Film is one art that brings me sheer joy. I have an intense relationship with film that taking it away makes my life appear like an unsolved puzzle, a human body without a hand, a head without a face, a man without a name. We must relish this freedom of going to the movies. Watching the films we feel so dear and passionate about calls for a celebration. It gives us the pleasure we always long for and the chance to experience art and culture at its finest. Films, like literature, illuminate life. They help us dig deeper into the core of our human existence.
Instituto Cervantes de Manila, the cultural arm of the Spanish Embassy to the Philippines, brings back Pelicula, the biggest annual Spanish Film Festival in Asia, now in three (3) venues: Greenbelt 3 (Cinema 2), Cultural Center of the Philippines (Tanghalang Manuel Conde/ CCP Dream Theater) and De La Salle-College of St. Benilde (School of Design & Arts Museum), from October 1-11, 2009. Spanish Film Festival is one that I really look forward to watching every year. For the past five (5) years, I have really supported this much-awaited film event being held in Manila during the fourth quarter of the year.
The organizers have doubled the number of Spanish & Latin American films being featured this year - more than 40 award-winning masterpieces! Cultural events have been set this whole month of October with the theme, Locos por el cine (Adik sa Pelikula). Please view the complete movie schedule in 3 venues. Then, you may click each title to read the summary. Or you may download the complete Pelicula schedule (pdf file) by clicking the icon which you will find on the page.
You can also watch the movie trailers.
The festival will have an Audience Choice Award at the end of the period. This gives you, the viewers, to cast your vote for which you think is the best film among the roster. The film that gets the most number of votes will be re-shown during the Closing Night of October 11 at 7pm.
Seats are on a first come, first served basis. I suggest you come to the venue at least two (2) hours before the target screening schedule to guarantee a slot.
Instituto Cervantes de Manila is located at 855 T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila. For more information, please call (632) 526.1482. Or visit http://manila.cervantes.es and http://pelicula.ph.