Promoting French culture and honoring the excellence of Philippine cinema, the French Film Festival celebrates its 21st year of bringing best films and blockbusters to local audiences. Spearheaded by the Embassy of France to the Philippines, the Alliance Française de Manille and Institut Français, renowned films will be publicly screened from June 8 to 14 at the Greenbelt 3 Cinemas and the Bonifacio High Street Cinemas.
Over the years, an increasing number of moviegoers have been attending the French Film Festival. Last year, over 15,000 watched the film showings in Manila and Cebu. The French film fest has been providing a venue for Filipinos to discover and appreciate French films, with the activity also aimed at strengthening the relations between France and the Philippines that began 21 years ago.
The film festival also supports the local film industry by screening and paying tribute to classic and contemporary Philippine films. The Ambassy of France in Manila has also been supportive of the local film industry and preserving Philippine film heritage by assisting up-and-coming local filmmakers in pursuing their projects and providing training and experience to these Filipino filmmakers abroad.
French Ambassador Thierry Mathou noted that 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.
A lineup of 17 French films released between 2014 and 2016 will be presented in this year’s edition of the film festival. On June 12 during Philippine Independence Day, the spotlight will be on Filipino films with screenings for two local films that have been featured at international film festivals in France: Lawrence Fajardo’s Imbisibol and Carl Joseph Papa’s animated film, Manang Biring.
“We bring to the Filipino’s the best that the world has to offer – we give them options, we inspire them and we expose them to aspects of foreign culture and now we offer them that once-a-year chance to enrich themselves with the beauty that is French cinema” said Michael Tantoco Huang, specialist Assistant to the CEO of the SSI Group, Inc.
The red carpet will also be rolled out to formally open the French Film Festival in Manila on June 8 in honor of the cast and crew of Ma’ Rosa, a film by director Brillante Mendoza which competed at the recent Cannes Film Festival, and which earned Best Actress honors to Jaclyn Jose.
“We are really, really pleased to congratulate Ms. Jaclyn Jose for receiving this honor,” said Laurent Legodec, Deputy Head of Mission of the French Embassy. “This shows that in the cinema field, we have much to exchange between France and the Philippines, we have much to share.”
Adding pizzazz to the event is Peugeot, the official premium transport partner of the 21st French Film Festival which will be made available to guests on the gala night.
Peugot Philippines president Glen Dasig said that the French Film Festival is a salute to the arts. For over 21 years, the French Embassy in Manila has been giving Filipinos a glimpse of French artistry via these beautiful works of modern art. Peugeot, which has a deeply rooted history in premium design, also churns out works of modern art. “Our goals are one and the same – to offer the best of France to the Filipino. We feel that we share a bond with the Embassy of France in this effort.”
A special screening of French director Maïwenn’s film, Mon Roi, will also be shown starring French actress Emmanuelle Bercot who won the Best Actress Award at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
The Cinematheque Centre Manila of the Film Development Council of the Philippines will also screen a selection of French films throughout the week of the film festival.
For screening schedules, visit www.frenchfilmfest.com and share your French Film Festival story on social media using the hashtag #FrenchFilmFest21. You can also download the French Film Festival app powered by ThinkBIT on Apple Store and Google Play for film synopses, reviews, and screening schedules. Tickets for both cinemas are priced at P100 to cover the operational costs of the theaters and may be purchased at the cinema lobby or online through www.sureseats.com.