Third World Premieres fest set in Manila

“RINGGO: The Dog-Shooter” director Rahyan Carlos, “Edsa” line producer Luz de Leon, and “Curiosity, Adventure and Love” director Sunshine Lichauco-de Leon Photos by Richard Reyes

The coming third World Premieres Film Festival (WPFF), to be held in Manila from June 29 to July 10, will introduce many firsts, according to Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chair Briccio Santos.

China will be participating for the first time by sending a total of eight films, Santos said.

In the Main Competition, China will field Xiang Dou Qiang’s “Young Love Lost.”

Another Chinese feature, Yao Huang’s “Pleasure Love,” will be seen in the Intercontinental section. Its six other films will be featured in a section called “Spotlight: China.”

“The Russians will also be joining us to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Russian relations [with] Asean member countries,” the FDCP chief said.

“We’ve practically covered most of the continents, except Africa.”

The FDCP is the organizer of the indie fete.

“KU’TE” director Ronaldo Bertubin

Santos is also the chair of Film Asean, which promotes the region as a prime film production location, and makes possible coproductions with Asean and international film agencies.

Vietnam is the country of honor this year, the FDCP chief announced. “In a way, we reciprocated because the Philippines was the country of honor in Vietnam two years ago.”

Last Wednesday, the FDCP launched the festival with the theme, “Enjoy the Scene.” The WPFF will showcase over 60 films.

Aside from China’s entry in the Main Competition, this section will also feature: Gutierrez Mangansakan III’s “Daughters of the Three Tailed Banner”  (Philippines); Camille Fontaine’s “By Accident” (France); Chema de la Peña’s “Love Above All Things” (Spain); Tunku Mona Riza’s “Redha” (Malaysia); and Dinh Tuan Vu’s “Yen’s Life” (Vietnam).

“We’re also happy that the entries in the Filipino New Cinema section showed qualitative difference,” said Santos.

The section features Sunshine Lichauco-de Leon and Suzanne Richardonne’s “Curiosity, Adventure and Love,”   Alvin Yapan’s “Edsa,” Mel Chionglo’s “Iadya Mo Kami,”  Ronaldo Bertubin’s “Ku’te,”  Raynier Brizuela’s “Memory Channel” and Rahyan Carlos’ “Ringgo: the Dog-shooter.”

ACTOR Sandino Martin

The following are part of the Asean Skies section: Louie Ignacio’s “Laut,” Patrick Daly and Joel Fendelman’s “Remittance” and Tom and Sam McKeith’s “Beast” (Philippines); Anysay Keola’s “Above It All”  (Laos); Adilla Dimitri’s “I Am Hope” (Indonesia); Matthew Robinson’s “Price of Love” (Cambodia); Azhar Kinoi Lubis’ “Surat Cinta Untuk Kartini” (Indonesia); and Eric Khoo, Jack Neo, Royston Tan, K. Rajogopal, Tan Pin Pin, Kelvin Tong and Boo Junfeng’s “7 Letters” (Singapore).

Featured in the Intercontinental section are: Carlos Caridad Montero’s “3 Bellezas” (Venezuela); Maurizio Baldini’s “Dalisay” (Italy); Arturo Prins’ “Damn New York” (Spain);  Krisztina Goda’s “Home Guards” (Hungary); Ibolya Fekete’s “Mom and Other Loonies in the Family” (Hungary); Darrell Roodt’s “Mossie”  (South Africa); Valery Rosier’s “Parasol” (Belgium); Eugenio Canevari’s “Paula” (Argentina);  Yao Huang’s “Pleasure Love” (China); Alex Infascelli’s “Sis for Stanley” (Italy); and Fabrice Camoin’s “The Storm Inside”  (France).

Santos also said that for the first time the activities of both the WPFF and FDCP would be concentrated in one area—the 2,000-square meter Cinematheque Center on 855 TM Kalaw Ave. in Ermita, Manila. “We now have everything in this facility, the Asean film library, the (101-seat) cinematheque, the archive and documentations,” he said.

The films featured in the fest will not only be seen in selected SM Cinemas, but also in theaters at Greenbelt, Makati; Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong; and Uptown Place, Taguig.

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