MANILA – Cine Europa turns 18 years old, celebrating its Debut!
The transition from youth to adulthood is said to be one of the most exciting chapters in everyone’s life. This year’s edition carries the theme “Coming of Age.”
Mr. Lubomir Frebort, Political Counsellor of the EU Delegation in the Philippines will be joined by Ms. Marline Dualan of the Shangri-la Plaza and Mr. Quintin Cu-unjieng, Project Development Officer of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
Mr. Frebort said that this year’s film festival is most exciting especially because its audiences have evolved through the last 18 years. Filipino audiences have matured as they have been exposed to the excellent, quality, diverse European movies which are distinctively European in character. Twenty three movies from 18 European countries will be shown to showcase European culture, experiences and traditions.
Cine Europa 18 continues to grow further as from nine cities last year, it now goes to 10 venues this year, with the additional venue in Manila at the Metro Manila Development Authority. The film festival now runs from 10 September to 29 November.
Belgium’s movie, “Puppy Love”, will open the Manila edition of Cine Europa on 09 September to 20 September in Cinema 1, Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City.
Cine Europa will then move to nine other cities: Film Development Council of the Philippines, Baguio City Cinematheque: 22 to 27 September; Iloilo City Cinematheque: 29 September to 04 October; Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu City: 09 to 11 October; Zamboanga Cinematheque; 13 to 18 October; University of the Philippines, Tacloban City: 21 to 25 October. Film Development Council of the Philippines, Davao City : 03 to 08 November; Visayas State University, Leyte: 10 to 15 November; Liceo De Cagayan University, Cagayan De Oro; 18 to 22 November and finally, back to Manila at the Metro Manila Development Authority, Makati City. 24 to 29 November.
Admission is free for all screenings at all locations for the two-month festival.
The film festival this year has a total of 23 movies from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland.
Cine Europa’s education component will continue with its series of lectures from Filipino experts in the movie industry providing intellectual insights. Filipino movie that have significant connections with Europe will be shown back to back with Cine Europa movies that portray the similarities between Filipino and European culture. (Eagle News Service/European Union Delegation to the Philippines)
