7th Cine Argentino: Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Argentina's return to democracy

In line with the 75th Anniversary of Philippine-Argentine relations, the Embassy of Argentina, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, and the Shangri-La Plaza Mall present the 7th Cine Argentino happening this September 28-30 at the Red Carpet at the Shang.

As Argentina also commemorates the 40th anniversary of the country's return to democracy after the 1976-1983 military dictatorship, the films this year are snapshots of this time in Argentinean history.

Here are the films of the 7th Cine Argentino, Argentine film festival.

El Exilio de Gardel/The Exile of Gardel (1985)

Director: Fernando E. Solanas

Cast: Marie Laforêt, Miguel Ángel Solá, Ana María Picchio, Philippe Leotard, and Lautaro Murúa

1980 in Paris, Maria lives in exile with his mother, a famous Argentine actress. With a group of friends, Maria decides to tell the story of her uprooting, and if the tragis desolation of the adults around her. The exiles of the "first generation", her parents, try to stage a "tranguedia" (tango-tragedy-comedy) called "El Exilio de Gardel" (Gardel's Exile) which makes the spectator wonder what is really their home country.

Un Lugar en el Mundo/A Place in the World (1992)

Director: Adolfo Aristarain

Cast: Federico Luppi, Cecilia Roth, and José Sacristán

Mario and Ana, in voluntary exile from Buenos Aires, live in a remote Argentine valley with their 12-year old son Ernesto. Mario runs a school and a wool cooperative. Ana, a doctor, heads a clinic with Nelda, a progressive nun. Into this idealistic family comes Hans, a jaded Spanish geologic engineer surveying the land for the local patron, to see if it can be dammed for a hydro-electric power, which would drive the peasants from the land into the cities.

Made in Argentina (1987)

Director: Juan José Jusid

Cast: Luis Brandoni, Marta Bianchi, Leonor Manso, Patricio Contreras, Hugo Arana, and Frank Vincent

Osvaldo and Mabel, and Argentine couple exiled for political reasons in the United States, travel to their country of origin after ten years to reconnect with their family and friends, including Maria's brother and his wife. Mabel offers her brother the possibility of working in New York with the aim of improving their economic situation, but his wife is opposed.

Sur/The South (1988)

Director: Fernando “Pino” Solanas

Cast: Susú Pecoraro, Miguel Ángel Solá, Philippe Léotard, and Lito Cruz

With the end of the military regime, Floral is released from prison and is on his way to reunite with his wife. Afraid of being reunited with his family, he walks through the city. By everything has changed, both his partner and the country.

The schedule of film screenings are as follows:

September 28, 2023

3:00 PM Made in Argentina

6:00 PM Un Lugar en el mundo

September 29, 2023

3:00 PM El Exilio de Gardel

6:00 PM Sur

September 30, 2023

3:00 PM El Exilio de Gardel

6:00 PM Made in Argentina

Film screenings will be at the Cinema 3, Red Carpet at the Shang and are for free, on a first-come, first-served basis.

The 7th Cine Argentino is presented by the Embassy of Argentina, Film Development Council of the Philippines, and the Shangri-La Plaza Mall, with the support of the Directores Argentinos Cinematográfico, an association of over 2,000 Argentine filmmakers dedicated to preserving the country's cinematic heritage.

Legendary pianist Krystian Zimerman headlines Grzegorz Nowak, PPO's 39th concert season

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's upcoming 39th concert season is billed as Switch, as it will be the inaugural season of newly appointed music director and principal conductor Grzegorz Nowak after a yearlong search. This season also sees the concert venue switch from the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Metropolitan Theater to the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati.

Grzegorz Nowak

But at the recent press conference held at the Ascott Hotel in BGC, the switch may not just be about the changes but may also be about turning the switch on Maestro Nowak's grand plans for the PPO. And it couldn't get any grander than THE Krystian Zimerman being part of the upcoming season.

Krystian Zimmerman
Photo © Bartek Barczyk

Zimerman, the 1st Prize winner at the IX International Chopin Piano Competition in 1975, is the featured soloist at the February 2024 concert. Two more special performances could see Zimerman either lead and/or perform with a chamber ensemble made up of PPO musicians. Nowak said that Zimerman has worked with him more than any other conductor.

Nowak also detailed that some of his plans as the PPO 's music director is to commission new works by Filipino composers. He wants the orchestra to have a composer in residence per year whose works will be promoted and performed in the season. As a supporter of new works, he also mentioned the possibility of having a modern music festival in here.

PPO Director Eugene delos Santos, CCP President Nikki Junia, and Grzegorz Nowak

As for his plans for the PPO, Nowak aims to make the orchestra as a team. He saw the PPO's potential when they kept on responding well as he continued to demand more from them during his first stint with the orchestra.

Notable also is Nowak's penchant for anecdotes and stories from his decades of experience working with big name artists. One memorable story he told was having to stay late at night hand writing a score for a concert with Kathleen Battle whom he described as capricious.

PPO Woodwind Quintet

Here is the 39th season program of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. All concerts will be conducted by Grzegorz Nowak. Performances will now start at 7:30 PM and will be held at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater. As always, the program and performers are subject to change.

Concert I: Roman Carnival

September 15, 2023, 7:30 PM

Mark Bebbington

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Mark Bebbington, piano

Hector Berlioz Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9

Edvard Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16

Ottorino Respighi Pini di Roma, P141

Concert II: Italian Night

October 13, 2023, 7:30 PM

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Wen-Sinn Yang, cello

Filipino Work

Antonin Dvořák Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191

Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op.90 "Italian"

Concert III: Russian Masters

November 17, 2023, 7:30 PM

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Nikolay Khozyainov, piano

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Polonaise from Eugene Onegin, Op. 24

Sergei Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18

Sergei Prokofiev Selections from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64

Concert IV: Ode to Joy

December 8, 2023, 7:30 PM

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Raul Sunico, piano

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125

Concert V: Fate

January 12, 2024, 7:30 PM

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Jerome Rose, piano

Commissioned Filipino Work

Johannes Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 on F minor, Op. 36

Concert VI: Piano Rapture

February 9, 2024, 7:30 PM

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Krystian Zimerman, piano

Stanisław Moniuszko Bajka (The Fairy Tale) Overture

Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19

Sergei Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27

Special performances by Krystian Zimerman

February 14, 2024

February 16, 2024

Concert VII: Don Pasquale

March 8, 2024, 7:30 PM

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Gaetano Donizetti Don Pasquale (semi-staged performance)

Concert VIII: Fête Française

April 19, 2024, 7:30 PM

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Diomedes Saraza, Jr., violin

Commissioned Filipino Work

Camille Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28

Maurice Ravel Daphnis et Chloé Suites 1 & 2

Updated tickets prices for concerts at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater are as follows:

P3000 Orchestra Center

P2000 Orchestra Side

P2500 Loge Center

P1500 Loge Side

P800 Balcony

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's 39th Concert Season Switch is presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and is made possible by partners SSI Group, Inc., TBWA\SMP, Ascott Bonifacio Global City, and Lyf Malate Manila.

Polish conductor Grzegorz Nowak is PPO's new music director and principal conductor

PPO music director/principal conductor Grzegorz Nowak 

The Cultural Center of the Philippines has finally made it official, Polish conductor Grzegorz Nowak is the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's new music director and principal conductor.

Nowak succeeds Japanese conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura who served as PPO's music director/principal conductor from 2016 up to 2021.

At the PPO's season series concert last October 2022, Nowak impressed audiences especially on how he handled the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto that featured violinist Vincent Owen Romanban. As the youngest and most inexperienced soloist from last season, Romanban was deftly supported by Nowak's expert direction of the orchestra enabling the young violinist to hurdle a nervous start, increase his confidence as the piece went on, and finish with an authority that belied his years.

As the new music director, Maestro Nowak will be responsible for the preparation and implementation of the PPO’s thrusts, programs, concert season, training of musicians, and other related activities. He is expected to conduct at least 10 to 12 performances per year, including the regular PPO season, outreach tours, the Young People’s Concert Series, and other special events of CCP. He will also be in charge of a development program for the PPO members and ensure that the level of musicianship and artistic quality meets the highest standard.

Nowak will open the PPO's 39th season this September 15, 2023, 8:00 PM at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati with a program consisting of Hector Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9, Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16, with guest pianist Mark Bebbington, and Ottorino Respighi’s Pini di Roma, P 141.

Volleyball fever spikes its way to Cinemalaya with "Rookie"

Pat Tingjuy and Aya Fernandez

The past weekend saw a packed volleyball schedule with leagues/tournaments wrapping up here and abroad.

PhilSports Arena saw Japanese club team Kurashiki Ablaze beat the Creamline Cool Smashers in a thrilling 5-setter to take the PVL Invitational Conference title.

Over in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, the Indonesian squad completed a sweep of both legs of the men's SEA V.League.

Overseas, the French women's team and the Turkish men's team bagged the VNL Cup Challenge titles thus earning them much coveted spots to next year's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Tournament.

This weekend, a mostly collegiate squad  suits up for the Philippines as the women see action for their edition of the SEA V.League.

Coincidentally, the volleyball fever crosses over from the courts to the silver screen with Rookie, one of the competing entries in the full length category at the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival XIX happening this August 4-13, 2023 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Directed by Samantha Lee and written by Natts Jadaone, Rookie tells the story of Ace, played by Pat Tingjuy, who reluctantly joins the volleyball squad of her new school. Things change when she falls in love with the team captain Jana, portrayed by Aya Fernandez, although the latter sees Ace as a rival. The film also stars Agot Isidro and will also feature cameo appearances by star volleyball athletes Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, and Ara Galang.

Rookie is about the moments in our life that shape us. It‘s about how the lessons and the people from our younger days come together to help make us into a person. It’s about learning and losing and how to learn from all that losing. And ultimately it’s about how society is still very much rigged against women but we continue to play to win anyway. 

Samantha Lee, director

Sport themed films are no stranger to Cinemalaya with last year's Ginhawa and Cinemalaya 18 Best Picture The Baseball Player as prime examples. It was only a matter of time that volleyball found its way to Philippine cinemas considering women's volleyball has been rivaling men's basketball in terms of popularity for the past several years.

Given the sport's massive following, I wondered why there aren't many volleyball films yet. More so, queerness in sports is rarely explored. As the film's potential started to take root, my 5y.o. niece suddenly told me she wanted to be an athlete. When I asked what sport, she said volleyball, because it's for girls and basketball is for boys. I then realized how these gendered ideas form at such an early age and questioned if we want to continue perpetuating these misconceptions.

A female-centric film hinged on a well-loved sport, Rookie explores the sensitive yet timely issues of gender inequality and objectification of women in male-dominated spaces.

Natts Jadaone, writer

Catch Rookie at the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival this August 4-13, 2023 at the Philippine International Convention Center and at select Ayala Cinemas around Metro Manila.