The Venice Film Festival in Manila: Get ready for ‘Goliath’

Goliath” is coming to Manila and David should not worry that the former will sow terror but love. Love for arts and culture, that is. No slingshots are needed. Only genuine desire for critically-acclaimed films.

The Venice Film Festival is considered by many cineastes to be the “Goliath” of all film festivals worldwide. For the first time in history, the oldest film festival that was founded in 1932 will be held in the ASEAN region — in Manila, particularly — from July 26 to 31.

“It’s the ‘real thing’ that’s coming to Manila,” Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno proudly said at the recent press con at his well-appointed residence in Makati. “The Venice Film Festival is arguably the most famous film fest because it is the oldest. Its charm is Venice, the city itself.”

The Venice Film Festival forms part of the “Big Three” film festivals around the world, including the Cannes Film Festival in France and the Berlin Film Festival in Germany.

Roscigno added that it is fitting to hold the festival in Manila this year that Italy and the Philippines celebrate their 70th year of bilateral relations. The Biennale Cinema 2016: The Venice Film Festival in Manila will be held at Venice Cineplex, Venice Grand Canal Mall in McKinley Hill, Taguig City.

There will be 11 films to be screened at the special edition of the Venice Film Festival in Manila. The eight Italian films to be shown are Orecchie, Tommaso, Liberami, Questi giorni, Piuma, L’estate addosso and two classic obras Processo alla citta and Profumo di donna. 

Meanwhile, the three Filipino films included in the film fest are Thy Womb, Jay and Ang Babaeng Humayo, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival 2016.

“Our sincere appreciation to the La Biennale di Venezia for believing in the project, approving it, working with us for over a year in the preparation, and for authorizing the screening in the Philippines of some of its most representative movies for the benefit of the Filipino public,” the ambassador said. 

This milestone project is made possible under the close coordination of the Embassy of Italy with the Società  Dante Alighieri Comitato di Manila, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ICCPI), and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). The Società Dante Alighieri in Rome, Italy has also thrown in its invaluable support for the project.

Somehow, the birth of the Venice Film Festival in Manila has something to do with ICCPI president Sergio Boero’s search for Ang Babaeng Humayo. “When I found out that a Filipino director (Lav Diaz) won Il Leone d’Oro a Venezia for Ang Babaeng Humayo, I immediately thought about doing something to celebrate this great event. I have been living in the Philippines for eight years and I am a cinema lover. I thought I also had a responsibility (to promote Filipino art and culture),” said Boero, whose first taste of the Filipino’s genius in filmmaking was courtesy of Serbis, an obra of Brillante Mendoza.

“This project is a great opportunity for local film industry, for FDCP, for the Philippines as well. We can create a Festival and at the same time a cultural hub that will eventually be a landmark for cinema lovers and for the quality movie industry. The value of arts and culture to people and society outlines the existing evidence on the impact of arts and culture on any economy, health and wellbeing, society and education,” said Boero, who also promised that the prestigious film festival “will be a regular fare in the country.”

For her part, FDCP chair Mary Liza Diño said, “The Venice Film Festival in Manila is an incredible opportunity for the Filipino audience to be exposed to world cinema — its wide, colorful and diverse options — and also to gain new appreciation of the Filipino films, which are at par with their global counterparts.”

Indeed, it is the festival proponents’ love affair with Filipino and Italian arts and culture that gave birth to the holding of the Venice Film Festival in Manila.

Be towered by “Goliath” from July 26 to 31 and enjoy the films.

(Entrance fee to a film in exhibition is P50. For more information and screening schedules, call 634-1971 or visit bit.ly/TheVeniceFilmFestival.)

FilipinaZ 2017: A fair by women for women

FilipinaZ, the only fundraiser created by women, specifically for women, returns this year in celebration of the Filipinas’ united strength to create, serve and do good. Held at 8 Rockwell from July 28 to 30, the fair not only has exquisite crafts in jewelry, fashion and art on display, it also brings to light the true potential of a Filipina and her capacity to go beyond beauty and generate impact through genuine compassion.

The fair’s organizers are the women of the Zonta Club of Makati and Environs. “All our programs, from women’s health services to livelihood generation and more, are centered on uplifting women’s lives. And the proceeds from FilipinaZ will go directly to those programs,” shares Zonta Club of Makati and Environs president Armita Rufino.

Items featured at FilipinaZ are more than just expressions of art and fine taste, each of them reflects a woman’s desire to share her passion in giving back to those in need. These timeless handcrafted creations showcase the talent of the biggest local artisans in jewelry like Alchemista, All that Glitters, Definitive Handcrafted Opulence by Ann Ong, Eccentrics Limited, Kathy & Kathy Bespoke, Kuwintas, Otsirav’e by Carlo Evaristo and Yerovi Jewelry.

The fashion section includes the works of D’Oro Barandino and Kababaihan Bags.

Also included in the fair are exquisite art pieces by Mario Panis, Ronna Manansala, Boysie Villavicencio and Bruno Art.

Zonta’s very own Charming Baldemor is set to have her booth exhibit of custom-made wooden minaudières as well as fashion accessories, collectible figurines, lamps and furniture pieces from her shop Kyooreo: Baldemor Carvings & Sculptures.

(E-mail the author at bumbaki@yahoo.com. Have a blessed Sunday!)