Italian Film Festival screens Paolo Sorrentino, Paolo Genovese works at the Shang

The latest works by internationally renowned directors Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty, Youth) and Paolo Genovese (Perfect Strangers) are among the six contemporary Italian films lined up at the return of the Italian Film Festival this June 26-July 1. 2026 at the Shangri-La Plaza's Red Carpet Cinemas in Manadluyong.

Presented by the Embassy of Italy in Manila in collaboration with Elephant Pictures, Cineforum Robert Bresson, the Philippine-Italian Association (PIA), and Shangri-La Plaza's Red Carpet Cinemas, the festival continues its mission of promoting Italian culture and strengthening ties between Italy and the Philippines through the universal language of cinema.

Here is this year's selection of films in detail.

Le città di pianura | The Last One for the Road (2025)

Director: Francesco Sossai

Cast: Filippo Scotti, Sergio Romano, Pierpaolo Capovilla, Roberto Citran, Andrea Pennacchi

Two broke, bar-hopping fiftysomethings meet a shy and aimless architecture student. Together, the three men embark on a chaotic road trip through the Venetian plains where bad advice, hangovers and unexpected friendship shake up the young man’s future plans for life and love.

Elisa (2025)

Director: Leonardo Di Costanzo

Cast: Barbara Ronchi, Roschdy Zem, Diego Ribon, Valeria Golino

Thirty-five-year-old Elisa has been in prison for ten years, convicted for having killed her older sister and burnt her body for no apparent reason. She claims to remember little to nothing about her crime, as if she’d built up a wall of silence between her and her past. But when she decides to meet criminologist Alaoui and take part in his research, embarking on a tense and inexorable exchange, her memories begin to take shape and, amidst the pain of fully accepting her culpability, Elisa finds she might be able to take the first step towards potential redemption.

FolleMente | Madly (2025)

Director: Paolo Genovese

Cast: Edoardo Leo, Pilar Fogliati, Emanuela Fanelli, Maria Chiara Giannetta, Claudia Pandolfi, Vittoria Puccini, Marco Giallini, Maurizio Lastrico, Rocco Papaleo, Claudio Santamaria

A romantic comedy that goes beyond appearances, diving into the minds of the two main characters, Piero and Lara, and revealing their most hidden thoughts and the inner battles that we all face.

Gioia mia | Sweetheart (2025)

Director: Margherita Spampinato

Cast: Marco Fiore, Aurora Quattrocchi, Martina Ziami, Camille Dugay

A young boy and an elderly woman are forced to spend a summer together. It's a clash of modernity and tradition, speed and slowness. A summer filled with fears and discoveries, but also adventures, milestones, and losses – a summer after which nothing will ever be the same again.

La grazia | The Pardon (2025)

Director: Paolo Sorrentino

Cast: Toni Servillo, Anna Ferzetti

Mariano De Santis is the President of the Italian Republic. No connection to any real-life presidents; he is entirely a product of the author’s imagination. A widower and a Catholic, he has a daughter, Dorotea, a legal scholar like himself. As his term draws to a close, amid uneventful days, two final duties arise: deciding on two delicate petitions for a presidential pardon. True moral dilemmas, which become tangled with his private life, in ways that seem impossible to unravel. Driven by doubt, he will have to decide. And, with a deep sense of responsibility, that is exactly what this remarkable Italian President will do.

La vita da grandi | Siblings (2025)

Director: Greta Scarano

Cast: Matilda De Angelis, Yuri Tuci, Maria Amelia Monti, Paolo Hendel, Adriano Pantaleo, Christian Ginepro

Irene is called back to Rimini, her hometown, to care for her autistic brother Omar. Determined to shape his future, Omar persuades Irene to help him become independent and chase his dream of fame as a rap singer.

Here is the schedule of screenings. Admission to all screenings is for free.

June 26, 2026

6:00 PM La grazia

June 27, 2026

6:00 PM FolleMente

June 28, 2026

6:00 PM Elisa

June 29, 2026

6:00 PM Gioia mia

June 30, 2026

6:00 PM La vita da grandi

July 1, 2026

6:00 PM Le città di pianura

For many years, the Italian Film Festival has served as an important platform for cultural exchange, introducing Filipino audiences to the richness and diversity of contemporary Italian filmmaking while creating opportunities for dialogue between artists, educators, students, and cultural institutions.

The festival is part of the broader efforts to promote Italian cultural heritage and strengthen people-to-people connections between Italy and the Philippines.

Festival Director Antonio Termenini continues to oversee the artistic direction of the festival and the selection of films presented to Philippine audiences. A film producer and cultural organizer, Termenini is the founder of Cineforum Robert Bresson, a Rome-based cultural association dedicated to promoting cinema and cultural exchange. He is also the creator of the internationally recognized Asian Film Festival in Italy and Managing Director of Elephant Pictures, a film production and distribution company. Through these initiatives, he has played an important role in promoting both Italian and Asian cinema and fostering cultural dialogue between Europe and Asia.

MSO celebrates 80 years of the Philippine Republic with Liberation concert on July 4

The Manila Symphony Orchestra's Centennial Season, apart from delivering noteworthy performances by one of Asia's oldest orchestras, has also been a refresher course on Philippine history.

The next concert of the season is no exception as the MSO commemorates the post World War II years with Liberation: 80 Years of the Philippine Republic, happening on July 4, 2026, 7:30 PM at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.

The upcoming performance looks back on the MSO's Gala Symphony Concert back in July 5, 1946 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium celebrating the inauguration of the Philippine Republic.

Featured in this concert are violinist Jeanne Marquez, her brother clarinetist Jason Marquez, and guest conductor Jose Reyna, Jr.

Jeanne Marquez

Jeanne will be the soloist at the rarely heard Violin Concerto in D Minor by Lucio San Pedro. She is an MSJO-Standard Insurance International Music Scholar and a recent graduate of the Juilliard School with a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance.

Jason Marquez

On the other hand, Jason, who is a principal clarinetist at Michigan and Texas, gets the spotlight at Concerto for Clarinet by Artie Shaw.

Jose Reyna, Jr.

Jose Reyna, Jr. is an American Prize-winning Filipino conductor, hailed as the “Filipino Toscanini” (The Manila Bulletin) for his panache and artistry on the podium.

Also to be performed at the concert is the opener Youth by former MSO Assistant Conductor Col. Antonino Buenaventura. Premiered at the 1946 MSO Gala Symphony Concert and conducted by the composer himself, the work portrays the youth as the epitome of vigor, energy, and love, standing at the threshold of life's journey". The evening wraps up with Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture by George Gershwin arr. by Robert Russel Barnett.

MSO's Liberation concert brings together works by Filipino and American composers whose music reflects the artistic exchanges and cultural connections that have shaped both nations over the past eight decades.

Manila Symphony Orchestra

The concert venue, the Metropolitan Theater, also holds significance to the MSO. The orchestra performed at the Met's inauguration back in 1931 making the upcoming concert a sort of homecoming for the MSO.

The Manila Symphony Orchestra's Liberation: 80 Years of the Philippine Republic is presented by the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Inc. and Standard Insurance; co-presented by EastWest Bacnk and PAGCOR in partnership with Bagong Pilipinas, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Metropolitan Theater.

Milan-based soprano Christiana “Tinette” Serafin de Ocampo returns for a series of homecoming concerts

Christiana Serafin de Ocampo
Photo ©Dominic Dimagmaliw

After watching Arthur Espiritu's return performance at MiraNila a month ago, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Christiana "Tinette" Serafin de Ocampo. I learned that she is an acclaimed spinto soprano based in Milan who is back in town for a series of homecoming concerts.

At the time when I met her, she has already wrapped up Ritorna Vincitor! Arias Unleashed and was gearing up for Curtains Up: Opera Meets Broadway later that month. I missed both but fortunately for me, she has a handful of performances already on the pipeline.

Due to the success of Ritorna Vincitor!, Christiana teams up once again with pianist Dr. Peter Porticos for a repeat performance in Encore!, an evening of opera arias by Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss, and Jules Massenet. This happens on June 13, 2026, 6:00 PM at Manila Pianos Showroom located at the 4F Ronac Lifestyle Center, Paseo de Magallanes, Makati City. Contact 0917-4158876 for tickets.

Christiana then joins the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra in Celli Sentimental on June 14, 2026, 7:00 PM at the Centro de Turismo in Intramuros, Manila. Conducted by Dr. Renato Lucas, she will be the featured soprano in the performance of Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 by Heitor Villa-Lobos that is rarely performed in its entirety. Also performing in this concert is cello wunderkind Damodar Das Castillo. Tickets are available at Ticket2Me.com.

Next up is Opera Up Close, a concert lecture with pianist Mariel Ilusorio happening on July 11, 2026, 6:00 PM at the Sunshine Place in Jupiter St., Makati. E-mail sandy.hontiveros@gmail.com for tickets.

The series wraps up with Canciones con Guitarra on August 8, 2026, 6;00 PM at Varlez Pianos, LGI Bldg., Ortigas Ave. For tickets, contact Richard Sy Facunda at 0917-415-8876 or rsyfacunda@gmail.com.

Christiana Serafin de Ocampo
Photo ©Dominic Dimagmaliw

Christiana “Tinette” Serafin de Ocampo is a Filipino soprano whose international artistic career spans Manila, the United States, and Europe.

Born in Manila, she initially pursued pre-medical studies at Sarah Lawrence College and later at Columbia University before turning toward music.

She was awarded a scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music, where she completed her studies in vocal performance under the tutelage of Edward Zambara.

During her academic years in New York, she actively engaged in vocal performance, singing undertaking solo work. She also appeared as a soloist in church and concert settings, gaining early experience in sacred and recital repertoire.

In New York, she worked with the renowned Filipino soprano Evelyn Mandac, further deepening her artistic grounding.

Following her studies, she began professional engagements in the United States, including work connected with Washington Opera (now Washington National Opera). She also performed with Washington Concert Opera, as well as in concerts associated with the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and related orchestral projects.

During this period, she attracted interest from major opera institutions, including the San Francisco Opera. However, due to visa constraints related to transitioning from student practical training to a working visa, she made the decision—following professional guidance—to continue her artistic development in Europe.

This led her to relocate to Vienna, where she could further immerse herself in the Germanic vocal tradition and Lied repertoire. Vienna marked a decisive artistic turning point. There, she worked with the legendary soprano Hilde Zadek, whose guidance confirmed her development as a dramatic soprano. Her repertoire focus expanded toward major dramatic roles including Tosca and Aida.

In parallel, her collaboration with pianist Norman Shetler opened a deep engagement in German Lied tradition, including Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf, Mahler, and Wagner. In particular, Wagner became a bridge toward a more dramatic repertoire.

She further expanded her French mélodie repertoire with works by Hahn, Fauré, Duparc, Chausson, Poulenc, Ravel, and Debussy, building on earlier studies with Thomas Grubb in New York.

Her development continued with Margarita Lilova and later with Wessela Zlateva.

Her Vienna years were also marked by extensive exploration of somatic and movement practices, including the Feldenkrais Method, Alexander Technique, Yoga, and Rolfing. Initially encouraged by soprano Evelyn Mandac, she studied multiple yoga traditions, including Iyengar and Bikram, developing a holistic understanding of singing as an integration of body, breath, and mental focus.

She also worked with soprano Nelly Miricioiu, who further affirmed her direction as a dramatic soprano. Her performance work during this period included Tosca under conductor Uwe Theimer of the Wiener Volksoper and Musikhochschule, alongside concert and recital engagements across Europe. While her vocal identity did not conform to rigid classification, this period consolidated her artistic voice as a spinto drammatico soprano with a broad interpretive range.

She collaborated with conductor Marc Tardue, who invited her to perform Samuel Barber’s masterpiece Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with the Jenaer Philharmonie.

Over time, she increasingly focused on concert work and pedagogy. During the global pandemic, she relocated to Paris, where she re-established her artistic base and resumed both performing and teaching.

While in Paris, worked with Craig Sirianni, whom she credits for strengthening her engagement with spinto and dramatic repertoire. She then met her current teacher Howard Haskin, whose guidance reaffirmed her classification as a spinto drammatico soprano and supported a renewed technical approach based on the teachings of Marie-Henriette Dejean, which integrate physiological and spiritual aspects of singing.

After 4 1/2 years in Paris, she spent a period in Milan dedicated to intensive study and technical consolidation.

She now returns to Manila to present a series of concerts and masterclasses, establishing her Asian base while continuing an international career across Europe and expanding her artistic work throughout the Asia-Pacific region. This homecoming marks not a return in closure, but a continuation of an international artistic trajectory, bringing her accumulated experience into dialogue with audiences and emerging singers in the Philippines and Asia Pacific region.

For further information, check out the social media accounts at the following:

Facebook: Christiana Serafin de Ocampo

YouTube: @christianaserafindeocampo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serafinvocalacademy/

MSO goes from classical to romantic in From Mozart to Mahler concert this May 30

The Manila Symphony Orchestra goes from classical to romantic for the second concert of its Centennial Season this May 30, 2026, 7:30 PM at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati.

Joshua Dos Santos

Billed as From Mozart to Mahler, the concert sees the return of Venezuelan conductor Joshua Dos Santos to the Philippine stage. Joshua was trained in Venezuela’s trailblazing music program El Sistema and was part of the Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchestra (when it was still a youth orchestra) that went viral online for its Mambo encore at the BBC Proms back in 2007. He has been appointed associate conductor of the Simón Bolivar Chamber Orchestra in 2023.

The concert begins with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra in E-flat major, K. 364 with violinist Emanuel John “EJ” Villarin and violist Christian Wrona as the featured duo taking center stage for this classical piece.

Emanuel John Villarin 

EJ, a student at the Universität für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin, is an award-winning violinist gaining 1st prize at New York Yong Performers Prize in 2021 and the NAMCYA in 2020. He performs with a Gencer Cerit Eskisehir violin.

Christian Wrona

Christian Wrona is a Filipino-Canadian violist, who also studies at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin. An Asian Youth Orchestra alumnus, Christian is mentored by renowned artists including Tabea Zimmermann and Kim Kashkashian.

Manila Symphony Orchestra

The MSO goes romantic for second part of the concert with Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major. For this Titan of a symphony that challenges both the orchestra and the audience, the MSO gets joined by select members of the UST Symphony Orchestra. This collaboration is in celebration of the UST Conservatory of Music’s 80th Anniversary and acknowledgment of the ties between MSO and UST. Many past and present members of the MSO have been students and faculty members at UST.

UST Symphony Orchestra

The evening is poised to showcase the precision, clarity, and refinement of the classical period along with the emotional, expansive, and richly textured music of the romantic period.

The Manila Symphony Orchestra’s Concert II – From Mozart to Mahler is presented by the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation Inc. and Standard Insurance, along with EastWest Bank, and in partnership with the Austrian Embassy and the University of Sto. Tomas, and media partners the Manila Times, 98.7 DZFE-FM | The Master's Touch, and EON Group.