Alessandra "Alex" de Rossi was still raving about her France visit during a recent interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) at the RAVE Art Gallery along Scout Magbanua in Quezon City.
The Filipino-Italian actress attended the 64th Cannes International Film Festival, held last May 11 to 22, for the screening of her independent film project titled Busong.
Director Auraeus Solito dubbed the film as a "dream project." It tackles the indigenous concept of "instant karma" as shaped by three major environmental issues confronting the province of Palawan: illegal logging, indiscriminate mining, and dynamite fishing.
The film, according to Alex, "moved" the audience who came to watch the one-and-a-half hour film.
For Alex, the significance of the prestigious film festival, along with the rich background of the host country, left a profound impression on her both as an artist and a person.
"Sabi ko nga kay Direk Auraeus yung mga artists na tulad namin dapat once in their life maramdaman nila [yung pumunta sa international film festivals]," said Alex.
"Grabe talaga yung appreciation nila. Siguro yung mga French kasi, tingnan mo kahit saang kanto ka pumunta puro art-art ang nakikita mo. Maski mga building nila walang magkakamukha, di ba?
"Kasi artist silang lahat kahit munting creation lang ng kahit sinong tao na-a-appreciate nila. So yun, masarap ang feeling.
"Sabi ko nga hindi lahat makakarating dito. Ako never ko nga siyang pinagdasal sa buong buhay ko. Ang pinagdadasal ko lang naman is security," laughed Alex who recently decided to move back to GMA-7 after years of being seen in ABS-CBN shows.
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"BREATH OF FRESH AIR." Alex proudly recalled hearing positive comments and reviews from critics and casual viewers after seeing the film in its entirety.
"Bago sa paningin nila yung movie, breath of fresh air, kumbaga," she said.
Joining international film festivals can greatly boost a country's tourism industry. While cinematic concept and technical details matter in the eyes of critics, settings and backdrops are also crucial to enhance a project's overall visual appeal.
Busong incorporates certain production values, like its theme of environmental protection and the breathtaking scenery of Palawan.
"Ang ganda raw ng Palawan!" Alex exclaimed, voicing out the reaction of the foreign viewers.
She added with a laugh, "Sabi ko nga kay Direk, 'Binenta mo masyado yung Palawan! Dapat maging gobernador ka na!"
