European Union brings film festival to Leyte for first time

MANILA, Philippines - The European Film Festival known as Cine Europa, now in its 17th year, goes this month to Leyte for the first time this year, bringing family-oriented films to communities affected by Supertyphoon Yolanda.

European Union Ambassador Guy Ledoux and Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olša, Jr. will inaugurate the Cine Europa in Leyte. Fifteen European countries including 13 European Union member states are presenting 21 films at Visayas State University in Baybay, Leyte  (16 to 20 October) and at the University of the Philippines in Tacloban, Leyte (21 to 26 October).

The European Union has opted to bring Cine Europa to Leyte one year after strong typhoon struck the country as a gesture to local communities in need of some respite.

"Philippine families remained steadfast and strong in times of disasters. They provided comfort in darkest times and bring smiles to weary hearts and for these reasons, the EU is pleased to bring  family-focused Cine Europa in Leyte,"  said EU Ambassador Ledoux.

The Italian production "Scialla" or "Easy" directed by Francesco Bruni is the featured film at Visayas State University during the concluding ceremony to be held on 20 October.

The film won prestigious awards including at the Venice Film Festival and in the Annecy Italian Cinema Festival.

The movie depicts the character of Bruno Beltrame, a washed out writer who tutors adolescents whose apathy for learning is matched only by Beltrame's own apathy for teaching. One of his students is Luca, a vivacious and irreverent 15 year old student who turns out to be his love child.  Luca's mother leaves for Africa and places him under the care of Bruno.

An uneasy co-existence begins between the lethargic former professor and the restless adolescent but, "Scialla" reveals how a father rediscovers his own family and his own child.

Meanwhile, Ob?anský pr?kaz or "Identity Card" is the  film to be screened on 21 October at the University of the Philippines as the premiere of Cine Europa in Tacloban.

Identity Card is a Czech bitter comedy film by Ond?ej Trojan based on a story by Petr Šabach. The movie is set in communist Czechoslovakia in the 1970s and gives a clear picture of the socio-political environment of that period marked formally by big ideals, which nobody trusted anymore. A time of creepy repression reaching into even minor detail of everyone's private and social life.

History of Cine Europa
Cine Europa, which started out 17 years ago with screenings only in Manila, continues to expand to the provinces with screenings this year planned in 9 Filipino cities. With movies being shown between September and  November 2014 Cine Europa is certainly amongst the longestFilm Festivals in the Philippines.

Cine Europa moved to eight other cities:  Baguio City Cinematheque from 23 to 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.

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.

Our 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 and U.P Tacloban. Philstar.com is the online media partner of Cine Europa.