Instituto Cervantes announces PelÃcula lineup
MANILA, Philippines - The 11th Película Spanish Film Festival, the largest celebration of Spanish and Latin American filmmaking in Asia and the Pacific, announces the lineup for this year’s Official Selection, Documentary and Short films and Latin-American film gems program.
A selection of dramas and the hilarious sit alongside unabashed popular blockbusters the celebration of Spanish and Latin American films — will be shown at the Greenbelt 3 Cinemas from Oct. 4 to 14. Specific times and ticketing information are available on the Festival website, www.pelicula.ph, or in the Instituto Cervantes Facebook page.
The films in this year’s competitions include several Asian premiers and the audience choice winner will be announced on Oct. 14. Alongside the movie screenings at the Greenbelt 3 mall will be a meet-and-greet with Filipinos by renowned Spanish director Alberto Rodríguez on Oct. 8. Considered to be one of the most widely-known directors in Spain, Rodríguez directed 7 vírgenes in 2005 which premiered in the San Sebastian Film Festival, receiving positive reviews and ultimately garnering six nominations for the Goya Awards.
Official Selection
Festival organizers selected 16 films remarkable for their original concept, striking style, and overall excellence. Multi-awarded films like Arrugas, Madrid 1987, and the Spanish horror thriller film Mientras duermes (Sleep Tight) make their Philippine premier at the film festival.
Other films include the contemporary film noir No habrá paz para los malvados (No rest for the wicked) and the gritty realistic thriller Grupo 7 (Unit 7) about a group of cops who break all the rules to clean up Spain’s ghettos in the ’80s. The film has also made it to Spain’s three-picture shortlist for its foreign-language Oscar candidate this year.
Película, The Spanish and Latin American Film Festival is part of the month-long celebrations known as Fiesta, the Spanish Festival for Culture and the Arts. It is organized by the Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish Cultural Center in Manila, together with the Embassy of Spain. This year’s Fiesta features a stirring array of films and dance and music as presented by leading international artists. The month-long festivities are meant to highlight the commemoration of Spain’s National Day on Oct. 12.
Película is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila, in cooperation with the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines, Spanish Agency International Cooperation for Development (AECID), Film Development Council of the Philippines, Greenbelt, Ayala Malls Cinemas, San Miguel Corporation, Sony, and Manila Contemporary. Special thanks to Alba, Espa-Fil, Qatar Airways, Indra, Embassy of the Argentine Republic, Picasso Boutique Hotel and Centunion.
For information, call 526 1482 or visit http://manila.cervantes.es or www.pelicula.ph. Instituto Cervantes de Manila is at 855 T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila.
