The Philippines was a Spanish colony for 333 years. While the influence of Spain on local culture has waned, there is still a strong relationship between the two countries. An annual event that aims to highlight this relationship is PELÍCULA, a Spanish film festival organized by Instituto de Cervantes de Manila.
This year, it will happen from Oct. 4 – 20 and will once again give cineastes the opportunity to take a peek into Spanish and Latin American culture.
A total of 20 films will be screened at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City, Greenbelt 3 in Makati, and Instituto Cervantes’ office in Intramuros, Manila.
From comedies to dramas, these movies have become favorites of film fans the world over. Below are some of the movies that will be screened during the 17-day event.
Campeones (Champions) directed by Javier Fesser
Spain’s Best Foreign Language Film entry at this years Oscars was Campeones, a movie that tells the story of an arrogant assistant basketball coach who was sentenced to community service after he was caught drunk driving. The court’s punishment: coach the Los Amigos, a team of persons with disabilities. Prepare to laugh and cry at the same time.
Starring: Javier Gutiérrez, Juan Margallo, Athenea Mata, and Luisa Gavasa
Cría Cuervos (Raise Ravens) by Carlos Saura
The winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival, the drama is about an 8-year-old girl who lives with her authoritarian aunt, mute grandmother, and feisty housekeeper after the death of her parents.
Starring: Anna Torrent, Geraldine Chaplin, Héctor Alterio, and Florinda Chico
Dancing Beethoven by Arantxa Aguirre
A documentary, it follows the Béjart Ballet Lausanne and Tokyo Ballet as they prepare for their performance of the Ninth Symphony that was to be accompanied by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Starring: Malya Roman, Julien Favreau, Elisabet Ros, Kateryna Shalkina, and Óscar Chacón.
La Llamada (Holy Camp!) by Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo
La Llamada is a musical comedy about two 17-year-olds who will spend their summer at camp La Brújula in Segovia, where they have spent their holidays since they were children. Their lives change when one of them, María, starts to see divine apparitions.
Starring: Macarena García, Anna Castillo, Belén Cuesta, Gracia Olayo, and Richard Collins-Moore.
Los Amores Cobardes by Carmen Blanco
A woman goes to her hometown to spend the summer with her mother and best friend. What she doesn’t expect, however, is to see her estranged friend Rubén, who suddenly and without explanation stopped speaking to her years before.
Starring: Blanca Parés, Ignacio Montes, Anna Coll Miller
Mi Querida Cofradía by Marta Díaz
Devout Carmen’s greatest dream was to become the president of her Catholic organization, but there’s one hitch: the position is reserved only for men.
Starring: Gloria Muñoz, Pepa Aniorte, and Juan Gea Martinez.
Tickets for PELÍCULA Spanish Film Festival are priced at PHP100 (US$1.85)
