“Forty Filipino films will take center stage at the Paris Cinema International Film Festival from July 1to 12. This is being done to honor the geniuses behind filmmaking in the Philippines,” pagmamalaki ni Mr. Jacky Atienza, chairman of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) tungkol sa magandang balita.
Dinagdag pa ni Mr. Atienza na gaganapin ito sa MK2 Bibliotheque, isang maganda and luxurious cinema complex in Paris, na dadaluhan ng 45 Filipino delegates - delegates composed of film producers, directors, actors, scriptwriters and technicians.
Present sa pagsisimula ng festival ang director na si Aki Kaurismäki at ang French actress na si Nathalie Baye (from the film Catch Me If You Can (2002) by S. Spielberg) and the French screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière (who won the Cesar of the best original screenplay in 1983 for The Return of Martin Guerre and was nominated at the Oscar of the Best adapted screenplay for The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Philip Kaufman in 1988).
Guest star din umano sa Paris Cinema 2008 ang film director na si David Cronenberg na darating sa Paris ngayong summer to present at the Theatre du Châtelet, his new opera, adapted by his film The Fly. The Paris Cinema IFF is preparing an exceptional night linked to this event: on the 3 of July where the films The Fly and The Black Fly (1958), the movie will be shown.
“Paris Cinema IFF will present a complete program of these 40 films that pay tribute to the Philippine’s past, current and new generation of talented filmmakers,” dagdag pa ni Christine Dayrit, chairman ng Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB) at chairman ng Festival Committee of the FDCP. Dagdag pa niya, makakasama sa 40 films ang mga nakasaling pelikula sa Cinemalaya Film Festival, indie films, blockbuster hits, as well as rare classics, shorts, documentaries, videos, experimental works shall be presented by some invited directors, producers and artists.
Inirekomenda na ng FDCP ang mga pelikulang Himala, Kisapmata, Minsa’y Isang Gamu-gamo, Burlesk Queen, Aguila, Batch ’81, Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag; mainstream films like Segurista, Sigaw, Tanging Yaman, Caregiver, Minsan Pa, Ouija; and indie films like Ataul for Rent, Kubrador, Mga Pusang Gala, Ploning, Mga Munting Tinig, Magnifico, Ilusyon and Babae sa Breakwater among others.
Atienza also announced that a delegation of Filipino producers ang iimbitahan to present their new projects to French professionals through the Paris Project co-production platform at magkakaroon din ng series of workshops para mas lalo pang mapalakas ang industrial and commercial links between the Philippines and France. At finally, isang forum na maraming panel of specialist will enable the audience to delve into the diversity of Philippine cinema industry today and its aesthetic issues.
Ang isa pang nagpapa-excite ay ang posibilidad na magkaroon ng co-production deals sa pamamagitan ng Paris Cinema IFF. Ayon kay Ms. Digna Santiago, executive director ng PFESO, (Philippine Film export Services Office) and chair of Task Force Paris 2008, ang aim ng Paris Project ay ang dalhin ang key players ng French film industry para sa ilang international production projects.
“What makes Paris Project so unique and dynamic is that it aims at encouraging French professionals to get involved in foreign projects to promote financial arrangements, co-productions and networking with potential French part‑ners,” sabi ni Ms. Digna
Ang Paris Cinema 2008 ay anim na taon nang ginaganap throughout the capital tuwing early summer in over 10 different theatres in Paris and grows every year with record attendance, several films acquired for distribution and extensive media coverage.
The Paris Cinema IFF honored Korean cinema in 2006 and Lebanon filmmaking in 2007.
Para sa karagdagang information, call Wilma Isleta of Task Force Cinema at 632-9512 or e-mail to fdcphil@yahoo.com. (SVA)