80 films. 30 countries, 10 days.
Viewers can choose among 80 films during the 11th edition of the Cinemanila
International Film Festival. The films are currently being screened at Market!
Market! in Taguig and the U-View screening room at Fully Booked at Bonifacio
High Street.
The selected international
and local films will be screened until October 25. These include
the current toasts of the local indie scene to the award-winners and favorites
at prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Rotterdam, Sundance, and
Pusan. Cinemanila festival
will also feature workshops, seminars and master classes.
On October 20, renowned scriptwriter Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver,
Raging Bull) will conduct a master class on scriptwriting. See him talk
about his life's work at Cinema 7 of Market! Market!
(3 PM). On the same day,
Schrader's film Adam Resurrected will be screened at Cinema 7.
Tickets are priced at PHP 120 while students may purchase them for PHP 100.
Senior citizens can also avail of a 20% off discount. Premiere screenings cost
PHP 200 while the master class for scriptwritring to be conducted by Paul
Schrader costs PHP 250.
Gold Tickets are priced at PHP 950 each and is equivalent to
8 films and the Master Class with Paul Schrader.
Here are some movies that are highly recommended.
Adam Resurrected(Paul Schrader, USA, 2008)
A Jewish circus entertainer is kept alive by the Nazis to entertain Jews as
they march to their deaths, fighting to survive the madness around him.
Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Willem Defoe, Ayelet Zurer
October 20 (Tuesday) Cinema 7 6:30 PM
Mammoth (Lukas Moodysson, Sweden, 2009)
A quintessential, cosmopolitan family living in New York who find their life
upside down as Leo and Ellen try to dramatically change their lives. The couple
also learns to deal with their eight-year-old daughter who spends too much time
with her Filipino nanny.
Cast: Gael Garcia Bernal, Michelle Williams and Filipina Marife Necessito.
Nominated for a Golden Berlin Bear Award in the 2009 Berlin International Film
Festival.
October 17 (Saturday) Cinema 5 7:00
- 9:05 PM
October 18 (Sunday) Cinema 4 1:30
- 3:35 PM
Let The Right One In(Tomas Alfredson, Sweden, 2008)
Based on the John
Lindqvist bestselling book of the same name. Terrorized by bullies, lonely
12-year-old Oskar befriends a new neighbor, a mysterious young girl whose
arrival coincides with a series of gruesome deaths and attacks. Though Oskar
realizes that she's a vampire, his friendship with her is stronger than his fear.
Best Director in 2008 Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival and Nordic
Film Prize in 2008 Goteberg Film Festival.
October 17 (Saturday) Cinema 4 4:45
- 6:40 PM
Hunger(Steve McQueen, UK/Ireland, 2008)
About the 1981 Irish hunger strike and IRA
leader Bobby Sands, it narrates the events in the Maze prison as Republican
prisoners attempt to win political status.
Winner of the prestigious Camera d'Or Award at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.
October 23 (Friday) Cinema 5 3 - 4:30 PM
October 23 (Friday) Cinema 7 7:30 - 9:10
PM
Chengdu, I Love You(Fruit Chan & Cui Jian, China, 2009)
Narrating three
stories situated in Chengdu, it portrays love in the years 1976, 2008 and 2029.
Chengdu, I Love You was the closing film of the 2009 Venice Film
Festival.
October 22 (Thursday) Cinema 5 8
- 9:15 PM
October 23 (Friday) Cinema 7 9:45
- 11:20 PM
CLOSING FILM. Aside from screening internationally renowned films,
Cinemanila has programmed a film by Raymond Red, Cannes Palme d'Or winner (for
his short film Anino). Himpapawid (international title: Manila
Skies) is his first major film in nine years.
Himpapawid (Raymond Red, Philippines, 2009)
An official entry in the Main Competition of the 2009 Tokyo
International Film Festival, Himpapawid tells "the astounding story of a
lone deranged hijacker pushed to the edge of insanity as he struggles with the
oppression of surviving in modern Philippine society."
Inspired by the true story of the May 2000 PAL Flight 812 hijacking en route
from Davao to Manila, the film follows the tale of a desperate man from the
countryside on a wretched path to destruction that ultimately leads him to the
insane hijacking of a plane. The film showcases Raul Arellano in his first lead
role together with veteran actors John Arcilla and Ronnie Lazaro.
October 25 (Sunday) Cinema 6 8 - 9:50 PM