Members of the Philippine and French business community, diplomatic corps, arts, culture, media, and civil society gathered together at Lanson Place, Mall of Asia for a Charity Gala Dinner hosted by the Embassy of France and SM during the 26th French Film Festival opening weekend.
Held in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children, the occasion was graced by French cinema icon Emmanuelle Beart, and aimed to raise awareness and support for the Cameleon Association and its work over the last 26 years in protecting and healing young girl survivors of violence and abuse.
The gala had several elements to highlight and recognize, but the strongest spotlight of the night was reserved for Cameleon Association, a non-profit, non-government organization founded by French national Laurence Ligier. Audiences, including SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation President Elizabeth Sy, Makati Mayor Abigail Binay, French Ambassador Marie Fontanel, and SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, were moved by the performances of drama and acrobatic artistry by the young women, men, and children who form part of the Cirquera de Cameleon in Iloilo – a testament to the transformative power of Cameleon, and most importantly the courage and resilience of its members.
A heartwarming moment during the evening was when Béart congratulated the group with a long, tight embrace for their performance, and promised to continue her work in breaking the silence around violence and abuse towards women and children.
Beart, renowned for her roles in French cinema, was in Manila recently to officially open the 26th French Film Festival and the Philippine screening of her documentary, Un Silence Si Bruyant (Such a Resounding Silence).
Through the documentary, Beart hopes to lift the veil on incest and confront her reality with that of others. A victim of incest in her youth, Beart’s objective is to make a film on the ravages of incest over time and to put into words the fight of the victims to be able to move forward and rebuild.
The project, which took years in the making, is co-created with Anastasia Mikova, and is a compelling cinematic endeavor that also serves as a powerful statement against violence and abuse towards women.
The gala also served as an opportunity to honor France’s outstanding alumni in the Philippines. Inaugurated during the 75th Anniversary of Philippine-French Diplomatic Relations in 2022, the Alumni Awards recognize Filipino alumni and their notable contributions to their respective fields. The lineup of the 2023 awardees is a sterling example of France’s education excellence, the diversity and fruitfulness of French academic credentials, and the cross-cultural exposure.
This year’s four awardees were: filmmaker and film historian Nick de Ocampo (Atelier du Formacion Au Cinema) of the UP Film Institute; internationally recognized Balai Palma chef Aaron Isip (Le Cordon Bleu); Design Center of the Philippines Executive Director Rhea Matute (master’s degree in International Brand Luxury Management at ESSEC in Paris); and SM Supermalls President Steven Tan (Masters in Business Administration at the Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Paris).
The gala was one of the highlights of the 26th French Film Festival opening weekend. French Ambassador Marie Fontanel and SM Supermalls President Steven Tan welcomed guests at the star-studded red carpet opening held the previous night.
Graced by Beart, who was dubbed as the festival’s “godmother”, the affair was also attended by Philippine film industry luminaries including Film Development Council of the Philippines Chairperson Tirso Cruz III, actor Cesar Montano, and award-winning director Mark Meily.
This year’s festival features a carefully curated suite of 20 films comprising new releases, box office hits, and classics featuring icons of French cinema. The 26th French Film Festival at the SM Mall of Asia and SM Megamall cinemas was presented by the Embassy of France in the Philippines, SM Supermalls, SM Cinema, and L’Oreal.