CINE EUROPA: 15 Years + 3 More Cities

The 15th edition of the Cine Europa Film Festival will open with a splash at Shangri-La Plaza on 5 September including a performance by the Manila String Quartet, a painting exhibition by local artists and the screening of the movie "Upperdog",  to mark the inclusion for the first time of a movie from Norway.

To mark its fifteenth year, Cine Europa will draw on its collaboration with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to double the numbe rof film Festival locations from three to six.  In addition to keeping its long-standing tradition of screenings at:

• Shangri-La Plaza (6 to 16 September)
• Ayala Center in Cebu (21 to 24 September)
• Liceo de Cagayan in Cagayan de Oro (27 to 30 September)

Cine Europa 15 will then continue in three other cities:

• FDCP Cinemateque, Davao ( 4 to 7 October);
• FDCP Cinemateque, Baguio (11 to 14 October), and
• FDCP Cinemateque, Iloilo (18 to 21 October)

To further mark the special occassion, the organisers of Cine Europa are for the first time tapping the resources of the Independent Film Cooperative (IFC) to enhance further the educational component of the festival with round table discussions with prominent film personalities and experts exploring the links between European and Filipino films while also offering screenings of selected Filipino movies with European connections.

Back to back with the European films, Cine Europa will show on September 8, 1pm at the Shang's Premiere Theater, "Paglipad ng Anghel", a movie by Clodualdo del Mundo Jr., and a documentary film titled "Kano".

On 15 September at 1pm, "Bakal Boys", considered as the most awarded Filipino film in 2009, winning awards in Thessaloniki, Greece; Torino, Italy; and Barcelona, Spain International Film Festivals, will be featured; and at 4pm, "MNL 143", the movie premiered in the Edinburgh film festival last July 2012 will follow.

From just 11 films in 1998, Cine Europa will now present 21 films from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Admission is free for all screenings at all locations between 6 September and 21 October.
The Manila leg of Cine Europa will open with the movie "Upperdog", which tackles multiculturalism from the experiences of two young Koreans adopted by two different families from Oslo.  Directed by Sarah Johnsen, "Upperdog" received various "Amanda" awards - the equivalent of Oscars in Norway.  In Cebu, the festival will open with the Italian movie by Bernanrdo Bertolucci, "L'Ultimo Imperatore" (The Last Emperor).

For complete line-up of films and synopses, please click here

Julian Vassallo, Political Counsellor at the European Union Delegation to the Philippines said that:

Cine Europa 15 is first and foremost an opportunity for Filipinos to enjoy a taste of Europe's particular cinematic traditions.  It is also an opportunity for us Europeans to wear our heart on our sleeve and share our hopes, fears and dreams with our Filipino friends.

This year's educational component and the screening of select Filipino movies will also explore the links between the European and Filipino cinema which are deeper than many may think.  Educational round tables will tackle different aspects of cinematic art while information will be made available on Filipino filmmakers may be able to access European funds.

The Manila edition of Cine Europa will be inaugurated by the Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. of the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, Lubomir Frebort, in the presence of Euroepan Ambassadors and Consuls as well as Ms. Lala Fojas, Executive Vice President and Genereal Manager of Shangri-La Plaza Corporation.

Cine Europa 15 is organised by the European Union Cultural Group in Manila which gathers together the Embassies and Cultural Institutes of the European Union.  The Embassies of Norway and Switzerland, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Independent Film Cooperative, the Shangri-La Plaza Mall (Manila), Arts Council of Cebu and Liceo de Cagayan de Oros (Mindanao)are partners of Cine Europa 15.

KLM royal Dutch Airlines supports Cine Europa 15, and has kindly donated one economy class return ticket to Europe to be raffled amongst those attending any of the screenings of Cine Europa.  It is also a pleasure to acknowledge and thank our new partners: Inquirer.net and Travelife Magazine.