The 20th French Film Festival In Manila This June 5-9, 2015 At Greenbelt Cinema, Makati

Showing: 19th French Film Festival in Manila June 10-15, 2014

The 19th French Film Festival is just around the corner! Once again, the Embassy of France to the Philippines and  the Alliance Française de Manille will bring another batch of the best French Films in this generation at the Greenbelt 3 cinemas, Makati from June 10 - 15, 2014.

Aside from  the French films,  the festival will pay tribute to Filipino filmmaking on Independence Day on June 12 by screening three masterpieces that were screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival : Lino Brocka’s digitally-restored “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag,” Erik Matti’s “OTJ,” and Lav Diaz’ “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan.”

Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. You may also check the Embassy of France in Manila official Facebook Fan Page here. I suggest you come at least an hour before the schedule or book through seats.com because the line is very, very long. We have a lot of French film fans here in Manila!

12th Spanish Film Festival 2013 in Manila Schedule

The Spanish Film Festival 2013 or simply called Pelicula is just around the corner! The best of the current Spanish cinema will be shown from Oct 3 - 13, 2013 at Greenbelt 3, Cinema 1. This is brought to you by Instituto Cervantes Manila, the leading Spanish language center in the Philippines directly affiliated with the Embassy of the Spain. Unlike major film festivals in Manila which is free entrance, the Spanish Film Festival is not but the fee is at least 50% off If I am not mistaken. But anyway this is I guarantee, the movies cost so much more than what you paid for because these are award - winning and handpicked among the best.

FREE Korean Film Festival 2013 Schedule of Movies

Film fest enthusiasts and Korean die - hard fans! Here's your chance to watch six popular Korean films for FREE to be held from September 18 to October 10 in Manila, Iloilo, Cebu and Davao. The films  are Green Days (소중한 날의 꿈), Masquerade (광해, 왕이 된 남자), Sunny (써니), A Werewolf Boy (늑대소년), Deranged (연가시), and Dancing Queen (댄싱퀸).

For more information, please contact the Korean Cultural Center at 555-1711 or email events@koreanculture.ph.

These are the synopsis of the movies according to Phil - Korean Culture website:

The animated film Green Days (소중한 날의 꿈), voiced by actors PARK Shin-hye, SONG Chang-eui and OH Yeon-soo, is a coming-of-age story of Yi-Rang, a track runner, Soo-Min, a pretty transfer student from Seoul and Chul-soo, as they work towards their dreams.

FREE Entrance to CZECH CINEMA UNDER THE STARS

Top  Czech films will  be shown al fresco at the Rizal Park Open-Air auditorium this month November 5, 6, 12, 13, Saturdays and Sundays starting at 7pm.  It will showcase a popular children's animation, a family comedy, a retro-musical, a historical drama-romance, and an Oscar winner.

List of Schedule

For more information you may check The Embassy of the Czech Republic site here

Free Entrance to Italian Film Festival at Greenbelt 3

Presenting Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now at Greenbelt 3 from November 9-13, 2011. Moviemov is a travelling festival supported by the General Direction for Cinema of the Italian Ministry of Heritage and Culture. Its opening  will be on November 9, 2011 at Greenbelt 5, Fashion Walk. Italian actors, directors and producers such as Dario Argento, Asia Argento, Lina Sastri, Ennio Fantastichini, Gianni Paolucci, Daniele Cipri, Alice Rohrwacher, Camilla Nesbitt, Claudio Cupellini, Carlo Macchitella, Franco Piersanti, and Luciano Sovena will join  together with representatives of Asiatic Film Mediale, headed by Senator Goffredo Bettini, Italo Spinelli and a few local actors.

8:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Opening Gala

HABEMUS PAPAM

BY Nanni Moretti (Italy 2011 - 104’) CAST Michel Piccoli, Jerzy Stuhr, Renato Scarpa

8:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Tribute to Billante Mendoza

SERBIS

BY Brillante Mendoza (Philippines 2008 - 90’) CAST Gina Pareño, Jacklyn Jose, Julio Diaz

10:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 4

Tribute to Dario Argento

DRACULA 3D

BY Dario Argento (Italy 2012 - 20’) CAST Asia Argento, Rutger Hauer and Thomas Kretschmann

5:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Italian Showcase

MINE VAGANTI | LOOSE CANNONS

BY Ferzan Ozpetek (Italy 2010 - 110’) CAST Riccardo Scamarcio, Nicole Grimaudo, Alessandro Preziosi

5:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Italian Showcase

HABEMUS PAPAM

BY Nanni Moretti (Italy 2011 - 104’) CAST Michel Piccoli, Jerzy Stuhr, Renato Scarpa

9:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Italian Showcase

PASSIONE | PASSION

BY John Torturro (Italy 2010 - 88’) CAST John Turturro, Max Casella, Lina Sastri

9:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Tribute to Bernardo Bertolucci

IL CONFORMISTA | THE CONFORMIST

BY Bernardo Bertolucci (Italy 1970 - 115’) CAST Jean-Louis Trintignant, Stefania Sandrelli, Gastone Moschin

4:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Tribute to Dario Argento

SUSPIRIA

BY Dario Argento (Italy 1977 - 112’) CAST Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci

5:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Italian Showcase

PASSIONE | PASSION

BY John Torturro (Italy 2010 - 88’) CAST John Turturro, Max Casella, Lina Sastri

6:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Italian Showcase

UNA VITA TRANQUILLA | A QUIET LIFE

BY Claudio Cupellini (Italy 2010 - 100’) CAST Toni Servillo, Marco D’Amore

7:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Italian Showcase

MINE VAGANTI | LOOSE CANNONS

BY Ferzan Ozpetek (Italy 2010 - 110’) CAST Riccardo Scamarcio, Nicole Grimaudo, Alessandro Preziosi

8:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Italian Showcase

VINCERE | VICTORY

BY Marco Bellocchio (Italy 2009 - 128’) CAST Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Filippo Timi and Fausto Russo Alesi

9:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Tribute to Bernardo Bertolucci

ULTIMO TANGO A PARIGI | LAST TANGO IN PARIS

BY Bernardo Bertolucci (Italy 1972 - 136’) CAST Marlon Brando, Maria Schneider, Maria Michi

2:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Italian Showcase

UNA VITA TRANQUILLA | A QUIET LIFE

BY Claudio Cupellini (Italy 2010 - 100’) CAST Toni Servillo, Marco D’Amore

4:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Tribute to Billante Mendoza

LOLA

BY Brillante Mendoza (Philippines 2009 - 110’) CAST Anita Linda, Rustica Carpio, Tanya Gomez

5:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Italian Showcase

VINCERE | VICTORY

BY Marco Bellocchio (Italy 2009 - 128’) CAST Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Filippo Timi and Fausto Russo Alesi

6:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Italian Showcase

CORPO CELESTE

BY Alice Rohrwacher (Italy 2011 - 98’) CAST Salvatore Cantalupo, Anita Caprioli, Renato Carpentieri

7:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Italian Showcase

CHE BELLA GIORNATA | WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY

BY Gennaro Nunziante (Italy 2011 - 97’) CAST Checco Zalone, Isabelle Adriani, Nabiha Akkari

9:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Tribute to Bernardo Bertolucci

L'ULTIMO IMPERATORE | THE LAST EMPEROR

BY Bernardo Bertolucci (Italy 1987 - 160’) CAST John Lone, Joan Chen and Peter O’Toole

3:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Italian Showcase

CORPO CELESTE

BY Alice Rohrwacher (Italy 2011 - 98’) CAST Salvatore Cantalupo, Anita Caprioli, Renato Carpentieri

3:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Italian Showcase

CHE BELLA GIORNATA | WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY

BY Gennaro Nunziante (Italy 2011 - 97’) CAST Checco Zalone, Isabelle Adriani, Nabiha Akkari

5:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Tribute to Dario Argento

PROFONDO ROSSO |DEEP RED

BY Dario Argento (Italy 1975 - 126’) CAST David Hemmings, Daria Nicolodi, Gabriele Lavia

5:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Tribute to Brillante Mendoza

KINATAY

BY Brillante Mendoza (Philippines 2009 - 110’) CAST Coco Martin, Maria Isabel Lopez, Julio Diaz

9:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Tribute to Bernardo Bertolucci

THE DREAMERS

BY Bernardo Bertolucci (Italy 2003 - 130’) CAST Michael Pitt, Louis Garrel and Eva Green

 For more information you may check their Facebook Fan Page   here  or or Embassy of Italy in Manila site here

FREE Admission: Taiwan Film Festival 2011 at Shangri-La Plaza

 Schedule:  
 October 21
No Puedo Vivir Sin - 2:00pm
Zoom Hunting - 5:00pm
Gangster Rock - 8:00pmOctober 22
The Magical Washing Machine - 2:00pm
Gangster Rock - 5:00pm
Three Times - 8:00pm

October 23
Zoom Hunting - 2:00pm
Pinoy Sunday - 5:00pm
No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti - 8:00pm

October 24
Three Times - 2:00pm
Jump! Boys - 5:00pm
Pinoy Sunday - 8:00pm

October 25
Gangster Rock - 2:00pm
No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti - 5:00pm
The Magical Washing Machine - 8:00pm

October 26
Jump! Boys - 2:00pm
The Magical Washing Machine - 5:00pm
Zoom Hunting - 8:00pm

For more information, you may check their Facebook Fan Page here

Watch Película: The 10th Spanish Film Festival

Twenty films from Spain and Latin America are now showing from October 5 to 16 at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 1 to celebrate Película, the annual Pelicula Spanish film festival in Manila. There will be special screenings of films: Raya Martin's Buenas noches, España (Good night, Spain) and the classic 1961 Golden Palm Cannes Film Festivalwinner, Viridiana. After watching, you may vote for your favorite film and help it win the Audience Choice Award this year. The screening of the winning film is on October 16, 9:30 p.m. Tickets are at P65 each.

For more information about 10th Pelicula Spanish film festival, visit pelicula.ph

Cine Europa 14 at Shangri-la Plaza Mall FREE

Nineteen films from 17 European countries will be shown for free and uncensored in Cine Europa 14  from September 9 – 18 while  in Cebu from September 30 – 02 October. 

Ever wonder why uncensored? You may read GMA News Cine Europa 14 to showcase uncensored films.   

To check the list of movie schedule, you may click here.

Seats are on a first come, first-served basis.

FREE 5th International Silent Film Festival 2011 at Shangrila Cineplex

For the first time the Philippines will participate with the film “Brides of Sulu” 1937. Silent film festivals are films instead of being "dubbed" to produce sounds and be heard, a band does a music all throughout the duration of these old movies.  For more info about the synopsis of these films you may visit Goethe-Institut, the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global reach.

Philippines: BRIDES OF SULU
John Nelson,1933 (47 min.)                                                                                        Alejandro MORENO, Eduardo DE CASTRO and the MORO WARRIORS

Germany: NOSFERATU
Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, 1922 (94 min.) (Friday, 26 August at 9pm)

Japan: AKEYUKU SORA/ THE DAWNING SKY  Torajiro Saito, 1929 (71 min.) (Saturday, 27 August at 5pm)

                     Italy: DANTE’S INFERNO Giuseppe de Liguoro, 1911 (71 min.)(Saturday, 27 August at 7pm)

Greece: THE GREEK MIRACLE staged documentary film, 1921(5 min.)      (Sunday, 28 August at 5pm)

                                 Spain:  PILAR GUERRA José Buchs, 1926 (63 min.)                                            (Sunday, 28 August at 5pm)

Free: 16th French Film Festival and Nestle's Short Film Anthology

 

16th French Film Festival

June 8-19 Shangri-La Plaza

June 23-25 Ayala Center Cebu

June 28-July 2 UP Film Festival

Watched '7 Ans' w/c won Festival de Venice 2006 as part of 16th French Film Festival at Shangri-La Plaza. About a husband who is serving 7 yrs in prison. He loved so much his wife that he asked a warden he befriended inside to fulfill his wife's biological needs while he can't. One thing I noticed since the titles are foreign, they should have a sign if a movie needs parental consent or not. I saw a mom w/ her 3 kids. When scenes become 'uncontrollable' how can she cover their eyes w/ her hands at the same time w/ that screen so big? Or tell them not to look... could be awkward.

 

 

 

 

 

Nestle's Short Film Anthology

Ten 10-minute short films featuring each of their brands

June 10  SM Megamall

June 11 & 12 11AM at selected SM cinemas nationwide

(Megamall Cinema 3, Southmall Cinema 6, Rosales Cinema 1, Davao Cinema 1 and Cebu Cinema 7)

"Watch it now or wait for another 100 years"

I'd rather wait for another 100 years maybe. The line of people waiting was as long as the Great Wall of China. If the SM Megamall's walls and roofs are transparent, I swear the queue can be seen from the moon like this Great Wall. But I admire the marketing strategy is superb.

Eiga Sai 2010: Contemporary Japanese Film Festival tickets in Shangrila Mall for Free!

Whew! It took me 4 days before I knew that there is a free film showing in celebration of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month this July. Eiga Sai 2010 in cooperation with the Japan Embassy which means "film" festival" in Japan is bringing 8 contemporary films and 2 animated films in an effort to showcase Japanese art and culture.

                                           
Shangrila Plaza Cineplex 6th Floor is the place where anyone can get a free ticket. Just a very friendly reminder: please, please be there like an hour before the movie starts as the line of people waiting is longer and they come earlier than what you think of. You may enjoy their limited seats from July 6 - 11 but don't worry there are a few places that will follow where you can watch it. Next stop would be: Gaisano South City Mall, Davao (July 23 - 25); Ayala Center Cinema 4, Cebu (Aug. 3 - 8) and in UP Film Institute, UP Diliman (Aug. 18 - 21).


For the complete list schedule, here is the official website of Japan Foundation Manila http://www.jfmo.org.ph/. This site is the best spot where you can any stuff about Japan: Arts & Culture, Japanese Language & Studies, grants anything you may need to know.


SHANGRILA


July 1
7 p.m. - Always Sunset on Third Street 2 (invitational)


July 2
2 p.m. - Fourteen
4:30 p.m. - How to Become Myself
7 p.m. - I Just Didn't Do It


July 3
2 p.m. - Glasses
4:30 p.m. - The Battery Future in Our Hands
7 p.m. - The Bandage Club


July 4
1:30 p.m. - Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor, Miyori in the Sacred Forest
4:30 p.m. - I Just Didn't Do It
7 p.m. - TOKYO TOWER Mom & Me, and Sometimes Dad


July 5
2 p.m. - Fourteen
4:30 p.m. - I Just Didn't Do It


July 6
2 p.m. - Glasses
4:30 p.m. - The Bandage Club


July 7
2 p.m. - How to Become Myself
4:30 p.m. - The Battery Future in Our Hands
7 p.m. - Always Sunset on Third Street 2


July 8
2 p.m. - Fourteen
4:30 p.m. - TOKYO TOWER Mom & Me, and Sometimes Dad


July 9
2 p.m. - The Bandage Club
4:30 p.m. - Always Sunset on Third Street 2
7 p.m. - Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor, Miyori in the Sacred Forest


July 10
2 p.m. - How to Become Myself
4:30 p.m. - The Battery Future in Our Hands
7 p.m. - Always Sunset on Third Street 2


July 11
1:30 p.m. - Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor, Miyori in the Sacred Forest
4:30 p.m. - Glasses
7 p.m. - TOKYO TOWER Mom & Me, and Sometimes Dad


UP Film Institute


August 18
2 p.m. - The Battery Future in Our Hands
4:30 p.m. - TOKYO TOWER Mom & Me, and Sometimes Dad
7 p.m. - I Just Didn't Do It


August 19
1 p.m. - Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor
2 p.m. - Glasses
4:30 p.m. - I Just Didn't Do It
7 p.m. - TOKYO TOWER Mom & Me, and Sometimes Dad


August 20
12 p.m. - Miyori in the Sacred Forest
2 p.m. - Fourteen
4:30 p.m. - The Bandage Club
7 p.m. - Always Sunset on Third Street 2


August 21
1 p.m. - Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor
2 p.m. - Miyori in the Sacred Forest
4:30 p.m. - Always Sunset on Third Street 2
7 p.m. - How to Become Myself

Free Movie Passes for the 15th French Film Festival at Shangrila Mall

Of french fries and french kiss... I love this sinful food and I can kiss this way. Oh, the Paris! Spelled as the E-i-f-f-e-l T-o-w-e-r... France's culture is everywhere around the world. Free movie passes is given to movie goers in Shangrila Mall, Mandaluyong from June 3 - 13 in celebration for the 15th French Film festival . Don't worry, English subtitles to the rescue.

Had a chance to watch last June 4th the movie simply titled "Welcome". About a 17-year old Iraqi boy named Bilal who wanted to follow his girlfriend who illegally migrated to London with her family 6 months ago. Because of no pertinent documents and no money, he was stucked in France together with other illegal migrants. He studied swmiming lessons and befriended his swimming instructor Simon who provided him shelter and food even though there is a law in France that the local people should not provide anything to the Kurds (illegal migrants) because helping them encourages more to be like them.

Simon who is currently undergoing divorce process with his wife said one time to her: "This boy walked 4000 km and now planning to swim the Channel (shore that connects France to London) just to be with his girl when I couldn't even cross the road to get you back." Sigh, how sweet! Anyway, it is a crime to tell the end of the story so go and watch this and other films. I am lucky at that time there is a free scoop of ice cream courtesy of Selecta's new flavors choco almond fudge and coffee almond fudge.

For complete list of movie schedules, you may check: Spot.ph or if you can't make it at the dates mentioned above you may watch at Cultural Center of the Philippines (June 15-20), Ayala Center Cebu (June 18-20) or UP Film Institute (June 22-24).

Photo Exhibit: Pinoy's Tribute to the 82nd Oscar's Award Night

THIRTEEN best Hollywood Oscar movies of all times were used as a theme of our local actors and actresses for the photo exhibit shown in Greenbelt 1 this evening. The earliest movie ever depicted was "Gone with the Wind" created in 1940 and "Inglorious Bastards" last year as the most recent.

The people behind this did a good job. The picture is a combined masterpiece of the actors, hair and make-up artists, costume designers and the photographer. Each scene if stared for quite sometime looked very, very realistic and intriguing. It did not appeared dull and picturesque but just like a real scene in any movie.

Two of my most favorite scenes are from Titanic - the highest grossing film of all times ( please update me guys if ever needed) which these two young actors are submerged in the water. They are hugging and facing each other like they are in an air atmosphere breathing normally! The hair was just perfect not messed up by the current, the long gown of the girl is floating up, a realistic indication that the photo shoot is really underwater. Even the guy's eye is opened and looking at the
girl too! Anybody could guess or tell for how long did they took this shoot and got this almost perfect scene?

This movie always remind me of my first year in high school. We are in a Biology class and we have a movie presentation. This movie was just showing up for a few weeks and it was in the verge of popularity that we convinced and connived with our teacher to show this movie instead of another dull Biology educational tapes scheduled to be shown. Without letting the other teachers know about it, of course!

Last is the Brokeback Mountain shoot. Why? Because knowing that this controversial movie is about two guys who developed intimate relationship with each other, instead it was portrayed by two girls! Two thumbs up to the one who conceived this idea. It was a twist but definitely worthy.

The two girls did a good job as well that their facial expressions and how they are grabbing each other's dress was simply erotic. Here is the list in chronological order:

1940 Gone With The Wind (Jake Cuenca & Maja Salvador)
1961 West Side Story (Nikki Gil & Billy Joe Crawford)
1967 Bonnie and Clyde (Shaina Magdayao)
1987 Dirty Dancing (Rayver Cruz)
1994 Forest Gump (Albert Martinez)
1944 Casablanca (Jericho Rosales & Maricar Reyes)
1995 Pulp Fiction Zanjoe Marudo & Mariel Rodriguez
1996 Titanic (Erich Gonzales & Enchong Dee)
1998 Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Melissa Ricks & Raymund Marasigan)
2005 Phantom of the Opera (KC Montero & Solenn Heusaff)
2006 Brokeback Mountain (Isabel Daza)
2006 Memoirs of Geisha (Kim Chui & Marc Nelson)





Tomorrow is another Oscar night... For sure another batch of shining starts in Hollywood will be added on it's wall of history. Fashion will be at it's highest tomorrow as the parade of stars will walk in the red carpet. Some will be praised, some will be mocked and a few will bring home an Oscar trophy - a lifetime achievement for them. Aside from their costumes please mind how are the
winners react impromptu of whom are the people they would like to thank for. That is pretty enough to know which one's are God-fearing, family or career-oriented, just blown away that they mumble or speechless or those who arrogantly say they have nothing or no one to thank for.