By Bryle B. Suralta
Following the success of last year’s festival, “Italian Cinema from Venice to Manila” (formerly known as “Venice Festival in Manila”) is back with more signature Italian films.
Presented by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ICCPI) and the Philippine Italian Association (PIA), together with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the festival (November 14 to 18) offers Metro Manila film aficionados a closer look at Italian cinema.
“This kind of partnership has always been the main thrust of the FDCP—giving platforms and avenues for cultural appreciation, exposure and education,” says FDCP chairperson Liza Diño.
The film fest will feature some of the best films in the history of the Venice International Film Festival, one of the most authoritative and prestigious film festivals in the world.
“This is a really important opportunity for our Filipino audience to be exposed to international cinema,” Liza claims.
“A different way of seeing life”
For the PIA, the festival offers the Filipino audience an introspective look at world cinema through the language of Italy.
“Un linguaggio diverso è una diversa visione della vita” (A different language is a different way of seeing life), says PIA president Alessandro Milani, quoting the great Italian director Federico Fellini.
This year’s lineup consists of the following films:
- Ammore e malavita (Love and Bullets)” by the Minetti Brothers (Musical, 2017)
- “Una famiglia (A Family)” by Sebastiano Riso (Drama, 2017)
- “Hannah” by Andrea Pallaoro (Drama, 2017)
- “The Leisure Seeker” by Paolo Virzì (Adventure, Comedy, 2017)
- “Il colore nascosto delle cose (Emma)” by Silvio Soldini (Romance, 2017)
- “Brutti e cattivi (Ugly Nasty People)” by Cosimo Gomez (Comedy, 2017)
- “Gatta Cenerentola (Cinderella the Cat)” by Alessandro Rak, Ivan Cappiello, Marino Guarnieri, Dario Sansone (Animation, 2017)
- “Il deserto rosso (Red Desert)” by Michelangelo Antonioni (Classic, Drama, 1964)
- “Novecento (1900)” by Bernardo Bertolucci (Classic, Drama, 1976)
All nine films were screened in the 74th Venice International Film Festival, assuring “the highest quality of international cinema,” as Milani would put it.
Above all, the films were not just chosen to give audiences outstanding pieces of film, but to help Filipinos see life from another perspective—through Italian eyes.
Introducing Pinoy cinema to the world and vice versa
In an effort to globalize Philippine cinema, Liza hopes that, with this festival, more Filipino filmmakers and film enthusiasts can “understand how other countries do it and how they are competing in the world market.”
The festival will also launch an “educational component,” featuring a series of master classes at the UP Film Institute (UPFI)-Diliman, Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts (Under the Digital Filmmaking program) and FDCP’s Cinematheque.
“It allows them to understand international guest practices and the different methods of various filmmakers in other countries,” Liza says.
In partnership with the Associazione Italiana Autori della Fotografia Cinematografica (AIC) and Associazione Italiana Compositori Musica per Film (ACMF), the film festival will also have a production tour, which aims to strengthen the Philippine-Italian film industry ties.
The tour’s primary purpose is to explore possible co-operations. Backed by the European-Philippine Business Network (EPBN), Italian independent producers will visit six local production houses during the tour.
As Liza looks to take things global, she sees the festival as a golden opportunity for “exchanging of our cultures and understanding how we can also find audiences beyond the Philippines.”
The film festival will run from November 14 to 18 at the UP Town Center in Quezon City, Greenbelt 3 in Makati and Central Square in Taguig. All of the films will be accessible to the public at a discounted price of P150.
