Acclaimed Belgian film opens in Baguio's Cinematheque

MANILA, Philippines — Cine Europa will open in full blast with the Belgian entry "Everybody's Famous!" ("Ledereen Beroemd") at Baguio Cinematheque in the city proper this Friday, September 26.

Produced in 2001, the film tells the story of 17-year-old Marva who is a regular at singing contests which she unfortunately always loses. But her father, Jean, dreams of a showbiz career for his daughter, that is until he gets laid off.

By way of revenge, he decides to kidnap Debbie, the country’s number-one singer. The bond between Jean and his daughter, Marva will unfold in the story in a very charming and brilliant manner

The film "Ledereen Beroemd" has won in the Troia International Film Festival (best screenplay) and received the Audience Award in Ljubljana international Film Festival and in the Rouen Nordic Film Festival.

With 16 high-quality films from the European Union Member States and Switzerland, Cine Europa hopes to bring the total entertainment package to families in Baguio City until September 28.

For the first time, Cine Europa will focus on the theme of "Family" which is represented in very different ways in this year's film selection.

"Today families may come in all shapes and sizes but remain the bedrock of any society whether in Europe or in the Philippines," EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux said.

With movies being shown between September and  November 2014 Cine Europa is certainly amongst the longest, if not the longest, Film Festival in the Philippines.

Cine Europa was in Manila (Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City) from 11 September to 21 September in Cinema 2 and is now ongoing in Baguio City Cinematheque until 28 September followed by Iloilo City Cinematheque from 30 September to 5 October and then Ayala Center Cinema in Cebu City from 10 to 12 October.

The Visayas leg of Cine Europa has been expanded this year to include for the first time screenings at Visayas State University in Baybay, Leyte with plans to hold special screenings for families affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) from 21 to 26 October in Tacloban.  

In Mindanao, Cinematheque Davao City will host Cine Europa from 28 October to 2 November. It then moves on to Cinematheque in Zamboanga City from 4 to 9 November before concluding with screenings in Liceo de Cagayan University in Cagayan de Oro City from 13 to 16 November.

The film festival this year has a total of 23 movies from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland.

Admission is free for all screenings at all locations for the two-month festival.

Cine Europa 17 is organized by the European Union Cultural Group in Manila and is funded by the European Embassies and Cultural Institutes accredited to the Philippines including the Embassies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, Slovak Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, Alliance Française, British Council, Goethe-Institut, Philippine-Italian Association and the Instituto Cervantes de Manila with the important contribution of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Cine Europa partners include, the Independent Film Cooperative, the Shangri-La Plaza Mall (Manila), Arts Council of Cebu and Liceo de Cagayan de Oro (Mindanao) and the Visayas State University in Baybay.

Philstar.com is the online media partner of Cine Europa.