Spanish actress Alejandra Lorente leads guests at the 12th Spanish Film Festival

Alejandra Lorente

Spanish actress Alejandra Lorente leads the roster of special guests at the highly anticipated Película-Pelikula, the 12^th Spanish Film Festival, happening on October 3-13, 2013 at the Greenbelt 3 Cinemas. Joining her are Argentinean director Gabriel Nesci and directors from Zamboanga. All of them will be on hand to present their respective films among the more than 20 movies included in the line-up for this festival showcasing the best of contemporary Spanish and Latin American cinema.

Aquel no era yo/That Wasn't Me

Alejandra Lorente will present her short film Aquelno era yo (That Wasn't Me) showing on October 3, 2013, 7:00 PM which will be followed by an open forum. I was able to see this film directed by Esteban Crespo during the press conference that was held recently. In the movie, Alejandra plays the role of Paula, a Spanish aid worker who goes to an African country in order to rescue children soldiers and rehabilitate them. But events at the border end up turning for the worst as she, along with her partner Juanjo (Gustavo Salmerón), got caught up in the conflict. This is not a feel good film at all and the sight of the children armed with rifles and being brainwashed into revolutionary soldiers is downright disturbing. But the film prevents in making itself in becoming a totally depressing experience by offering a glimpse of redemption towards the end. In a world where the threat of war looms, this film is very relevant and I am curious to see and hear how the open forum after the screening will go.

Carlos Palomo, Jose Miguel Dela Rosa, Ambassador Jorge Domecq
and José María Fons Guardiola

Agrentinean director Gabriel Nesci will be presenting his film Días de vinilo during the Noche del cine argentino happening on October 7, 2013, 7:00 PM which is organized in collaboration with the Embassy of Argentina. Nesci will also have a cinema workshop at the School of Design and Arts, of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

Filipino cinema will also have the spotlight during this festival through director Raya Martin’s La última película which he will be presenting when it screens on October 9, 2013 at 7:00 PM. Debuting this year is the Noche chabacana happening on October 9, 2013, showing the best of Chabacano films in recent years. These films will be presented by their directors who will be coming from Zamboanga. The inclusion of Filipino films in this festival is made possible by the collaboration of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the city government of Zamboanga and the Spanish Program for Cultural Cooperation (SPCC).

Spanish Ambassador Jorge Domecq

Another notable film in this year’s line-up is Blancanieves which won 10 awards including Best Film at the 27th Goya Awards. Other films included in the festival are the comedy Promoción fantasma, the drama El artista y la modelo and the documentary Colgados de un sueño which is a film about the time when painter Fernando Zobel was in Spain.

A non-film related highlight of the festival is the performance of Sacude, a Spanish company of vertical dance happening on October 11, 2013, 8:00 PM at the Fashion Walk of Greenbelt 5.

Película-Pelikula, the 12^th Spanish Film Festival is presented by the Embassy of Spain–AECID, Instituto Cervantes, Ayala Cinemas, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and Manila Contemporary. The event is made possible by Greenbelt, San Miguel Corporation, Qatar Airways, the Embassy of Argentina, in collaboration with Maersk Global Service Centers, Cemex, Emperador Distillers, the City Government of Zamboanga, Ayala Museum, the SPCC. And with special thanks to Centunion Philippines, Ayala Land Premier, Tyler, Alba’s Restaurante Español, Espa-Fil and Intercontinental Manila.

For inquiries:
Instituto Cervantes 526-1482