BERLIN 08 January 2018 — Twenty-one Philippine cinematic gems, including feature and short films alike, were shown at the Exground Film Festival in Wiesbaden, Germany on 16 to 25 November 2018 in local theaters in the Hessian capital.
The Philippines was the festival’s focus country.
The 21 films include Balangiga: Howling Wilderness, Buybust, Dark is the Night (Madilim ang Gabi), Manila Skies (Himpapawid), Miracle (Himala), Neomanila, Season of the Devil (Ang Panahon ng Halimaw), The Journey of Stars into the Dark Night (Ang Paglalakbay ng mga Bituin sa Gabing Madilim), Town in a Lake (Matangtubig), Yield, Eternity (Ang Magpakailanman), Maria, From the Dark Depths (Gikan sa Ngitngit nga Kinailadman), Manila Death Squad, Babylon, Jodilerks Dela Cruz- Employee of the Month, Respeto, Man of Pa-Aling (Manong ng Pa-Aling), Shadows (Anino), Margins (Palugid) and Juan Tamad Goes to the Moon(1898).
Respeto and Man of Pa-Aling are included in this year‘s competitions, in the International Youth Film and International Shortfilms Competition, respectively.
To accompany the screening of Philippine Films, two panel discussions and a lecture have been included in the program. “100 Years of Philippine Cinema” touched on the history of Philippine cinema and addressed important issues like nation building under the constant threat of cultural and identity loss.
Panelists included QCinema International Film Festival Director Ed Lejano, celebrated filmmaker Raymond Red, and film educator and critic Edward Cabagnot. It was moderated by German film programmer and journalist Axel Estein, who curated the Philippine lineup for the festival.
Consul Cathy Torres and Cultural Attache Mylah Rubio of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin attended the event.
The panel noted that Philippine cinema is undergoing a third ‘golden age,’ with advances in digital technology creating a burgeoning indie scene. The question, now, was what would come next. Consul Torres suggested that aside from looking to the other regions of the country for yet untold stories, the Filipino diaspora is another potential goldmine of film material and talent.
On 24 November 2018, the panel on human rights will focus on the country’s situation and the broader socio-political and historical context. Panelists include photo journalist Raffy Lerma, anthropologist Dr. Rosa Cordillera Castillo, filmmaker Kiri Dalena, and will also be moderated by Mr. Estein. A lecture on the same subject will also be given in German on 22 November by Amnesty International‘s Dr. Jochen Range.
A Philippine Night was organized at the Nassausicher Kunstverein on 21 November 2018, where the works of Mr. Lerma and Ms. Dalena were shown alongside that of another Filipino artist, Martha Atienza.
Speaking at the event, Consul General to Frankfurt Evelyn Austria-Garcia highlighted that the Philippine government values the creative and independent minds of Filipino filmmakers.
Also part of the festival were “Focus Philippines,” an exhibition at the Murnau Filmtheater, features all posters of participating Philippine Films from 17-24 November 2018. “Paradise Lost“ featured the works of Philippine photographer Raffy Lerma from 9 November to 16 December 2018 at the Nassauischer Kunstverein.
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For more information, visit www.berlinpe.dfa.gov.ph, www.philippine-embassy.de or https://www.facebook.com/PHinGermany.
