PELÍCULA > Pelikula puts the planet at the forefront for its 22nd edition this October
The Spanish Film Festival’s 2023 iteration foregrounds environmental concerns and pays tribute to acclaimed director Carlos Saura.
Written by Chesca Santiago
October 3, 2023
Spanish Film Festival PELÍCULA>Pelikula returns to Philippine screens with special care for the planet for its 22nd year. From October 5 to 15, more than twenty films from the latest and the best of Spanish cinema are set to be shown at the Red Carpet Theatre in Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City. This is aside from the Festival’s digital component, where seven films will be screened online from October 11 to 15 and will be available to viewers from Australia and Singapore as well.
Founded in 2002 by Instituto Cervantes de Manila, PELÍCULA>Pelikula aims to strengthen cultural ties between Spain, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region through film. It celebrates cinema in the Spanish language, showcasing new and critically acclaimed films by prominent directors from Spain and Ibero-American countries.
Instituto Cervantes de Manila Director Dr. Javier Galván welcomes the press for PELÍCULA>Pelikula’s media launch.
For the environment and Carlos Saura
For the Festival’s 22nd edition, the planet takes center stage as PELÍCULA>Pelikula emphasizes films that foreground environmental concerns. In this vein, headlining this year’s edition is the Pelicula en Verde initiative, where a tree will be planted for every viewer of the Festival’s “en verde” (in green) films. Pelicula en Verde is conducted in partnership with Haribon Foundation through the sponsorship of Spanish infrastructure company Acciona, whose Asian headquarters are in Manila.
The program also includes a tribute to acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Carlos Saura, who died earlier in February this year. Saura is a pivotal figure in Spanish cinema and is best known for films that use allegory and flamenco to explore national identity. Three of his masterpieces, namely Embrujo, Goya en Burdeos, and El rey de todo el mundo, will be screened for the Festival.
Filipino-made Hinakdal, a multi-awarded short film previously shown in Cinemalaya 2023, will also be shown at PELÍCULA>Pelikula. Expanding the bounds of Spanish cinema, the Festival also presents films from Ibero-American countries such as Chile, Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico.
Galván with Shangri-La Plaza’s Johnny Rios and representatives from Haribon Foundation.
A film for everyone
PELÍCULA>Pelikula is ready to offer something for everyone with its carefully curated 2023 rooster of a wide range of genres including drama, comedy, horror, thriller, family, musical, and animation. The complete lineup is composed of the following films:
1976
Alcarrás*
Arquitectura emocional 1959
As bestas*
Cinco lobitos
El Beat
El cuarto pasajero
El Olivo*
El rey de todo el mundo
Embrujo
Empieza el baile
Fonos*
Girasoles silvestres
Goya en Burdeos
La consagración de la primavera
La vida padre
Llegaron de noche
Modelo 77
Tierra*
Una vida no tan simple
Valentina
Hinakdal
Cría cuervos
También la lluvia*
La española, la de Torres
La flota de Indias
Velázquez, el poder y el arte
*En verde (part of Pelicula en Verde initiative)Similar to previous years, viewers may vote for their favorite films for the Audience Choice Awards. The winning film will be screened on the last day of the Festival on October 15.
Linking Filipino and Spanish cultures
Since its inception, PELÍCULA>Pelikula has been an indispensable link between Filipino and Spanish cultures. “Pelicula has always brought to the Philippines the most recent and most successful movies in Spanish language. I always used to say that if you want to have an idea of what is going on in Spain in recent years, it’s easier to appreciate it here in Manila than in Spain. Because to have an array of 27 movies of different genres in a week—that’s impossible to have in Spain,” remarks Instituto Cervantes de Manila Director Dr. Javier Galván.
PELÍCULA>Pelikula 2023 is a project of Instituto Cervantes and Shangri-La Plaza, in collaboration with the Embassies of Spain in the Philippines, Australia, and Singapore, the AECID, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Filmoteca Española, the Embassy of Colombia and the Embassy of Mexico, with the participation of the Embassy of Chile, the Embassy of Argentina, and Haribon Foundation, and sponsored by Vibal Foundation, Acciona, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Arthaland, SSI Group, Inc., Barcino, La Latina, and Fundador.
All screenings are FREE entrance on a first come, first served basis. All the movies are in Spanish (or their original language) with English subtitles. Follow the official website of the Festival and the official social media pages of Instituto Cervantes for more updates on PELÍCULA>Pelikula.
