To direct your cinephilic desires to the right path, we have two big events happening in July around Manila: Cinemalaya 6 and Russian Film Festival at UPFI. Cinemalaya 6 line up (from the site) shown below has a pretty exciting taste. Jay Altejero's Pink Halo is a sure eye popper together with Khavn de la Cruz's The Trial of Mister Serapio and Mes de Guzman's Ang Mundo sa Panahon ng Yelo. Most interesting films in the festival are, of course, the comeback of the legendary Mario O'Hara with his Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio, and Joel Lamangan's Sigwa. Equally interesting are films by Gil Portes' Two Funerals and Mark Meiley's Donor. Of course, we cannot ignore the films from by the newbies, they are primarily the center of the festival. Interesting titles (haha) are Vox Populi by Dennis Marasigan, Si Techie, Si Teknoboy and si Juana by Arthur Katipunan which presupposes the themes that will be expectantly explored in the film, and Sampaguita by Francis Xavier E. Pasion which either draws an allegory to the film production company Sampaguita Pictures (1938 -1982), or to the National Flower, Sampaguita (Jasminum sambac).
But equally satisfying are works by Christopher Gozum's Anacbanua (2009), Biyaheng Lupa by Bing Lao and Engkentro by Pepe Diokno. The "Midnight Treat" will be featuring Shandii Bacolod's new feature Ben and Sam and Jay Altejero's Ang Laro sa Buhay ni Juan.
So I guess I'll see you around there... Wee!
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Russian Film Festival
at UPFI
Thrilling! Tarkovsky's The Mirror (1975) will be playing for two days. It is the masterwork of Andre Tarkovsky and considered as one of the best films of all time. There are two Mosfilm produced films in the list, The Mirror and the engrande war film, The Star (2002). The most recent films are Ward No. 9 (2009) and Vanished Empire (2008) both directed by Karen Shakhnazarov. Agony (1973-75, released in 1982) are one of films censored during the Soviet Union times in the 1970s.
The Visionary.ENJOY!
Ciao!
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