Peugeot is official Premium Transporter of the 21st French Film Festival in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – Ahoy, enthusiasts of French and European Cinema! The much-anticipated French Film Festival—an annual celebration of the culture, language and particularly unique, motion pictures of the French—Is here once again.

Now on its 21st year, the Festival will open with a red carpet event on June 8—In honor of the cast and crew of Ma’Rosa, a highly-regarded Filipino film directed by Brillante Mendoza, selected in the most recently held Cannes Film Festival, in which Filipina performer Jaclyn Jose was recognized as the winner for the Best Performance by an Actress Award—and will continue to run until June 14, at the Greenbelt 3 Cinemas and Bonifacio High Street Cinemas in Makati and BGC, respectively.

This year’s lineup of presentations will include 17 carefully selected feature films—French films released between 2014-2016—and additionally, on Independence Day (June 12), two Filipino films that were featured in international film festivals in France, namely Lawrence Fajardo’s Imbisibol and Carl Joseph Papa’s Manang Biring (an animated film).

The screening schedule may be viewed at www.frenchfilmfest.com and the ticket price for each show will be a subsidized P100 (to at least cover for the operational cost of the public film-showing). And upholding its annual tradition, Peugeot Philippines continues to support the French Embassy in Manila in this largely attended cultural event.

“The French Film Festival is a salute to the arts. Over 21 years, the French Embassy in Manila has been giving Filipinos a glimpse of French artistry via these beautiful works of modern art,” shared Peugeot Philippines President Glen Dasig during the official press launch. “Peugeot, which has deeply rooted history in premium design, also churns out works of modern art. In essence, we at Peugeot Philippines also aim to give Filipinos a taste of French artistry. Our goals are one and the same—to offer the best of France to the Filipino!” he proudly added.

Peugeot Philippines will be the official premium transporter of VIP’s (including Director Mendoza and Best Actress Jose) and French dignitaries to the festival’s gala night in BGC on June 8.

Furthermore, the public will have the opportunity to experience being shuttled to the event venue, in premium Peugeot vehicles—If they sign up for it, after having parked in Three Parkade in BGC, on the same evening. Festival guests just need to say that they are attending the premiere screening of Director Maiwenn’s Mon Roi, and they shall be queued for the delightful free ride to Central Square, where the red carpet event will be held.

French actress Emmanuelle Bercot was bestowed the 2015 Cannes Film Festival’s Best Actress Award for her performance in Mon Roi – the 21st French Film Festival in Manila’s gala night presentation. A huge crowd of casual movie-goers is expected to come celebrate this year, as last 2015, there were over 15,000 recorded attendees of the said festival in Manila and Cebu.

“In our two countries, culture plays a key role in the affirmation of national identity; and this is particularly true in the Philippines where cinema is a major part of society,” remarked French Ambassador to the Philippines Thierry Mathou. Adding that “Despite the fact that cinema was popularized by Hollywood under the American period, French Cinema remains the reference for independent movies. And this gives us a unique priority to support film creation in the Philippines.”

Over the duration of the festival, Alliance Francaise de Manille will be offering a 10 percent discount for interested parties wishing to enroll in French language classes. The festival will also eventually move to Ayala Center Cebu and Abreeza Mall in Davao by the end of the month.

For more information about the upcoming event, visit www.facebook.com/FrenchEmbassyManila.