma”), animation (“Copito de Nieve” and “O Apostolo”), musical (“Dias de Vinilo”), action (“Samurai”), science fiction (“Extraterrestre”) and documentary (“Colgados de un Sueño”).

Abstract painters

ALEJANDRA Lorente will grace the fest.

“The embassy suggested the docu ‘Colgados’ which focuses on artist Fernando Zobel’s stay in Cuenca, Spain, and his work with a museum and abstract painters,” said Guardiola.

Esteban Crespo’s “Aquel no Era yo” won best short in the Goya awards. It recounts the harrowing encounter of European doctors with child warriors in Africa. Lead actress Alejandra Lorente,  will attend the 7 p.m. screening on October 3.

Argentine filmmaker Gabriel Nesci, who directed “Dias de Vinilo,” will be in Manila to present his film on October 7 (7 p.m.). He will give a workshop at the De La Salle University–College of St. Benilde.

Película-Pelikula, the Spanish Film Festival, is presented by the Embassy of Spain-AECID, Instituto Cervantes, Ayala Cinemas, the FDCP and Manila Contemporary.

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