The titular magical creatures are front and center in the newly released final trailer of Warner Bros. Pictures’ much-anticipated adventure “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” which returns fans to the J.K. Rowling’s wizarding… More
Felicity Jones quests with Tom Hanks in ‘Inferno’
Starring opposite Tom Hanks in Columbia Pictures’ new suspense thriller “Inferno” is Academy Award® nominated actress Felicity Jones (“The Theory of Everything,” upcoming “Rogue One”) as Dr. Sienna Brooks.
Academy Award® winner Ron Howard returns to direct the latest bestseller in Dan Brown’s billion-dollar Robert Langdon series, “Inferno,” which finds the famous symbologist on a trail of clues tied to the great Dante himself. When Langdon wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Sienna Brooks, a doctor he hopes will help him recover his memories. Together, they race across Europe and against the clock to stop a madman from unleashing a global virus that would wipe out half of the world’s population.
For Jones, there is more to her character than meets the eye. “Sienna is a young woman who is a strong environmentalist, full of conviction. She is not everything she seems but on the surface she is someone that gets involved in a mystery relating to finding a deadly virus.”
That is one of the aspects that drew Jones to the role, she says: “This is really a contemporary story about paranoia, fear of governments, and who we can trust.”
“There’s a lot of fun in it, in that they’re going on this quest, they’re finding clues, but at the same time, there is a seriousness and there is a philosophical side to the film,” adds Jones.
“And it’s addressing very pertinent issues about what is the state of the world that we’re living in and how do we contribute to making that world as good as it can be for future generations,” continues Jones. “I feel like, increasingly with global warming, we’re forced to address how we are living, and ask are we living in a way that is sustainable? I am absolutely pro making sure we do everything to leave the planet in as green a state as possible.”
For inspiration in playing her character, Jones says she went straight to the source material. “When I knew I had the part of Sienna, I read Dan Brown’s book – it was a really fun read,” she recalls. “Throughout filming, I would keep coming back to the book for Sienna and find little clues about her backstory that I could use in playing her. The books was a really good resource throughout filming.”
Working with Hanks and Howard, both Oscar winners who make up a formidable creative team, was a delight, Jones shares. “They have a huge affection for each other. They have this shorthand and they are both on the same page creatively. It’s what I would hope to do later in my career – to work with the same people and build up a shorthand. It’s like any creative endeavour, if you work with the same people, you actually save a lot of time because you’re not trying to establish a new relationship.”
Opening across the Philippines on October 12, 2016, “Inferno” is distributed by Columbia Pictures in the Philippines, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.
GUIDE: QCinema International Film Festival 2016
Now on its fourth year, QCinema International Film Festival 2016 will run from October 13 to 22 at the following venues:
- Trinoma Cinemas,
- Gateway Cineplex,
- Robinsons Movieworld Galleria,
- UP Town Center Cinemas, and
- QCX Museum at the Quezon Memorial Circle
Since its foundation in 2012, the Quezon City Film Development Commission (QCFDC) has been providing grants to help filmmakers produce their own works. QCinema is its annual platform where the new cinematic gems are given the chance to be appreciated by the public through its full-length and short film competition.
Admission
Tickets for the film screenings is at 150 PHP each. These can be purchased at the respective cinema ticket booth. No discount is applicable.
Film forums are all free and open to the public. Maximum of 120 attendees per forum. To register, visit QCinema’s official website (www.qcinema.ph).
Screening Schedules
To be finalized. For release on the first week of October.
Circle Competition (Full Length Category)
- “Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B” directed by Prime Cruz;
- “Baboy Halas” directed by Bagane Fiola;
- “Best. Partee. Ever.” directed by Howard “HF” Yambao;
- “Hinulid” by Kristian Sendon Cordero;
- “Patay Na Si Hesus” directed by Victor Kaiba Villanueva;
- “Purgatoryo” directed by Roderick Cabrido; and
- “Women of the Weeping River” by Sheron Dayoc.
QCShorts (Short Film Category)
- “Hondo” by Aedrian Araojo;
- “If You Leave” by Eduardo “Dodo” Dayao;
- “Kung Saan May Naiwan”by Joshua Joven and Kaj Palanca;
- “Nang Lumipad ang Batang Agila” by Mihk Vergara;
- “Padating” by Gabrielle Tayag;
- “Papa’s Shadow” by Inshallah Montero;
- “Sayaw sa Butal” by Victor Nierva; and
- “Viva Viva Escolta” by Janus Victoria.
Opening Film
The festival’s opening film is Park Chan-wook’s recent Cannes winner, “The Handmaiden” starring Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, and Tae Ri Kim. The invitational screening is on October 13 at Gateway Cineplex.
Asian Next Wave
“Asian Next Wave” is the most recent addition to the QCinema competitions. This category showcases the works of Asian filmmakers with less than two directorial features.
- “Apprentice”, a Singaporean film by Boo Junfeng;
- “By the Time It Gets Dark” directed by Anocha Suwichakornpong of Thailand;
- “Old Stone”, a Chinese-Canadian collaboration film directed by Johnny Ma;
- “Singing in Graveyards”, a Filipino-Malaysian movie directed by Bradley Liew;
- “Solo, Solitude” directed by Yosep Anggi Noen of Indonesia; and
- “Woven Wings of Our Children”, a Filipino piece by Anton Juan.
Screen International
For its “Screen International” section, QCinema bestows Philippine premieres to some of the films recently lauded in the international festival circuit.
- “Godless”, a Bulgarian movie created by Ralitza Petrova;
- “The Handmaiden”, a South Korean film by Park Chan-wook;
- “Headshot”, an Indonesian movie from Timo Tjahjanto and Kimo Stamboel;
- “I, Daniel Blake”, a film from the United Kingdom made by Ken Loach;
- “One Week and a Day”, an Israeli film by Asaph Polonsky;
- “The Ornithologist”, a Portuguese film directed by João Pedro Rodrigues;
- “Seoul Station”, the prequel to “Train to Busan,” from South Korean director Sang-ho Yeon;
- “The Teacher” from the Czech Republic and directed by Jan Hřebejk; and
- “Under the Shadow”, an Iranian film directed by Babak Anvari.
Tribute to Kieślowski
In keeping with the festival’s tradition of featuring a film trilogy every year, QCinema presents a special section, “Tribute to Kieślowski”. To commemorate the 20th death anniversary of the celebrated Polish auteur, Krzysztof Kieślowski, the acclaimed triptych about European reunification will be screened.
- “Blue” (1993),
- “White” (1994), and
- “Red” (1994).
RainbowQC
Vibrant and diverse narratives unravel in “RainbowQC”, a category of features about the LGBTQ experience include the following:
- “Spa Night” from Andrew Ahn of USA;
- “#BKKY” by Nontawat Numbenchapol from Thailand;
- “Kiki”, a collaboration between USA and Sweden directed by Sara Jordenö; and
- “Jonathan” by Piotr J. Lewandowski of Germany.
Back ThrowBack
Two digitally-restored screen gems from ABS-CBN get their due revival in the section, “Back ThrowBack”. It will feature the following:
- “Kasal” (1980) directed by Laurice Guillen, her debut feature; and
- “Haplos” (1982) filmed by Butch Perez, and top-billed by the exciting team-up of Vilma Santos, Christopher de Leon, and Rio Locsin.
Cinema Rehiyon
QCinema celebrates the thriving film communities outside of the National Capital Region (NCR), through its “Cinema Rehiyon” section, featuring the compilation of regional titles from the following:
- Mindanao Rising,
- Across Luzon and Visayas, and
- Ilonggo Tales of Horror and Imagination.
- “Superpsychocebu” premiere in Manila. This is helmed by Cebuano director Christian Linaban,
Focus on Mike De Leon
Filipino film master, Mike De Leon, gets his QCinema homage for his three popular restored titles:
- “Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising” (1977),
- “Hindi Nahahati ang Langit” (1985), and
- “Kakabakaba Ka Ba?” (1980).
Pinoy Spotlight
Under the “Pinoy Spotlight” section, two new social-realists get their Philippine premieres:
- “Blanka” of Kohki Hasei from Japan, and
- “Area” by Filipino Louie Ignacio.
Free Film Seminars
QCinema’s film forums are all free and open to the public. It will be conducted at the Quezon Memorial Circle’s Quezon City Experience (QCX) Mini Theater. Please note that the slots in each forum are limited to a maximum of 120 attendees.
Animation Nation
The forum entitled, “Animation Nation” will be held on October 17, Monday, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Spearheaded by the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. and the First Academy of Computer Arts, the discussion will make known the current state of animation in the country.
Road to QCinema: The Filmmaker’s Journey
The next day, on October 18, Tuesday, the discussion “Road to QCinema: The Filmmaker’s Journey” will happen. Circle Competition, #QCShorts, and Asian Next Wave filmmakers will be there to share their experience in working with QCinema. Ed Cabagnot will be the moderator of the event, which will take place from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Wide Wild World of Web Criticism
Two events will happen on October 19, Wednesday. From 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM, film bloggers Jonell Estillore, Michael Edillor, and Richard Bolisay will share their knowledge in the forum, “Wide Wild World of Web Criticism”. Lilit Reyes will moderate the discussion.
Perspectives On National Cinema
Set on October 19, Wednesday, at 2:30 PM is the “Perspectives On National Cinema” where Choy Pangilinan and Nick Deocampo will talk about the issues surrounding independent cinema. It will be moderated by Patrick Campos.
Charting the Course of Regional Cinema
Panelists Elvert Banares, Jason Paul Laxamana, and Teng Mangansakan will talk about the film communities outside Manila in the forum, “Charting the Course of Regional Cinema” to be held on October 20, Thursday, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Laxamana runs Cinekabalen Kapampangan Film Festival (Luzon); Banares handles Cinekasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival (Visayas); and Mangansakan oversees Salamindanaw Asian Film Festival (Mindanao). It will be moderated by Teddy Co.
Film Funding: Who Can I Turn To?
On October 21, Friday, the concluding event will be graced by Chris Millado, Ed Rocha, Lisa Dino, Madonna Tarrayo, Maryo de los Reyes, Ronald Arguelles, and Wilson Tieng who will give the audience an overview of film financing in “Film Funding: Who Can I Turn To?”. Joe Alandy will be there to moderate the event, which will run from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Awarding Ceremony
The awarding ceremony for the QCinema filmmaking competitions will be on October 19, 2016.
‘The Girl on the Train’ – from best-selling novel to movie
Based on author Paula Hawkins’ best-selling novel, the thriller that has riveted millions now makes its way to the big screen in DreamWorks Pictures’ provocative tale, “The Girl on the Train.” Emily Blunt leads the all-star cast which includes Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans, Allison Janney, Edgar Ramirez and Lisa Kudrow, under the direction of Tate Taylor (“The Help”).
Although former journalist Paula Hawkins had previously written several books as an author for hire, “The Girl on the Train” was the first novel released under her own name. After its publication in January 2015, Hawkins’ story became one of the fastest-selling novels in history, with more than 15 million copies sold globally. In its first week, “The Girl on the Train” landed in the top spot of The New York Times Best Sellers List. In fact, it remained on the list for more than a year, spending much of that time at No. 1. In 2015, it became Amazon’s Best Seller in Books, Most Wished for in Books, as well as its Best Seller in eBooks, while Hawkins was lauded by USA Today as Author of the Year.
The inspiration for her gripping whodunit of witnesses who become suspects was inspired by Hawkins’ daily experiences on the commuter rail through London. “There was one particular route where the train was always breaking down, and I would sit and look into these apartment blocks, and you could see right into someone’s living room,” she recounts. “I was always hoping I’d see something interesting, although I never did. But it started my imagination going, and that’s where the germ of the story came from.”
Told from the perspective of three women, the book’s primary narrator is Rachel, a thirtysomething commuter on British Rail whose life is a wreck after a failed marriage. While her drinking cost Rachel her job, she continues to take the train into the city, in order to give the impression to her roommate she’s still working. But Rachel also enjoys obsessing upon the lives of others, while furtively sipping liquor from a water bottle.
In Hawkins’ tale, Rachel’s plunge into the depths of alcoholism clouds her memories. It also fuels her growing paranoia when her investigation into someone’s disappearance points to the chance that she may have been involved. “That’s when we start to discover that Rachel isn’t particularly reliable at all, and she’s got all these problems that suck her into the story,” says Hawkins. “Her memory loss is key to her sense of who she’s become. She has a twisted sense of guilt and responsibility because she doesn’t remember her actions.” Still Hawkins advises, her protagonist is strong underneath the drama. “Over the course of the book, we see her fight back.”
Producer Marc Platt describes why he knew Hawkins’ novel would be perfect material for a filmic adaptation: “It had genre elements of a thriller, and yet it felt contemporary, full of interesting, flawed characters. We’re all a bit voyeuristic, so the notion of riding a train every day and being one of the people in the crowd, and observing a life—and then all of sudden seeing something wrong in that view—is very Hitchcockian, very Rear Window, which is a great hook.”
But to Platt—and the millions of other readers who continue to devour Hawkins’ story—the book is so much more than a tantalizing, sexually charged mystery. “In addition to having thrills, it’s a satisfying character journey,” he states. “Ultimately, it’s about a character who renews herself and repairs her brokenness.”
Platt understood the translation from book to script would be a challenging one indeed. “[Screenwriter] Erin Cressida Wilson’s take on the material was interesting, and she delivered,” he commends. “It is very much taken from the book, so fans will be satisfied, but Erin also found a way to enhance and embellish elements to make the language of it even more cinematic…yet retain the integrity of the source.”
As the screenwriter adapted Hawkins’ work, she felt that the author hit something in the zeitgeist about what makes us all so very human. “With longing, your lover never lets you down by being boring; they’re whatever you make them up to be,” reflects Wilson. “Rachel’s longing for the perfect lives of the young couple she sees from the train is something many can relate to, especially with the rise of social media, where everyone’s family is beautiful and always happy. We look at people’s relationships and think they’re perfect.” She pauses. “But there are so many things we just don’t see.”
Opening across the Philippines on October 5, 2016, “The Girl on the Train” is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.
Eva Green takes lead role in ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’
Enigmatic actress Eva Green who starred in blockbuster testosterone-filled movies such as “Kingdom of Heaven,” “300: Rise of an Empire” and “Casino Royale” takes lead role in “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.”
“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” is based upon the debut novel by Ransom Riggs, published in 2011, an instant global hit and topped The New York Times best-seller list selling more than 3.1 million copies. A sequel, “Hollow City,” was published in 2014, followed by the final book in the trilogy, “Library of Souls.”
The book and movie’s heroine, Miss Peregrine is the protector of the Peculiars. Green, on her titular role calls her character “a kind of dark Mary Poppins-like figure who is rather eccentric and fearless, and who wields a deadly crossbow to protect her Peculiars. Her peculiarity is being an ymbrine, meaning she can manipulate time and take the form of a bird. Miss Peregrine, along with other ymbrines, uses this ability to create a time “loop,” in which she and the children live within a single day that repeats over and over again. This protects them from the evils of the world that exist outside the loop.
Miss Peregrine is an intriguing and sometimes mysterious character, capable of being a maternal figure to her young charges, as well as a fearsome opponent to those who threaten them. Her children are her life, and Miss Peregrine will do anything for them. She’s a ballsy character and a warrior.
“Miss Peregrine runs the home for the peculiar children, and she protects them from the outside world, from those monsters that eat children – they’re called Hollowgasts in the movie – and she will do anything to protect them,” explains Eva Green.
“She will risk her life and she will kill. And she is peculiar herself. She can transform herself into a bird. It’s quite complicated! She has this peculiarity as well, to manipulate time, so that the last 24 hours can be lived again. So every night she has that ritual of resetting the time,” adds Green.
Eva further says that at the heart of the film is a very powerful message. “I think in the outside world, these abilities would be seen as a handicap and these children would be persecuted because of that. But on this island, they’re kind of celebrated for being so unique, and the message in the film, for children as well as adults, it’s just, ‘be yourself, no matter how strange you are.’”
And Burton, she adds, is the perfect director to deliver that message in a stunningly original cinematic way. “That’s what Tim does best. I feel like he understands the hearts of outcasts, and he celebrates them. It’s beautiful.”
For the director himself, the ‘peculiars’ are outcasts because of who they are – is a theme that he related to instantly. “Obviously the superhero genre is alive and well, but with this I never quite saw it that way. I always felt this was a more human version of that kind of thing, and I always saw it as less of a superpower and more of an affliction,” he says. “It was a much more down-to-earth human level to me that I was attracted to.
“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” will open September 28 in cinemas nationwide (also in 3D) from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
WATCH: Angel, Zanjoe, Sam star in gay rom-com ‘The Third Party’
Star Cinema has just released last night the teaser trailer and the official movie poster for its light romantic drama film “The Third Party” top-billed by Angel Locsin, Zanjoe Marudo, and Sam Milby, and directed by one of today’s most in-demand directors Jason Paul Laxamana.
“The Third Party” tackles a modern love triangle involving an aspiring fashion designer Andi (Angel Locsin), her cosmetic surgeon best friend Max (Sam Milby), and Christian (Zanjoe Marudo), an oncologist for kids.
Opening across the Philippines on October 12, 2016, “The Third Party” is released and distributed by ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc.
Also starring Cherry Pie Picache, Alma Moreno, Matet De Leon, Al Tantay, Carla Martinez, Odette Khan, Beauty Gonzales, Maris Racal, Katrina Legaspi, Chun Sa Jung.
Audience-favorite ‘Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo’ gets theatrical version
Mihk Vergara’s “Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo” is finally getting its much-anticipated theatrical run this coming October. The film was one of the standout features in last year’s QCinema Fim Festival, taking home several awards such as Audience Choice and Gender Sensitivity.
Heavily inspired by the filmmaker’s love for Japanese anime, comic books, and sports movies, the film gets a more enhanced version for its theatrical run, promising to be bigger, better and more exciting.
“We didn’t change the story. It’s still the same narrative that people loved from the QCinema version. What we found out is that kids responded really well to the movie. So what we did is to make it more palatable to them by adding more action scenes and anime-inspired graphics,” shares Vergara.
Produced by TBA (Tuko Films, Buchi Boy Entertainment, Artikulo Uno Productions), the same team behind last year’s critical and box office hit “Heneral Luna”; “Patintero” is a fun, family-oriented film about a young girl, who learns to overcome life’s challenges through the help of her friends. Rife with coming-of-age themes of friendship, teamwork, and sportsmanship, the film also carries a strong anti-bullying message.
Aside from its positive theme, the film also aims to reintroduce patintero and other Filipino games to a younger, more technology-inclined generation.
“At the end of the day, our goal is to create an entertaining film. But we’re [also] hoping that through this movie, we can start a movement for kids to go out and play. If not, then at least we hope to create awareness that we, [their parents and older siblings], once played these games,” Vergara noted.
“Patintero” boast of a talented young cast led by Nafa Hilario Cruz (Meng), Isabel ‘Lenlen’ Frial (Nicay), William Buenavente (Shifty), and Claude Adrales (Z-Boy). Katya Santos and Suzette Ranillo complete the lead cast.
Catch the cast of “Patintero” as they share games and surprises at various malls around the metro, starting Sunday, September 25 at SM Southmall. On October 2, Sunday, the kids and comic book illustrators Rob Cham, Arnold Arre, Carlorozy Clemente and Mich Cervantes will be at SM North EDSA to promote the “Patintero: Mga Alamat ng Patalo” comic book. Later that afternoon, the cast will be at SM Fairview for a grand patintero tournament. Kids from ages 9-12 years old are encouraged to join.
The film will have its red carpet premiere on October 1, Saturday, at SM Megamall. Top celebrity families and stars from TBA films such as “Heneral Luna”, “Smaller and Smaller Circles”, “1-2-3”, and more are expected to attend this fun, family-day event.
“Patintero: Ang Alamat Ni Meng Patalo” will be released in theaters nationwide on October 5, 2016 as distributed by Quantum Films.
WATCH: Ice Cube takes on Charlie Day in ‘Fist Fight’ teaser trailer
Ice Cube and Charlie Day star as high school teachers prepared to solve their differences the hard way in New Line Cinema’s comedy “Fist Fight,” directed by Richie Keen (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”). Check out the comedy’s newly-released first trailer below.
On the last day of the year, mild-mannered high school English teacher Andy Campbell (Day) is trying his best to keep it together amidst senior pranks, a dysfunctional administration and budget cuts that put jobs on the line. But things go from bad to worse when he accidentally crosses his much tougher and deeply feared colleague, Ron Strickland (Ice Cube), who challenges Campbell to an old-fashioned throw down after school. News of the fight spreads like wildfire and ends up becoming the very thing this school, and Campbell, needed.
“Fist Fight” also stars Tracy Morgan (“30 Rock”), Jillian Bell (“22 Jump Street”), Dean Norris (“Breaking Bad”), Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men”), Dennis Haysbert (“The Unit”), JoAnna Garcia Swisher (“The Astronaut Wives Club”).
Keen directs from a screenplay by Van Robichaux & Evan Susser (Funny or Die’s “What’s Going On? With Mike Mitchell”), story by Van Robichaux & Evan Susser and Max Greenfield. Fist Fight” is produced by Shawn Levy, Max Greenfield, John Rickard, and Dan Cohen. Serving as executive producers are Toby Emmerich, Richard Brener, Samuel J. Brown, Dave Neustadter, Charlie Day, Ice Cube, Marty P. Ewing, Billy Rosenberg, and Bruce Berman.
New Line Cinema presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a 21 Laps/Wrigley Pictures production: “Fist Fight.” Opening across the Philippines on February 22, 2017, the film will be distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
GUIDE: Película-Pelikula Spanish Film Festival 2016
Now on its 15th edition, PELÍCULA-PELIKULA, the Spanish Film Festival, will be featuring the best of contemporary Spanish cinema from October 5 to 16 at the Greenbelt 3 Cinema 1. A total of 18 films will be featured, coming from Spain, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Venezuela.
Admission
Tickets can be purchased at the cinema lobby or via sureseats.com. PHP 100 each.
Audience Choice Award + Raffle
One should not miss the “Audience Choice” Award that happens in every edition of PELÍCULA. During the Festival, the audience will be given stubs with which they can rate the movies they have seen. For every five movies, members of the audience qualify to join the raffle where they get a chance to win a round-trip ticket to Spain and other exciting prizes.
Opening Film
The Festival will kick off on October 5, with the opening ceremonies at the Ayala Museum in Makati. This will be followed by the invitational screening of Truman, a bitter comedy directed by Spaniard Cesc Gay, which garnered several awards both in Spain and abroad. The opening film will be shown at Greenbelt 3 Cinemas.
Featured Films
- A Esmorga
- A Perfect Day to Fly
- Azul y no tan rosa (My Straight Son)
- Cien años de perdón
- El Rayo
- Embrace of the Serpent
- Isla Bonita
- La Tropa de Trapo
- Land and Shade
- Much Ado about Nothing
- My Big Night
- Palm Trees in the Snow
- Perdiendo el Norte
- Sacromonte, los sabios de la tribu
- Sidetracked
- Techo y comida (Food and Shelter)
- The Clan
- Truman
A Esmorga
Oct 7 • 4:30 PM
A story full of suspense that narrates twenty four hours in the life of three men, brothers in revelry, leaving behind a trail of destruction, of repressed and confused sex, closing doors behind them and throwing the keys away, as if deliberately heading for their own ruin.
A Perfect Day to Fly
Oct 9 • 4:30 PM
In a lonely spot, a boy flies a kite made by his father. It is windy and the boy needs an adult to help him untangle it from the bush to keep it flying.
Azul y no tan rosa (My Straight Son)
Oct 7 • 7:00 PM
Oct 13 • 9:30 PM
Oct 15 • 9:30 PM
The story of Diego, a young and successful photographer who lives in the glamorous world of fashion, shallowness and excess. A tragic accident turns his world around; his partner is now in a coma. Unexpectedly, and right at this terrible time, Diego must take care of his son, Armando who has lived in Spain until now. Both of them have to adapt to each other; Armando to the unknown, homosexual world of his father, and Diego to the spiteful attitude of his teenage son.
Cien años de perdón
Oct 7 • 9:30 PM
Oct 15 • 11:55 PM
One rainy morning, six men dressed and armed assault the headquarters of a bank in Valencia. What looked like a clean and easy theft is soon gets complicated, and nothing goes on as planned. This brings about distrust and confrontation between the two leaders of the band, “El Uruguayo” and “El Gallego”. But what exactly were they are looking?
El Rayo
Oct 8 • 2:00 PM
Oct 15 • 2:00 PM • 4:30 PM
After thirteen years in Spain, Hassan is jobless and decides to go back home to Morocco. He invests all his savings in a second hand tractor to earn a living in his country and takes on to the road. At the end of the road awaits his family and a new life in his village. A real journey played by a real man who travels from town to town, meeting unforgettable characters and overcoming obstacles, making this journey a real odyssey.
Embrace of the Serpent
Oct 10 • 7:00 PM
Oct 12 • 9:30 PM
Oct 14 • 4:30 PM
Colombia during the second half of the twentieth century. At the peak of the “rubber boom”, two scientists, Theodor Koch- Grünberg, a German and Richard Evans Schultes, an American, went to the Colombian Amazon in search for Yakruna, a sacred plant that is difficult to find. There they get to know Karamakate, a shaman and the last survivor of his tribe. The movie is inspired by the journals written by the two scientists ensuring their stay in the said Colombian jungle.
Isla Bonita
08/10/2016 (19:00 h)
12/10/2016 (19:00 h)
16/10/2016 (14:00 h)
After his divorce, Fer, a veteran and passionate advertising director, is invited by his friend Miguel Angel to his retirement in the island of Menorca. The problem is that Miguel Angel’s wife has also invited her mother and her nephews over. Miguel Angel has no choice but to place his friend in Nuria’s house, an attractive French sculptor living in permanent conflict with her teenage daughter, Olivia.
La Tropa de Trapo
09/10/2016 (14:00 h)
15/10/2016 (14:00 h)
The Happets, a group of pets composed of a cow, a giraffe, a bear, a piglet, a dog and a bird feel the need to help other animals who are having a lot of trouble surviving. Hence, they decide to go on a mission of solidarity that will take them to Rainbow Forest. They will have to muster all of their ingenuity, knowledge and efforts to save the Rainbow Forest which represents their dreams and their play area.
Land and Shade
10/10/2016 (21:30 h)
13/10/2016 (16:30 h)
A woman who refuses to give up the land that she has been fighting for her entire life; a son who never abandons his mother to the point of putting his own life at risk; a father who must face his mistakes in the past to make it up wit those he abandoned; a courageous wife who fights it out to save what is hers; a kid who grew up in the middle of all this devastation. The movie will show us how in their final days left these characters try to repair the fragile bond that unites them prior to their imminent disappearance brought about by the overwhelming power of progress.
Much Ado about Nothing
06/10/2016 (19:00 h)
11/10/2016 (21:30 h)
Vicente, an irresponsible young loner has recently returned to Chile from LA and is now living in his parents’ beach house. He spends his days basking in the sun, swimming and partying. But one night, his life changes forever. He becomes the main suspect of a hit-and-run incident that caused the death of a local fisherman.
My Big Night
08/10/2016 (23:55 h)
The temporary employment agency sends José to an industrial pavilion in the outskirts of Madrid to work in a taping of a New Year’s Eve gala show. Hundreds of workers pretend to celebrate the cheerful coming of the “New Year”. Alphonso is a musical star capable of anything to guarantee that his performance have the largest audience. Adanne, a young Latin singer and Alphonso’s antagonist, is hounded by fans. The emcees detest each other and compete to gain the trust of the producer. Meanwhile nobody has any inkling that Alphonso is in great danger.
Palm Trees in the Snow
08/10/2016 (21:30 h)
13/10/2016 (19:00 h)
16/10/2016 (16:30 h)
In 1953, Kilian leaves the mountains of his native Huesca with his brother to take a trip to the island of Fernando Poo, a former Spanish colony in Equatorial Guinea. There, their father awaits them. In Sampaka farm, where he grows one of the best cocoas in the world. In the colony, Kilian will discover that social life is more pleasant here than in the corseted and gray Spain. They will experience the contrasts between settlers and natives and learn the meaning of friendship, passion, love and hate.
Perdiendo el Norte
06/10/2016 (21:30 h)
09/10/2016 (21:30 h)
14/10/2016 (23:55 h)
Two young Spanish university graduates tired of unemployment and a bleak prospect, decide to move to Germany to seek a better future. But soon they discover that finding a better life is not as easy as they had expected.
Sacromonte, los sabios de la tribu
12/10/2016 (16:30 h)
A documentary that tries to recover the memory of the Sacromonte in Granada and its caves that have served as a source of inspiration to artists such as Debussy, Glinka and Lorca. This film recovers the memory of the most flamenco neighborhood in the world, through the survivors of a golden era, older men and women. Walk through the past to reconnect with their roots and their memories. For 200 years, the neighborhood was inhabited by Gypsies who settled in caves of its slopes attracted by the faithful who made pilgrimages to the Abbey of the Sacromonte. Chus Gutiérrez probes into the relationship of the neighborhood and the art of flamenco, with the participation of an entire cast of artists whose roots are in these very caves.
Sidetracked
09/10/2016 (16:30 h)
13/10/2016 (16:30 h)
16/10/2016 (21:30 h)
Luisa and Alberto have been forced to live in the countryside, but the idyllic rural life quickly begins to show its less positive side. Although the couple is going through a rough patch, Luisa is obsessed with having a second child, even if it means the most listless sex imaginable. Juan on the other hand, is Alberto’s brother who has no intentions whatsoever to live in the countryside. A 45-year-old journalist who goes out with Natalia — 25 years his junior. Meanwhile Luisa’s sister, Sara, is used to channeling her anxiety through men. She meets Paco, a sports journalist who appears willing to take it to the altar. Or so she thinks …
Techo y comida (Food and Shelter)
06/10/2016 (16:30 h)
14/10/2016 (21:30 h)
Jerez de la Frontera, 2012. Rocio is a single mother who is unemployed. She receives neither welfare, nor subsidy nor help from her family. She lives with her 8-year old son in a rented flat. She has been unable to pay her rent for months now. Her landlord continually threatens to kick her out. To cope with living expenses and rent, she accepts poorly paid menial jobs and peddles objects she finds.
The Clan
08/10/2016 (16:30 h)
A true story based on the case of the Puccio Clan, that shook the Argentine society in the early 80s. Behind the apparent normality of the Puccio family lays a sinister clan committed to kidnapping and murder. Archimedes, the patriarch, leads and plans the operations. Alejandro, the eldest son, a star of the Argentinean National Rugby team, uses his popularity so as not to raise suspicions. Other members of the family are accomplices in a greater or lesser degree of the crimes of the clan. They lived off the profits of ransoms paid by relatives of the hostages.
Truman
05/10/2016 (20:00 h)
09/10/2016 (19:00 h)
15/10/2016 (19:00 h)
Julian receives an unexpected visit from his good friend Tomas, who lives in Canada. The two men, accompanied by Julian’s faithful dog, Truman, will share emotional and surprising moments prompted by Julian’s complicated situation.
Other screenings
Thanks to the collaboration of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), a selection of films shown in the Manila leg of the Festival will travel to other cities in the Philippines, namely Baguio, Iloilo, and Davao.
Since its conception in 2002 by Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish Film Festival has been an annual attraction at the Ayala Malls Cinemas at Greenbelt 3, bringing the best of Spanish and Latin American cinema to the local audience of Manila. PELÍCULA-PELIKULA is a combination of the Spanish word “película”, which means film, and its Tagalog derivation “pelikula”, echoing the cultural ties shared by Spain and the Philippines. By putting the two words together, it highlights the unique characteristics of this 2-week event as the biggest Spanish film festival in Asia.
Presented by Instituto Cervantes, the Embassy of Spain, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), and PELÍCULA is made possible by Ayala Malls Cinemas, San Miguel Corporation, Vibal Foundation, Turkish Airlines, Ministerio de Educación y Cultura de España, Spanish Agency for Cooperation (AECID), in collaboration with ICAA, the Embassy of Colombia, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Ayala Museum, and Buzz Productions.
For more information, please visit the official website of Instituto Cervantes (www.manila.cervantes.es) or log on to their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila.
WATCH: ‘Smurfs: The Lost Village’ gets teaser trailer
Columbia Pictures’ upcoming adventure comedy “Smurfs: The Lost Village” has released its teaser trailer which may be viewed below.
The newest entry in the Columbia Pictures movie franchise that has grossed more than $900 million globally, “Smurfs: The Lost Village” is set to open across the Philippines on May 10, 2017.
In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her best friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. Embarking on a rollercoaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history!
“Smurfs: The Lost Village” stars Demi Lovato as Smurfette, Rainn Wilson as Gargamel and Mandy Patinkin as Papa Smurf. Also starring are triple Emmy nominee Jack McBrayer (“30 Rock,” “Wreck-It Ralph”) as the sweet, awkward and honest-to-a-fault Clumsy, who’s forever trying his best and missing the mark; Danny Pudi (“Community”) as book smart and geek proud Brainy, who’s long on knowledge, but short on inter-Smurf-onal skills; and Joe Manganiello (“True Blood,” “Magic Mike”) as the strong and super-positive Hefty, a loyal dynamo struggling with his hero complex.
The fully-animated return to the tone and style of the beloved comic book creations of Peyo is directed by Kelly Asbury (“Shrek 2,” “Gnomeo & Juliet”), produced by Jordan Kerner (“Charlotte’s Web,” “The Smurfs”) and co-produced by Mary Ellen Bauder (“Hotel Transylvania”), and executive produced by Raja Gosnell and Ben Waisbren.
“Smurfs: The Lost Village” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.
Asa Butterfield holds unique powers in ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’
Asa Butterfield, known for his notable performance in “Hugo” that earned him Critics’ Choice Award nomination for Best Young Actor and was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, stars in Tim Burton’s latest adaptation of the worldwide bestselling children’s book by Ransom Riggs with the same title, “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” as a reluctant young hero who has yet to discover and harness his powerful peculiarity.
“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” is the story of a family of outcasts – children who, because of their gifts, have to live outside of society – a love story with time travel, monsters and a powerful message at its heart that we should all be who we want to be. What makes the young Peculiars different is also what makes them able, strong and special. Miss Peregrine’s (Eva Green) home provides a safe haven from the outside world, which cannot comprehend or deal with the Peculiars’ special abilities. It’s also a refuge from their powerful enemies.
Each child has a unique peculiarity, including levitation, fire-manipulation and super-strength. The Peculiars’ capabilities are not limitless, and these young people are bound by most of the things non-Peculiars are. The new arrival at Miss Peregrine’s Home is Jake (Butterfield), the hero of our story. An outcast who eventually finds acceptance among the Peculiars, Jake is a typical American teen with the attending awkwardness. He feels that he doesn’t fit in, and doesn’t seem to be able to connect with anyone except his grandfather, whose death sets him on a journey of discovery.
Asa Butterfield describes his character as “living an ordinary life and thinks he will never make a difference in the world. When his beloved granddad Abe dies mysteriously, Jake travels to Wales with his father to find out about Abe’s past—and to find out if the special Home and its residents, which Abe had told Jake many stories about, really exist.”
Jake could never have suspected what was in store for him there. “What really stood out for me was how surreal everything was that was surrounding him,” Butterfield explains. “He comes from something that’s totally ordinary to joining something insanely different from what he’s used to. At Miss Peregrine’s Home, Jake must let go of everything he knows—or thinks he knows—and leave normal life behind.”
It’s a tremendous opportunity and challenge for Jake, and not unlike those many of us encounter in the everyday world. Although we don’t face the kind of extraordinary challenges and choices Jake has with the Peculiars, the bigger picture, says Butterfield, is all about “taking that next big step.”
Burton says Butterfield was right for the role because the young actor “has a special kind of sensitivity, and he’s a thinker. You could easily envision Asa being a Peculiar. He brings gravity to the role, like he’s always discovering something. Asa really conveys that Jake is going through what a lot of teens experience.
“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” also stars Eva Green, Judi Dench, Terence Stamp, Samuel L. Jackson with up and coming young stars Asa Butterfield, Ella Purnell, Finlay MacMillan, Lauren McCrostie, Pixie Davies, Georgia Pemberton, Raffiella Chapman, Milo Parker, Hayden Keeler-Stone, Cameron King and Thomas and Joseph Odwell.
Come home to the cinemas (2D and 3D) and experience a visual spectacle when “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” opens September 28 nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
