11th Spanish Film Festival showcases darker film lineup

Instituto Cervantes’ Deputy for Cultural Affairs José María Fons said that this year’s Película will feature films that are darker, that even the lone animated film in the lineup will not be one for kids. And I got a taste of how dark things would be when they held a special screening of Grupo 7 (Unit 7) during the press conference of Película, Spanish Film Festival which is now on it’s 11^th year. The film festival runs from October 4-14, 2012 at the Greenbelt 3 Cinemas.

Grupo 7/Unit 7

Grupo 7 is about a unit of street cops Angel, Miguel, Rafael and Mateo out to eradicate drug trafficking in Seville amidst the pressure to of the upcoming Expo. But along the way, motives change, personalities clash, sacrifices are made and lines are crossed. In the end, the unit might’ve fulfilled their mission but they all paid a price. Watching the film felt like reading the comicbook series Gotham Central which was about the normal, powerless detectives struggling to solve major crimes involving Batman and his villains in Gotham City. The police procedure coupled with the human stories make up for a gritty film viewing experience. The film is open ended since I left the theater thinking that the story and lives of the Unit 7 went on well after the end credits of the film. And since there is no sequel, I was left wondering what those stories could have been.

As an added treat, the film’s director, Alberto Rodríguez, will grace the screening of Grupo 7 on October 8, 2012 at 7:00 PM. Considered to be as one of the most widely-known directors in Spain, Rodríguez directed 7 vírgenes in 2005 which premiered in the San Sebastian Film Festival, receiving positive reviews and ultimately garnering 6 nominations for the Goya Awards. This will also be my chance to ask questions about Grupo 7 since there will be a discussion at the end of the film screening.

Other films that are of interest for me is the animated film Arrugas which is an adaptation of a comic by Paco Roca. As an avid comicbook reader, this film really grabbed my attention especially when I learned that this was about two senior citizens. It was also mentioned in the press conference that about a quarter of the film was outsourced and animated by Filipinos. And even though that it's a Spanish Film Festival, there will be a feature film and short films in the Basque language which aims to highlight the cultural diversity of Spain.

Spanish Ambassador Jorge Domecq, FDCP's Briccio Santos and
Instituto Cervantes' José María Fons

Here is the rest of Película’s press release:

Festival organizers selected 16 films remarkable for their original concept, striking style, and overall excellence. Multi-awarded films like Arrugas, Madrid 1987, and the Spanish horror thriller film Mientras duermes (Sleep Tight) make their Philippine premier at the film festival.

Other films include the contemporary film noir No habrá paz para los malvados (No rest for the wicked) and the gritty realistic thriller Grupo 7 (Unit 7) about a group of cops who break all the rules to clean up Spain’s ghettos in the 80’s. The film has also made it to Spain's three-pic shortlist for its foreign-language Oscar candidate this year.

This year’s official line-up are:

Donde el olor del mar no llega by Lilián Rosado

Un cuento chino by Sebastián Borensztein (Argentina, 2011)

Dos Hermanos by (Argentina, 2012)

Arrugas by Ignacio Ferreras (Animation, Spain, 2011)

No habrá paz para los malvados (No rest for the wicked) by E. Urbizu (Spain, 2011)

Grupo 7 (Unit 7) by Alberto Rodríguez (Spain, 2011)

After by Alberto Rodríguez (Spain, 2009)

Mientras duermes (Sleep Tight) by Jaume Balagueró (Spain, 2011)

Katmandú by Icíar Bollaín (Spain, 2011)

Lo mejor de Eva (Dark Impulse) by Mariano Barroso (Spain, 2012)

Madrid, 1987 by David Trueba (Spain, 2011)

Pa negre by Agustí Villaronga (Spain, 2010)

La chispa de la vida by Álex de la Iglesia (Spain, 2012)

5 metros cuadrados by Max Lemcke (Spain, 2011)

18 comidas by Jorge Coira (Spain-Argentina, 2010)

80 egunean by Jon Garaño and Jose Mari Goenaga (Spain, 2010)

Documentary and Short-Films Entrees

Película organizers have also selected two films for this year’s documentary line-up that are both unscripted and uncut. The Festival will also feature an unparalleled line-up of nine contemporary Basque short films. This year’s entrees are:

Hollywood Talkies by Oscar Pérez

Jacques Leonard, el payo by Chac Yago Leonard

Ámár by Isabel Herguera

Artalde / Rebaño / Flock by Asier Altuna

La cortadora de margaritas by Enrique García, Rubén Salazar

Exhibition 19 by Alaitz Arenzana, María Ibarretxe

La gran carrera by Kote Camacho

Korosho (Todo Bien) by Miguel Ángel Jiménez

Un novio de mierda by Borja Cobeaga

Ondar Ahoak (Bocas de arena) by  Angel Aldarondo

El premio by León Siminiani

About Película Spanish Film Festival

Película, The Spanish and Latin American Film Festival is part of the month-long celebrations known as ¡Fiesta!, the Spanish Festival for Culture and the Arts. It is organized by the Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish Cultural Center in Manila, together with the Embassy of Spain. This year’s ¡Fiesta! features a stirring array of films and dance and music as presented by leading international artists. The month-long festivities are meant to highlight the commemoration of Spain’s National Day on October 12.  

Película is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila, in cooperation with the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines, Spanish Agency International Cooperation for Development (AECID), Film Development Council of the Philippines, Greenbelt, Ayala Malls Cinemas, San Miguel Corporation, Sony, and Manila Contemporary.

Special thanks to Alba, Espa-Fil, Qatar Airways, Indra, Embassy of the Argentine Republic, Picasso Boutique Hotel and Centunion.

For inquiries:
Instituto Cervantes 526-1482