Lithuanian, Slovenian films to debut at Cine Europa 27 at the Shang

The biggest foreign language film festival in the Philippines gets even bigger as films from Lithuania and Slovenia debut in the 27th edition of Cine Europa happening this October 18-27, 2024 at the Red Carpet Cinema, Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong.

The Lithuanian and Slovenian films join the 20-strong film line up presented by the European Union Member States, the Alliance Française de Manille, the Goethe-Institut, the Instituto Cervantes, the Philippine-Italian Association, and guest country Ukraine. This year's selection is a mix of returning film festival favorites giving viewers another chance to see these movies, modern classics, and current releases that have never been shown in Philippine cinemas before.

Cine Europa 27 will also have screenings at the University of the Cordilleras in Baguio, University of San Agustin in Iloilo, University of the Philippines in Cebu and University of St. La Salle in Bacolod on 18 to 27 October 2024.

Here are the 20 films to be screened at Cine Europa 27.

Another Franko (Ukraine, 2024)

Director: Igor Visnevsky

Cast: Vyacheslav Dovzhenko, Akhtem Seitablaev, Nadiya Levchenko, Roman Kulish, Andriy Fedinchyk, Lilia Yushkevich, Maxim Donets, Irina Kudashova, Yana Kovernik, Oleg Voloshchenko, Vsevolod Shekita

This film chronicles the life of Peter Franko, the son of a renowned Ukrainian writer, exploring his love for his wife Olga, his rivalry with friend Andriy, and the historical events that shaped the destinies of millions, all while the mystery of his death remains unsolved.

Diabolik (Italy, 2021)

Directors: Antonio Manetti, Marco Manetti

Cast: Luca Marinelli, Miriam Leone, Valerio Mastandrea, Alessandro Roja, Serena Rossi, Claudia Gerini, Stefano Pesce, Luca Di Giovanni, Vanessa Scalera, Antonino Iuorio

In 1960s Clerville, the thrilling encounters between the enigmatic Diabolik and the alluring Eva Kant blend romance and crime, with Inspector Ginko determined to foil their plans.

Icare | Icarus and the Minotaur (Luxembourg, 2022)

Director: Carlo Vogele

In this animated film, Icarus, the apprentice of Daedalus, forms a secret friendship with the Minotaur before facing disillusionment and a tragic choice when King Minos confines his friend to the labyrinth and Prince Theseus arrives to confront the monster.

La Flota de Indias | The West Indies Fleet (Spain, 2021)

Director: Antonio Perez Molero

A powerful documentary exploring the historical and cultural impact of the Spanish fleets that transformed the New World and fuelled globalization over two centuries.

Lang historie kort | Long Story Short (Denmark, 2015)

Directors: May el-Toukhy, Maren Louise Käehne

Cast: Mille Lehfeldt, Jens Albinus, Trine Dyrholm, Peter Gantzler, Cecilie Stenspil, Danica Curcic, Marijana Jankovic, Ola Rapace

A heartfelt ensemble comedy-drama, chronicling the tangled love lives of a group of friends, each seeking romantic redemption over the course of eight parties.

L'uomo senza colpa | The Man without Guilt (Slovenia, 2022)

Director: Ivan Gergolet

Cast: Valentina Canelutti, Branko Zavrsan, Enrico Inserra, Livia Rossi

In Trieste, Angela, a widow whose husband died from asbestos exposure, takes a caregiving job for Francesco, her husband's former employer, to seek revenge but ultimately discovers that her actions lead to unexpected truths and the possibility of forgiveness and a new beginning.

Mai departe | This World is My Arena (Romania, 2023)

Director: Tedy Necula

Cast: George Balta, Adrian Paduraru, Dan Murzea, Nuami Dinescu, Sara Cuncea, Cristian-China Birta, Diana Bagdasar, Ela Ionescu, Liviu Cheloiu, Ana-Maria Pandele

A biopic of George Baltă, a paralyzed rugby player turned marathoner and motivational speaker, this inspiring film is a testament to perseverance and self discovery.

Mancs | Paw (Hungary, 2015)

Director: Robert-Adrian Pejo

Cast: Zsolt Trill, Orsolya Holecskó, Tamás Keresztes, Oszkár Nyári, László Szacsvay

Inspired by true events, this family drama follows the heart-warming journey of Zoli and his rescue dog Paw, as they overcome personal and professional challenges together.

Mermaids Don’t Cry (Austria, 2022)

Director: Franziska Pflaum

Cast: Stefanie Reinsperger, Karl Fischer, Nico Ehrenteit, Julia Franz Richter, Inga Busch

Annika, a supermarket saleswoman struggling with her chaotic life, dreams of acquiring a glamorous mermaid fin that costs 2.458 euros, despite facing family challenges, potential layoffs at work, and a complicated love life.

Niebezpieczni dżentelmeni | Dangerous Gentlemen (Poland, 2022)

Director: Maciej Kawalski

Cast: Tomasz Kot, Marcin Dorociński, Andrzej Seweryn, Wojciech Mecwaldowski

In "The Mountain Retreat of Zakopane," Joseph Conrad and three artists wake up after a wild party to find a dead man on their couch, leaving them bewildered and facing the gendarmerie at their door.

O anthropos me tis apantiseis | The Man with the Answers (Cyprus, 2021)

Director: Stelios Kammitsis

Cast: Vasilis Magouliotis, Anton Weil, Stella Fyrogeni, Marc Pistono, Chiara Ore Visca, Brando Rossi, Mauro Racanti

After his grandmother's death, Victor leaves his village in a dilapidated car to find his estranged mother in Germany, picking up hitchhiker Mattias along the way, leading to a profound bond despite their differing personalities during their journey through the Italian countryside.

Per Arti | Remember to Blink (Lithuania, 2022)

Director: Austėja Urbaitė

Cast: Ajus Antanavicius, Anne Azoulay, Arthur Igual, Dovile Kundrotaite, Inesa Sionova

A French couple adopts two Lithuanian children and hires Gabi, a bilingual student, to help them adapt, but cultural differences and conflicting attitudes lead to tensions among the adults.

Přišla v noci | She Came at Night (Czech Republic, 2023)

Directors: Jan Vejnar, Tomáš Pavlíček

Cast: Simona Peková, Annette Nesvadbová, Jiří Rendl

This black-humor-infused home invasion horror follows a couple whose lives are turned upside down when one of their mothers takes over their home—and their sanity.

Sonne und Beton | Sun and Concrete (Germany, 2020)

Director: David Wnendt

Cast: Levy Rico Arcos, Rafael Luis Klein-Heßling, Vincent Wiemer, Aaron Maldonado-Morales

A gripping coming-of-age crime drama set in a heatwave-scorched Berlin, where a group of teens devises a high-stakes plan to escape their grim reality.

Souvenir (Belgium, 2016)

Director: Bavo Defurne

Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Kevin Azaïs, Johan Leysen, Carlo Ferrante, Sophie Mousel

A once-famous chanson singer’s life changes when a young boxer encourages her to return to the stage. A moving story of rediscovery and romance in this heart-warming drama-comedy.

The Strange Case of Jacky Caillou (France, 2022)

Director: Lucas Delangle

Cast: Thomas Parigi, Edwige Blondiau, Lou Lampros, Jean-Louis Coulloc'h, Romain Laguna, Georges Isnard, Sivan Garavagno, Jean Marc Ravera

In a mountain village in the French Alps, young Jacky Caillou, who lives with his grandmother Gisèle, a renowned magnetizer-healer, becomes determined to heal a perform a miracle.

Taste of Freedom (Ukraine, 2024)

Director: Alexander Berezan

Cast: Iryna Kudašova, Tetiana Malkova, Tomasz Sobczak, Kosťantyn Temljak, Irma Vitovska, Pavel Li, Rimma Zjubina

In the vibrant streets of Lviv, a young cook pursues her dream of becoming a chef at a prestigious restaurant, but her life takes a surprising turn when she discovers a 1929 cookbook by the legendary chef Olga Franko, leading her on a journey of self discovery and belief in herself amidst the challenges of success.

That They May Face the Rising Sun (Ireland, 2023)

Director: Pat Collins

Cast: Barry Ward, Anna Bederke, Ruth McCabe, Lalor Roddy, Sean McGinley

A tender adaptation of John McGahern’s celebrated novel, portraying a year in the life of a small Irish lakeside community in the 1970s.

Tigrar | Tigers (Sweden, 2021)

Director: Ronnie Sandahl

Cast: Erik Engelen, Frida Gustavsson, Johannes Kuhnke, Maurizio Lombardi, Alfred Enoch, Liv Mjönes, Antonio Bannò, Lino Musella, Gianluca Di Gennaro

Based on a true story, this gripping drama delves into the harsh world of professional soccer, where a young talent’s dreams turn into a nightmare of obsession and pressure.

Toivon tuolla puolen | The Other Side of Hope (Finland, 2017)

Director: Aki Kaurismäki

Cast: Sakari Kuosmanen, Sherwan Haji, Kati Outinen, Tommi Korpela

This poignant drama about a Syrian refugee and a middle-aged Finnish salesman explores the deep humanity and unexpected kindness amidst adversity, spiced with Kaurismäki’s trademark humor.

Here is the schedule of screenings for the Red Carpet, Shangri-La Plaza Mall leg of Cine Europa 27.

October 18, 2024

6:00 PM Lang historie kort | Long Story Short

9:00 PM Niebezpieczni dżentelmeni | Dangerous Gentlemen

October 19, 2024

1:30 PM Icare | Icarus and the Minotaur 

3:30 PM Toivon tuolla puolen | The Other Side of Hope

5:30 PM Přišla v noci | She Came at Night

7:30 PM Tigrar | Tigers

October 20, 2024

1:30 PM Taste of Freedom

3:30 PM Sonne und Beton | Sun and Concrete

5:30 PM Mancs | Paw

7:30 PM Souvenir

October 21, 2024

5:30 PM Mai departe | This World is My Arena

7:30 PM Mermaids Don't Cry

9:30 PM That They May Face the Rising Sun

October 22, 2024

5:30 PM The Strange Case of Jacky Caillou

7:30 PM La Flota de Indias | The West Indies Fleet

9:30 PM O anthropos me tis apantiseis | The Man with the Answers

October 23, 2024

5:30 PM Diabolik

7:30 PM Per Arti | Remember to Blink

9:30 PM Sonne und Beton | Sun and Concrete

October 24, 2024

5:30 PM Another Franko

7:30 PM Niebezpieczni dżentelmeni | Dangerous Gentlemen

9:30 PM Icare | Icarus and the Minotaur 

October 25, 2024

1:30 PM Toivon tuolla puolen | The Other Side of Hope

3:30 PM  Přišla v noci | She Came at Night

5:30 PM Tigrar | Tigers

7:30 PM L'uomo senza colpa | The Man without Guilt

October 26, 2024

1:30 PM Mancs | Paw

3:30 PM Mai departe | This World is My Arena

5:30 PM Mermaids Don't Cry

7:30 PM The Strange Case of Jacky Caillou

October 27, 2024

1:30 PM La Flota de Indias | The West Indies Fleet

3:30 PM Diabolik

5:30 PM Souvenir

7:30 PM That They May Face the Rising Sun

Admission to Cine Europa 27 is for free on a first come, first served basis. All films will be shown in their original language with English subtitles.

Cellist Damodar Das Castillo excites in Strings of Gold series opener

Mariel Ilusorio and Damodar Das Castillo

With a remarkable combination of youthful vigor and artistic maturity, cellist Damodar Das Castillo continues to excite as he and the ever reliable pianist Mariel Ilusorio officially christened the MiraNila Heritage House and Library as Metro Manila's newest classical music performance venue.

The concert also served as the unveiling of the newly restored Steinway 1904 grand piano.  With its dark brown finish and various ornate accents like the rococo-styled feet, the rare piano is a welcome change to the dominant stark black concert grand pianos that have dominated the scene for decades. 

But the audience had to wait a bit to hear the piano as the program began with a solo by Damodar performing the Prelude from Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009 by Johann Sebastian Bach. Right off the bat, Damodar, exuded a level of confidence and security that is beyond his 17 years.

And when joined by the seasoned Ilusorio in Frédéric Chopin's Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 65, he held is own and the two played as equals as if longtime collaborators. The meaty Chopin sonata could've served as the concert finale piece but this just wrapped up the first half.

The second half was a mixed selection of pieces starting with Faye Miravite's Transcendence that uniquely incorporates Damodar's meditative chants. This was followed by Nicanor Abelardo's Cavatina, Henry Mancini's Moon River, and Richard Rodgers' Edelweiss, a trio of pleasant tunes. The familiarity of the latter two pieces unfortunately prompted some audience members to hum along with a few doing so severely off key.

To close out the program, Damodar performed the first movement of Antonín Dvořák's Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191. With such aplomb, Ilusorio showcased the newly restored Steinway's brilliance effectively, laying aside whatever misgiving an audience member who longed for an actual orchestra might've had. The longing would've been for the complete concerto being performed instead.

Post performance Q&A

The MiraNila audience couldn't get enough of the duo and they were rewarded with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Pezzo capriccioso, Op. 62 and Ennio Morricone's Gabriel's Oboe from The Mission as encores that kept the mix of standard classical repertoire with the more recent, crowd-pleasing music presented in the concert.

The high ceiling of MiraNila house provided natural amplification and reverb, but making it very unforgiving even with the slightest intonation error. Thankfully, Damodar was very secure with his cello, showing no signs of hesitation. The only hesitation he had was during the post-performance Q&A section wherein he responded with just brief words compared to the more Ilusorio who gave eloquent answers as well as annotations throughout the evening.

The MiraNila Heritage House's inaugural Strings of Gold concert once again proved that Damodar Das Castillo is one of the country's most exciting young artists who has the potential to be a headliner on the international stage. And that Mariel Ilusorio remains one of the most reliable pianists who let her collaborators be at ease and truly shine on stage as well.

Maestro Fabio Armiliato to conduct opera masterclasses for Progetto Puccini 2024

Progetto Puccini 2024 brings internationally acclaimed maestros led by famed tenor Fabio Armiliato to the country for a series of opera masterclasses this October 1-4, 2024 and a culminating concert on October 5, 2024 all happening at the Metropolitan Theater.

Maestro Fabio Armiliato

Joining Maestro Armiliato in conducting the masterclasses are musical director and vocal teacher Mariano Panico, soprano Lorena Zaccaria and répétiteur John Florencio offering their expertise in vocal technique, Italian diction, interpretation, expression, stage presence, and more.

Mariano Panico

The Filipino singers participating in the masterclasses include soloists Angeli Benipayo, Nerissa de Juan, Stefanie Quintin-Avila, Jomel Garcia, Ervin Lumauag, and Karl Arnold Saret.

Lorena Zaccaria

The masterclasses will also feature a La Bohème Workshop featuring Myramae Meneses, Anna Migallos, Iona Ventocilla-Borja, Carlo Falcis, Roby Malubay, Nomher Nival, Fritz Rivera, Raymond Yadao, as well as pianist Oliver Salonga.

John Florencio

The upcoming masterclasses will serve as preparation for the second phase of Progetto Puccini happening next year, June 15-30, 2025, that will be highlighted by performances of La Bohème featuring the masterclass participants at the Teatro Orfeo.

Anna Migallos

The collaboration between the Philippine and Italy in this two-phased project is expected to strengthen cultural ties and celebrate the connection between the two countries through the opera music of Giacomo Puccini.

Roby Malubay

Observers for the masterclasses on October 1-4, 2024 at the Metropolitan Theater are welcome. One just need to register until September 30, 2024 through this link: https://forms.gle/PjWorK8AdySd7DQb8.

Myramae Meneses

The culminating concert, billed as Amore in Aire: A Filipino-Italian Encounter will be held on October 5, 2024, 6:00 PM at the Metropolitan Theater. Admission to the concert is for free and tickets can be availed through this link: https://bit.ly/ccp-amore.

Progetto Puccini is presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Metropolitan Theater, the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), the Arturo Toscanini Foundation, and the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation with the support of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), San Miguel Corporation, Ferrari Philippines, Smeg Philippines, Auro Chocolate, Admiral Hotel - Official Residence Sponsor, and the Viva Voce Voice Lab.

23rd edition of Película to screen Teatro Real productions

The Instituto Cervantes presents the 23rd edition of Película Spanish Film Festival hitting the big screen this October 5-13, 2024 at the Shangri-La Plaza's Red Carpet Cinema.

This year's selection includes 25 movies, four of which are filmed ballet/dance and opera productions staged in Teatro Real in Madrid under the Creadores teatrales españoles section. Another section is En corto: Short films from the Philippines, Latin America and Spain, composed of four short films with two coming from the Philippines.

Teatro Real

A notable side event of the Película is Philippines, ¡rick, rack, catacrak!, a film workshop for kids to be conducted by Spanish film maker and screenwriter Mario Torrecillas. The workshop will be held on October 6, 2024, from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM at the Grand Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall. Torrecillas will also present the film he wrote, Loli Tormenta at the festival.

Película hasn't officially opened yet but What's a festival like you doing in a city like this?! exhibit featuring a selection of posters, videos and graphic material from the various editions of the Festival is already available for viewing at the Intramuros branch of Instituto Cervantes.

Here is the official selection of the 23rd Película Spanish Film Festival.

20.000 especies de Abejas | 20,000 Species of Bees (2023)

Directors: Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren

Cast: Sofía Otero, Patricia López Arnaiz, Ane Gabarain, Itziar Lazkano, Sara Cózar

An eight-year-old is suffering because people keep addressing the child in ways that cause discomfort. They insist on calling the child by the birth name Aitor. And the nickname, Cocó, even if less obviously wrong, does not feel right either. During a summer in the Basque country, the child confides these worries to relatives and friends. But how can a mother handle her child’s quest for identity when she is herself still dealing with her own ambivalent parental legacy?

Benito Pérez Buñuel (2023)

Director: Luis Roca

What unites the writer Benito Pérez Galdós and the filmmaker Luis Buñuel? "Benito Pérez Buñuel" uncovers the connection between the two through a documentary with an animated film that moves across the classic, the fake and the non-fiction approaches.

Casa en llamas | A House on Fire (2024)

Director: Dani de la Orden

Cast: Emma Vilarasau, Enric Auquer, María Rodríguez Soto, Alberto San Juan, Clara Segura, José Pérez-Ocaña, Macarena García

Montse is thrilled about the weekend she gets to spend with the whole family at her house on the Costa Brava. Her divorce was long ago, her ex has a new partner, and her children are all grown up with lives of their own. No one pays much attention to her. But nothing and no one will put a damper on her excitement. She’s been dreaming of this moment for too long. The weekend will be perfect… even if she has to burn everything to the ground to make it so.

Cerrar los ojos | Close Your Eyes (2021)

Director: Victor Erice

Cast: José Coronado, María León, Soledad Villamil, Ana Torrent, Manolo Solo, Ginés Garcia Millán, Petra Martínez, Mario Pardo, Josep Maria Pou, Juan Margallo, Antonio Dechent

Close Your Eyes turns on a famous Spanish actor, Julio Arenas, who disappears while filming a movie. Although his body is never found, the police conclude that he has suffered an accident at a cliff by the sea. Many years later, the mystery is brought up once more by a TV program that tries to evoke the actor, offering as a scoop images of the last scenes in which he participated, shot by his close friend, director Miguel Garay.

Dispararon al pianista | They Shot the Pianist (2023)

Directors: Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal

Cast: Jeff Goldblum

A music journalist from New York sets out on a frantic investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Brazilian pianist Tenorio Jr, regular accompanist of Vinicius de Moraes, among others. This animated thriller moving to the beat of jazz and bossa nova portrays the days immediately before the Latin American continent was enshrouded by totalitarian regimes.

La estrella azul | The Blue Star (2023)

Director: Javier Macipe

Cast: Pepe Lorente, Cuti Carabajal, Bruna Cusí, Marc Rodríguez, Mariela Carabajal, Noelia Verenice Díaz, Catalina Sopelana

The 90s. A famous Spanish rock star travels around Latin America in the endeavour to reconnect with his vocation. There he meets an old musician down on his luck, prompting the birth of an unlikely duo with every chance of becoming an epic commercial failure.

Las hijas | Sister & Sister (2023)

Director: Kattia González

Cast: Ariana Chaves Gavilán, Cala Rossel Campos

Summer vacation. Two sisters, Marina, 17, and Luna, 14, travel from Costa Rica to Panama to search for their absentee father. While dealing with the friction that arises between them, they find the space to explore their desires, new friendships, lovers and skateboarding, on a journey towards emancipation in which they will learn the virtue of simply hanging out.

Hispanoamérica, canto de vida y Esperanza | Latin America, a Song of Life and Hope (2024)

Director: José Luis López-Linares

A documentary traversing the 3 centuries that gave birth to Hispanic America, exploring the history, art, music and religious syncretism that blossomed from the encounter of two worlds into a vibrant and beautiful civilization like no other.

La llegada | Upon Entry (2022)

Directors: Alejandro Rojas, Juan Sebastián Vasquez

Cast: Alberto Ammann, Bruna Cusí, Ben Temple, Laura Gómez

Diego, a Venezuelan urbanist, and Elena, a contemporary dancer from Barcelona, move to the United States with their approved visas to start a new life. Their intention is to boost their professional careers and start a family in 'the land of opportunities'. But upon entering New York airport's immigration area, they are taken to the secondary inspection room, where border officers will subject them to an unpleasant inspection process and a psychologically grueling interrogation.

Loli Tormenta | Stormy Lola (2023)

Director: Agustí Villaronga

Cast: Susi Sánchez, Joel Gálvez, Celso Bugallo, Mor Ngom, Meteora Fontana, Fernando Esteso

Marisa, a modern and chaotic grandmother who lives with her grandchildren Edgar and Robert in a modest house in Cornellá de Llobregat.

El maestro que prometió el mar | The Teacher who Promised the Sea (2023)

Director: Patricia Font

Cast: Laia Costa, Enric Auquer, Luisa Gavasa, Ramón Agirre, Milo Taboada, Eduardo Ferrés, Alba Guilera, Alicia Reyero, Nicolás Calvo, Alba Hermoso

The buried memories of the Spanish Civil War become unearthed as a woman searches for the remains of her grandfather's father and discovers the story of an idealistic young teacher from Tarragona.

Pacarrete (2019)

Director: Allan Deberton

Cast: Marcelia Cartaxo, João Miguel, Soia Lira, Samya De Lavor, Zezita Matos

Pacarrete, a former ballet dancer who lives in northeast Brazil, decides to dust off her tutu slip and her ballet slippers to perform a classic dance for her city’s 200th anniversary celebration, whether the townspeople want it or not. A broad comedy turns increasingly contemplative as the true nature of Pacarrete’s daily life becomes apparent.

Puan (2023)

Directors: María Alché, Benjamín Naishtat

Cast: Marcelo Subiotto, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Julieta Zylberberg, Alejandra Flechner, Andrea Frigerio, Mara Bestelli

Marcelo has devoted his life to teaching philosophy at the Public University of Buenos Aires. When his mentor Professor Caselli dies unexpectedly, Marcelo expects to become the new head of Department. However, his plans turn upside down with the unexpected arrival of Rafael Sujarchuk. Charismatic and seductive, Rafael returns from his pedestal in European universities to claim the vacant position for himself. Marcelo's clumsy efforts to prove he is the right candidate will trigger a philosophical duel, while his life -and the country- enter a spiral of chaos.

Rioja, la tierra de los mil vinos | Rioja, the Land of a Thousand Wines (2023)

Director: José Luis López-Linares

Through the human stories behind the entire value chain that gives life to the Spanish wine with more international projection, "Rioja, the land of a thousand wines" reveals the moment of hatching that is living the wine region, with the talent and contribution of new generations in coexistence with the great historic wineries. The equivalence between territory and product, between wisdom and tradition, tracing a bridge between the origins of Rioja and its future.

Robot Dreams (2023)

Director: Pablo Berger

Based on the popular graphic novel by the North American writer Sara Varon, Robot Dreams tells the adventures and misfortunes of Dog and Robot in NYC during the '80s.

Siete mesas de billar francés | Seven billiard tables (2007)

Director: Gracia Querejeta

Cast: Blanca Portillo, Maribel Verdú, Amparo Baró, José Luis García Pérez, Víctor Valdivia, Enrique Villén, Ramón Barea, Jesús Castejón

Angela and her son Guille travel to the big city to see Leo, her father and the boy's grandfather, when he suddenly takes ill. However, they arrive to discover that he has just passed away. Charo, the dead man's mistress, explains the dire straits suffered by the paternal business: a hall with seven billiard tables. Charo is convinced that the only way to pay off the debts is to sell the place. However, Angela learns that her husband has disappeared in mysterious circumstances. Given this painful reality, Angela resolves to get on and rebuild her life. And the first thing she decides to do is put her savings into getting the old place and its seven tables back up on its feet.

Te estoy amando locamente | Love and Revolution (2023)

Director: Alejandro Marín

Cast: Ana Wagener, Omar Banana, Alba Flores, Jesús Carroza, Lola Buzón, Mari Paz Sayago, La Dani, Pepa Gracia, Carlos Bernardino, Alicia Moruno, Manuel Morón

It follows a mother who is involved in the homosexual movement of the seventies.

Here is the Creadores teatrales españoles, the Teatro Real filmed productions to be screened at the festival.

El amor brujo | Love, the Sorcerer (2014)

Director: Víctor Ullate

Cast: Victor Ullate Ballet, Estrella Morente, Ruben Olmo

The Víctor Ullate Ballet premièred its version of El amor brujo on 28 May 1994 at the Maestranza de Sevilla, with a script by Vicente Molina Foix. The current version brings in a new set design and wardrobe, seeking to give greater prominence to the light, to the will-o’-the-wisp, present throughout the plot. The play, written by Manuel de Falla in 1915 as a piece for cantaora (folk singer) and chamber orchestra, transformed by the composer ten years later into a pantomimic ballet, has a marked Andalusian flavour and delves into gypsy mysticism, approaching love in its most primitive and essential form. It is a story of love and passion, tears and grief, sorcery and seduction, death and dance. Ullate’s choreography contains moments of great beauty, such as the Canción del amor dolido, Romance del pescador, Danza y canción de la bruja fingida, Canción del fuego fatuo or Las campanas del amanecer. One original feature of this version is the inclusion of three folk songs written by Falla: Nana, Polo and Asturiana. It is a new version, then, of El amor brujo, different in its forms, but eternal in its essence.

Carmen (2011)

Directors: Antonio Gades, Carlos Saura

Cast: Companía Antonio Gades; Vanesa Vento, Ángel Gil, Joaquín Mulero, Jairo Rodríguez

Created by Antonio Gades in collaboration with Carlos Saura, this matchless production shows how the explosive power and intensity of feeling in traditional Spanish flamenco can bring vividly to life the sultry passion, earthy emotion, love and rivalry that is Carmen.

Vanesa Vento lives and breathes Carmen, emphasizing the many faces of this character, female, passionate and freedom fighter, but fickle in love as she shamelessly flirts with men she likes, inspiring desire, rivalry and jealousy amongst both the men and other women. But Carmen's gypsy wildness becomes her own downfall when she discards Don José's (Ángel Gil) love for that of the bullfighter (Jairo Rodríguez), as possessed by a piercing despair Don José kills her.

Fuenteovejuna (2011)

Director: Antonio Gades

Cast: Companía Antonio Gades, Cristina Carnero, Ángel Gil, Joaquín Mulero,Alberto Ferrero

Antonio Gades' last choreographed work, Fuenteovejuna, is a signature piece of purity and precision of Spanish dance. Based on a true event that inspired Lope de Vega to write this classic play in 1619, Fuenteovejuna is about the people of a village in Córdoba ruled by a tyrannical commander whose actions of droit de seigneur, violence and abuse engender their intense hatred. Until one day, encouraged by their women, the villagers choose freedom and, armed with farming implements, they take the law into their own hands. When the villagers are interrogated by a magistrate sent by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to establish who was responsible, no one admits to having done anything, each and every inhabitant only saying 'I'. In other words, 'Fuente Ovejuna did it'.

First performed in 1994 in Genoa, Fuenteovejuna is considered as the ultimate work of Spanish dance. Gades highlights the enormous richness of this discipline, the flamenco, the folklore; the stylised dance serves to tell perfectly the story of solidarity through which Gades knew how to make Spanish dance and flamenco become a universal language.

El público | The audience (2015)

Directors: Pablo Heras-Casado, Roberto Castro

Cast: José Antonio López, Thomas Tatzl, Arcángel, Jesús Méndez, Rubén Olmo, Josep Miquel Ramón, Antonio Lozano, Gun-Brit Barkmin, Erin Caves, Isabella Gaudí, José San Antonio, Harold Torres, Antonio Magno, Haizam Fathy, Leonardo Cremaschi, Carlos Rodas, Daniel Kone, Samuel Echardour, Coro Titular del Teatro Real, Klangforum Wien

El público is Lorca’s most difficult and mysterious play, one of the great classics of modern Spanish theatre. Lorca wrote it in Cuba, just after his trip to New York, at a time of intense experimentation in art and life. Homosexuality is addressed openly in El público, and the play is a cry of defiance against bourgeois hypocrisy and a plea for sexual and artistic freedom. It has been transformed into an opera thanks to Gerard Mortier. He commissioned the composer Mauricio Sotelo to create an opera for the Spanish repertoire of the 21st century. This production from Teatro Real de Madrid is the world premiere recording of El público as an opera. Pablo-Heras Casado conducts the Klangforum Wien and the Chorus of the Teatro Real.

Below is the lineup of the En corto: Short films from the Philippines, Latin America and Spain section.

Aunque es de noche | Even though It is Nighttime (2023)

Director: Guillermo García López
Cast: Antonio Fernández, Nasser Rokni

La Cañada, Europe’s largest slum on the outskirts of Madrid, has been without electricity for over a year. In the firelight, Toni, a 13 year-old boy, discovers that his best friend Nasser is leaving forever. Amongst Roma legends of a possible future, Toni looks for a way to stay connected to him.

Primetime Mother (2023)

Director: Sonny Calvento

Cast: Meryll Soriano, Kiki Baento, Marj Lorico, Jorrybell Agoto, Jo Andrew Torlao

Minda, a 45-year-old mother devoted to her sick child, also has a dream for herself: to compete and hopefully win My Amazing Mama, a popular and lucrative television game show in the Philippines. But, in a country where thousands of people rely on television game shows to earn money, Minda will have to overcome a good many obstacles – some hilarious, some humiliatingly exploitative – just to get a chance at winning the daily cash prize. The show becomes the latest test of her fortitude and tenacity in the face of adversity, which earns her the adoration of everyone around her. A bold satire, which uses humour to explore the archetype of the “good mother” in a patriarchal society.

La Sixtina | The Sistine (2022)

Director: Juan Camilo Fonnegra

Vincho, a street dweller, spends his time recycling and classifying waste produced in the city to transform it into the source of his creations. Under a bridge, he works in his masterpiece: The Sistine.

Transients (2023)

Director: Kyla Romero
Cast: Ross Pesigan, Elora Espano, Kevin Regalado

After reconnecting through a phone call, Justin, an analog filmmaker, and Grace, a frustrated poet, reminisce about the day they first met --a day that Justin tries to recreate from memory.

Here is the festival schedule.

October 5, 2024

5:00 PM Fuenteovejuna

7:30 PM Robot Dreams

October 6, 2024

2:30 PM Carmen

5:00 PM Siete mesas de billar francés

7:30 PM La llegada

October 7, 2024

2:30 PM Loli Tormenta

5:00 PM 20.000 especies de Abejas

7:30 PM Te estoy amando locamente

October 8, 2024

2:30 PM Benito Pérez Buñuel

5:00 PM Hispanoamérica, canto de vida y esperanza

7:30 PM Las hijas

October 9, 2024

2:30 PM El amor brujo

5:00 PM Cerrar los ojos

7:30 PM Pacarrete

October 10, 2024

2:30 PM El maestro que prometió el mar

5:00 PM Le estrella azul

7:30 PM La llegada

October 11, 2024

2:30 PM El público

5:00 PM Dispararon al pianista

7:30 PM Puan

October 12, 2024

2:30 PM Robot Dreams

5:00 PM Casa en llamas

7:30 PM Rioja, la tierra de los mil vinos

October 13, 2024

2:30 PM En corto

5:00 PM Premio del Público

7:30 PM La estrella azul

Película 2024 is a project of Instituto Cervantes in Manila, presented in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, the AECID, Shangri-La Plaza, the Embassy of Argentina in the Philippines, the Embassy of Brazil in the Philippines, the Embassy of Colombia in the Philippines, MTRCB, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, De La Salle University--College of Saint Benilde, the UP Film Institute, the Department of European Languages of the University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University, CIIT College of Arts and Technology, Mapúa University, i-Academy, Mint University, Ateneo de Manila University Modern Languages, Kinoise PH, Sinegang PH. Sponsored by Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Arthaland, Ayala Corporation, Fundador, Terminal Six and Boysen.