Baguio City hosts the Cine Europa for the fifth time, the biggest running festival in the country. It is the first time though that Cine Europa films are screened in SM City Baguio.
Screenings started on 26 November and are ongoing until 2 December at SM City Baguio Cinema 1. Admission to Cine Europa is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Featured film in Baguio City during the Cine Europa reception at SM Baguio is “Pierrot le fou” (Crazy Pierrot). Directed by Jean-Luc Godard, “Pierrot le fou” talks about Pierrot escapes his boring society and travels from Paris to Mediterranean Sea with Marianne, a girl chased by hit-men from Algeria. They lead an unorthodox life, always on the run.
Twenty-seven films from Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Cine Europa boasts of the fact that is the festival in the Philippines which is the longest running and has the widest potential of reaching as many audiences as it screens in a variety of venues from theaters to malls and to universities.
The festival has been going around Cebu, Iloilo, Baybay, Leyte, Puerto Princesa, Naga City and Film Development Council of the Philippines-Manila.
Cine Europa is presented by the European Union Delegation to the Philippines, the EU member states’ embassies, Embassy of Norway, cultural institutes, Alliance Francaise de Manille, British Council, Instituto Cervantes of Manila, Goethe Institut Manila, Philippine-Italian Association, EU MS Consulates and its partner organisations from the private sector, academe and government agencies.
Cine Europa which is on its 21s year is organised in connection with the celebration of the European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018.
Cine Europa is one of the most effective means for the EU to reach out to the Filipino people. It is a unique way to showcase European cultural diversity in the Philippines.
The festival is presented by the EU Delegation to the Philippines and the Embassies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom, as well as Alliance Francaise in Manila and in Cebu, the British Council, the Goethe-Institut, Instituto Cervantes, and the Philippine Italian Association.
Cine Europa has earned a niche among film enthusiasts in the country because of its strong collaboration with local partners, the Ateneo De Naga and SM City Naga and the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Arts Council of Cebu, Ayala Center in Cebu, Shangri-La Plaza, the Visayas State University in Baybay, Leyte and the Provincial Government of Palawan and Palawan State University.
By Karren Nobres
