The Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now 2012 Experience Part 1

The Press Conference

After a very successful inaugural edition last year, Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now returns this year bringing not just the much anticipated line up of contemporary Italian films and a handful of Italian VIP’s but also spaghetti westerns by director Sergio Leone and a whole lot more. Film enthusiasts and Italian culture lovers will get the chance to see these films for free and experience a whole lot more during the festival happening this December 5-9, 2012 at the Greenbelt 3 Cinemas.

Italian Ambassador Luca Fornari

During the press conference held at Spices Restaurant at the Peninsula Manila, Italian Ambassador Luca Fornari aimed to double the attendance this year from the 6,000 that viewed the films last year. There were several things that he also pointed out that will make this year’s edition a lot more exciting like featuring more Filipino films and filmmakers. There are five Filipino films to be shown this year and it’s a good mix of independent and commercial movies. He also informed the members of the press that ABS-CBN is now the official media partner of Moviemov. And that a number of their celebrities headed by heartthrob Piolo Pascual will be attending the red carpet opening of the festival.

Senator Goffredo Bettini with Cristina Moricca

Ambassador Fornari, along with Sen. Goffredo Bettini who was there as well, stressed that they want Moviemov to connect with young audiences, hence, they included an educational component in which high school and university students from nearby cities will enjoy special morning screenings organized for them. There will be opportunities for these students to interact with the Italian and Filipino celebrities after the screening as well. Another point is that there will be a masterclass on Sergio Leone, conducted by Dr. Piera Detassis, the artistic director of the International Film Festival in Rome organized for university students. Also, the audience will have a direct hand in choosing the winners of this festival this year compared to last year in which a jury decided who won.

FDCP's Briccio Santos

Based on what I’ve learned during the press conference, this year’s Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now 2012 aims not just to entertain, but also to educate Filipino audiences through Italian cinema. The festival opens on December 4, 2012 with a special invitational program featuring Italian and Filipino celebrities. The free screenings for the general public runs from December 5-9, 2012.

Zenaida Tantoco, Emanuela Adesini, Sen. Bettini, Sonja Vodusek,
 Madame Silvana Novelli-Fornari and Albert Almendrajelo

Italian Film lineup:

Cesare Deve Morire (Caesar Must Die)

Diaz (Diaz - Don’t Clean Up This Blood)

L’industriale (The Entrepreneur)

L’intervallo (The Interval)

Magnifica Presenza (Magnificent Presence)

Posti in Piedi in Paradiso (A Flat for Three)

Romanzo di Una Strage (Piazza Fontana - The Italian Conspiracy)

The Sergio Leone retrospective film lineup:

The Colossus of Rhodes

A Fistful of Dollars 

For a Few Dollars More

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Once Upon a Time In The West

A Fistful of Dynamite

Once Upon a Time in America

Filipino film lineup:

Ghenghis Khan 

Dekada ‘70

The Mistress

Qiyamah

Anac Ti Pating (National Film Festival, Ikalawang Yugto winner)

Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now 2012 is supported by the General Direction for Cinema of the Italian Ministry of Heritage and Culture and the Film Development Council of the Philippines, organized by the Embassy of Italy, Playtown, the Philippine-Italian Association, Rustan's, The Peninsula Manila and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now 2012 Experience Part 2
The Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now 2012 Experience Part 3