19th French Film Festival opens

MANILA, Philippines - Nearing two decades of bringing the best of French cinema to Manila, the Embassy of France to the Philippines, the Alliance Française de Manille and Institut Français once again present the much-awaited French Film Festival starting today until June 15 at the Greenbelt 3 cinemas in Makati City.

The 19th French Film Festival not only provides a venue for the Filipino public to appreciate French films, but also celebrates the deepening bilateral relations between France and the Philippines in different sectors, including cooperation through cinema.

The festival comes on the heels of the signing of a landmark film cooperation deal between the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and its counterpart in France, the Centre National du Cinema et de l’Image animée (CNC).

Opening this year’s festival is the romantic comedy 20 ans d’écart” (It Boy). Alice Lantins’ uptight attitude is the only thing preventing her from becoming the next editor-in-chief of a French fashion magazine, but everything changes when she meets 20-year-old Balthazar who may be the key to her promotion.

The festival also features newly-released films such as La Vénus à la fourrure (Venus in Fur), Mon âme par toi guérie (One of a Kind), Une autre vie (Lovers), Amour et turbulences (Love is in the Air), Les beaux jours (Bright Days Ahead), L’Écume des jours (Mood Indigo), Quai d’Orsay and Situation amoureuse: C’est compliqué (Relationship Status: It’s Complicated).

With a growing interest in Philippine cinema among the French, the festival also pays tribute to Filipino filmmaking on Independence Day on June 12 by screening three masterpieces that have had the honor of being 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’s Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan.

For screening schedules and film synopses, visit Spot.ph or the Embassy of France to the Philippines’ official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FrenchEmbassyManila.

Tickets for the films will be on sale for a minimal price of P100 at the Greenbelt 3 cinemas.

The 19th French Film Festival is organized by the Embassy of France to the Philippines, the Alliance Française de Manille and Institut Français, in partnership with the FDCP and in cooperation with Greenbelt, Ayala Malls Cinemas and Ayala Center. The festival was made possible with the support of L’Oréal, Total, Peugeot, Sledgers, Kickers, Delsey, Le Cellier, Perrier, Monin and Marithé François Girbaud, Solar News Channel, TV5, Town & Country Magazine, BusinessWorld, High Life, HerWord.com, Status Magazine, Travelife Magazine and Spot.ph.

For details, call 0936-9196097 or e-mail [email protected].