Cine Europa heads to Palawan for the first time

MANILA, Philippines – On its 18th year, Cine Europa is scheduled to go to Southern Luzon, particularly in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan for the first time.

European Union (EU) Ambassador Franz Jessen said the EU Delegation to the Philippines and its cultural partners decided to bring Cine Europa to Palawan to expand the Luzon leg of the film festival to give more Filipinos access to the rich cultural heritage of Europe.

"Cine Europa Film Festival in Palawan carries films reflecting the dynamism and energy of the youth from Europe which Filipinos from Southern Luzon and other parts of the Philippines can very well relate to," he said. 

The film festival will go to Palawan State University on December 2, 3 and 6 and to Cinema 1, Robinsons Movie World, Puerto Princesa City from December 4 to 5.

It will be inaugurated by Jessen, Romanian Embassy Chargé d'Affaires, a.i., Mihai Sion, Embassy of Romania, German Embassy First Secretary Thorsten Gottfried,  diplomats from the European embassies and cultural institutes along with Palawan Vice Gov. Victorino Dennis Socrates, Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucillo Bayron on 4 December at Atrium at the Robinson's Mall in Puerto Princesa City.

Cine Europa in Palawan is also supported by the Palawan provincial and city governments, Palawan Tourism Council, Palawan State University and Robinsons Mall.

The theme adopted for this year's festival is "Coming of Age." The film festival has now matured and evolved with its carefully chosen thematic films from Europe.

The Romanian film  "Nunta Muta" or "Silent Wedding" directed by Horatiu Malaele will be screened during the reception for Cine Europa on December 4.

The film talks about how two young lovers' wedding was interrupted by communist party officials with the announcement that Joseph Stalin died and that there should be a mandatory period of commemoration to remember the great leader. The town complied and had a silent wedding played out with all the farcical pratfall of a fine mime production.

Finally unable to contain themselves, the celebrants threw off their chains in loud celebration setting up the final conflict with the authorities.

Aside from film from Romania, people from Palawan will also get to watch movies from Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, France, Finland, Sweden, Spain,  Slovakia, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Admission is free for all screenings on a first-come, first-served basis.

Cine Europa 18 is organized by the European Union Cultural Group in Manila and EU Cultural Institutes accredited to the Philippines including the Embassies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, Instituto Cervantes de Manila, British Council, Goethe-Institut, Philippine-Italian Association, and Alliance Française.

The festival started on September 10 in Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila and it earlier went to Baguio City, Cebu, Iloilo, Tacloban and Baybay, Leyte, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga City.