8 PH films in European fests

“The Crescent Rising”

Eight Filipino films will be screened in different European festivals in the next two months, according to programmer Axel Estein of Germany.

Estein told the Inquirer that foreign festival organizers had expressed “specific interest” in Filipino movies, primarily because of “the worsening human rights situation in the Philippines.”

First stop for Filipino filmmakers was the 15th International Festival Signs of the Night (Signes de Nuit) in Paris, France, until Oct. 15.

Five Filipino films—two full-length features and three shorts were included in the Signes de Nuit program.

Carlo Francisco Manatad’s “Fatima Marie Torres and the Invasion of Space Shuttle Pinas 25” was part of the international short film competition.

Meanwhile, Sheron Dayoc’s acclaimed “The Crescent Rising” vied for the top prize in the documentary section.

Part of Signes de Nuit’s Focus Philippines section were the shorts, Jonathan Jose Z. Olarte’s “Ang Mga Kriminal” and Manatad’s “Sandra,” and the feature film, Gutierrez Mangansakan II’s “Daughters of the Three Tailed Banner.”

“Orphan”

Estein likewise programmed three Filipino films at the 30th Exground Festival, in Wiesbaden, Germany, from Nov. 17 to 26.

Competing in Exground’s international short films section are Anna Isabelle Matutina’s “Orphan” and Manatad’s “Fatima Marie Torres and the Invasion of Space Shuttle Pinas 25.”

Part of Exground’s international showcase is Jun Robles Lana’s award-winning full-length feature film, “Die Beautiful.”

At press time, Matutina has already confirmed her participation in the Exground event.

Filipino works will also be showcased at the 33rd International Short Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, scheduled from Nov. 20 to 26.

“Daughters of the Three Tailed Banner”

Also known as Interfilm, the annual Berlin event is “one of the longest running and most important short film festivals in Europe,” Estein related.

Estein shared with the Inquirer that two Filipino short films will be shown at the Interfilm this year: Olarte’s “Ang Mga Kriminal” and Arvin Belarmino’s and Noel Escondo’s “Nakaw.”