The popular Película Spanish Film Festival is just around the corner and one would’ve expected a grand celebration as the film festival marks its milestone 20th edition this year. But with the current situation amidst the pandemic imposed restrictions, the festival has to be content in holding everything online for the second year running.
While film enthusiasts still cannot flock over at the Greenbelt 3 Cinemas, the traditional home of the festival for years, they can still log on to www.pelikula.es this October 1-10, 2021 to catch this edition’s selection for free.
As the festival migrated online last year, it has also expanded its scope with the inclusion of other territories in the Asia-Pacific region namely Thailand and Australia. This year sees Malaysia as the newest addition to the countries that can access the films for the duration of the festival.
Since Película is celebrating 20 years, on offer this edition are 20 films, a mix of contemporary feature length titles, a handful of audience favorites from past editions, and a few short films. There will be a couple of webinars as well.
Leading the lineup of the 11 movies in the main selection is the musical El cover which will open the festival on October 1, 2021.
El cover
Director: Secun de la Rosa
Cast: Àlex Monner, Marina Salas, Carolina Yuste, Lander Otaola, María Hervás, Susi Sánchez, Juan Diego, Carmen Machi, Pepe Ocio, Secun de la Rosa
Here are the rest of the films in the main section of the festival. Trailers, synopses, screening schedule, and other details can be viewed at the Película website.
A este lado del mundo
Director: David Trueba
Cast: Vito Sanz, Anna Alarcón, Ondina Maldonado, Joaquín Notario, Janfri Topera, Zidane Barry
Una vez más
Director: Guillermo Rojas
Cast: Silvia Acosta, Jacinto Bobo, Teresa Arbolí, Julia Rodríguez, Celia Vioque, Beatriz Arjona, Asier Iturriaga, Cristina Domínguez, Tatiana Sánchez Garland, Alejandro Sigüenza
Lina de Lima
Director: María Paz González
Cast: Magaly Solier, Emilia Ossandón
Observar las aves
Director: Andrea Martínez Crowther
Invisibles
Director: Gracia Querejeta
Cast: Adriana Ozores, Nathalie Poza, Emma Suárez
Tristesse
Director: Emilio Ruiz Barrachina
Cast: Enrique Simón, Miguelo García, Michel Díaz
Oscuro y lucientes
Director: Samuel Alarcón
15 horas
Director: Judith Colell
Cast: Sterlyn Ramirez, Marc Clotet, Chabela Estrella de Bisonó, Felix Germán, Stephany Liriano, Lidia Ariza
Ane
Director: David Pérez Sañudo
Cast: Patricia López Arnaiz, Mikel Losada, Jone Laspiur, Aia Kruse, Luis Callejo, Nagore Aranburu, Gorka Aguinagalde, Fernando Albizu, David Blanka, Iñaki Ardanaz
Antonio Machado: Los días azules
Director: Laura Hojman
Viewers can get to rate the films that they watched from the main selection. The highest rated film will win the Audience Award and be screened once again to close the festival.
Over the years, Película has introduced Philippine audiences to top caliber actors like Javier Cámara and Ricardo Darín whose films have been among those that have won the Audience Award in previous editions. This year sees the comeback of some their films as part of the Audience Award section. Here are the films who were voted as the best in past editions.
Campeones
Director: Javier Fesser
Cast: Javier Gutiérrez, Athenea Mata, Juan Margallo, Jesús Vidal Marín, Sergio Olmos, Julio Fernández Fabianista, Jesús Lago, Gloria Ramos, Alberto Nieto Ferrández, Fran Fuentes
Fuera de carta
Director: Nacho G. Velilla
Cast: Javier Cámara, Fernando Tejero, Lola Dueñas, Benjamín Vicuña
El secreto de sus ojos
Director: Juan José Campanella
Cast: Ricardo Darín, Soledad Villamil, Pablo Rago, Javier Godino, Guillermo Francella
También la lluvia
Director: Icíar Bollaín
Cast: Luis Tosar, Gael García Bernal, Juan Carlos Aduviri, Karra Elejalde, Carlos Santos, Raúl Arévalo
Un cuento chino
Director: Sebastián Borensztein
Cast: Ricardo Darín, Huang Sheng Huang, Muriel Santa Ana, Enric Rodríguez
Short films have always been a regular part of the festival and this year is no exception. Here are the four short films lined up for this edition.
Aninsri Daeng (Thailand)
Director: Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke
Cast: Sarut Komalittipong, Atikhun Adulpocatorn, Ornanong Thaisriwong, Pathavee Thepkraiwan, Teeraphan Ngowjeenanan, Kullakan Kinrakhon
Tarang (Philippines)
Director: Arvin Belarmino
Cast: Soliman Cruz, Nikko Delos Santos, Nats Sitoy, Sunshine Teodoro, Mac Mendoza, Sure Manuel, Sonny Samonte, Kay Peralta, Micheal Odoño
Groundhog Night (Australia)
Director: Genevieve Clay-Smith, Rawley Reynolds
Cast: John Batchelor, Genevieve Clay-Smith, Emily Dash, Chris Haywood, Robyn Nevin
A la cara (Spain)
Director: Javier Marco
Cast: Sonia Almarcha, Manolo Solo
Aside from the screenings, the film makers of these shorts will be participating in a round table discussion at the webinar En Corto: Short films in the Philippines, Thailand, Australia and Spain.
Another webinar, about co-production possibilities between Asian films in Europe and Spanish films in Asia which will be attended by film industry personalities from Spain, Thailand, and the Philippines. Check the website for more details and the schedule of the webinars.
All films will be available for viewing for 48 hours after it’s premiere and will be shown in their original language with English subtitles.
Película is an initiative of Instituto Cervantes in Manila and Sydney, the Embassies of Spain in the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia, and the AECID, in collaboration with ICAA, the Embassy of Mexico in the Philippines, the National Film Archive of Thailand, the Sydney Film Festival, the Travelling Film Fest (Australia), the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the UP Film Institute, the University of the Philippines and Intramuros Administration.
