19th Cine Europa opens today at Shangri-La

MANILA, Philippines — Cine Europa, the longest film festival in the country, opens today in its 19th year at Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong and will travel for four months to 10 other cities and municipalities with its 28 well-crafted and meaningful movies.

Celebrating the 25th year anniversary of the European Union (EU) Delegation in the Philippines, Cine Europa chose "Friendship" as the theme of the movies. “It’s the 25 year anniversary. By having the theme friendship, we thought that this will show also the friendship we have between the EU and the Philippines in celebrating our 25 years here,” Martin Lentz, charge d'affaires of the EU Delegation to the Philippines.

Friendship between the EU and the Philippines has been good, according to Lentz.

“It’s getting deeper, getting broader,” he said. “We have more cultural exchange, and again, the festival is one illustration of this.”

Cine Europa opens with the film “Of Sinners and Saints” directed and starred by Ruben Maria Soriquez, a Filipino-Italian actor. “This is my first project here in the Philippines, and I directed it, and I starred it, and I’m so happy to have worked with great actors in the movie.” Soriquez said, also revealing that the movie was completed in 2015 before his TV series “Dolce Amore.”

“I’m honored, really honored. Because that’s what I’m trying to do from the start, since I am half-Italian, is to build a bridge between the two countries, and have more co-productions between the two countries.” Soriquez said.

He said it feels good to have his film open for Cine Europa.

Soriquez also said that he is open to direct again for Cine Europa, but will avoid drama and action. “It will be like dark comedy,” he said.

Cine Europa will be shown at Shangri-La starting Sept. 8 and will take a road trip to Baguio, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Palawan, Zamboanga, Davao, Cagayan De Oro, and lastly, at Kalaw, Manila from Dec. 6 – 11.