The Exground Film Festival is featuring the Philippines as its “Country of Focus” this year as part of the celebration of its One Hundred Years this month.
Exground Filmfest is among Europe’s most important film festivals for international independent productions. It is an important meeting place for journalists, specialized visitors, and guests from the film business. With focus on this year on Philippine Cinema, the Film Development Council of the Philippines through its International Film Festival Assistance Program (IFFAP) is in partnership with Exground to support the Philippine delegation and conduct activities.
“We are grateful for the spotlight given by Exground to Philippine Cinema this year so we may showcase the best of our independent films that reflect the complex and diverse culture of our country especially to our European audience. Taking the Festival’s vision further of providing a unique platform for arthouse and independent films, the Festival features this year’s slate from Philippine Cinema that is made up of eleven full feature and ten short films,” said FDCP Chairperson Liza Diño.
“These films are one form or another, encourage socio-political discourse in order to widen one’s perspective of the country’s past and current cultural and political climate. They are grounded on the context of not just raising awareness but inspiring action for positive change,” she added.
Mikhail Red’s NeoManila is the opening film under the program “Focus Philippines,” which will also feature a wide range of films that present different stories on socio-political discourse. The program brings together works by internationally celebrated filmmakers such as Lav Diaz, Khavn De La Cruz and Jet Leyco with lesser-known gems from up-and-coming directorial talents, all conveniently shown with English and German subtitles.
The classics to the most recent films will be featured including Himala by Ishmael Bernal, Matangtubig (Town in a Lake) by Jet Leyco, Balangiga: The Howling Wilderness by Khavn dela Cruz, Madilim ang Gabi (Dark is the Night) by Adolfo Alix Jr., Ang Paglalakbay ng Mag Bituin Sa Gabing Madilim (The Journey of Stars Into the Dark Night) by Arnel Mardoquio, Ang Panahon ng Halimaw (Season of the Devil) by Lav Diaz, Himpapawid (Manila Skies) by Raymond Red, Yield by Toshihiko Uriu and Victor Tagaro and the recent hit, Buybust by Erik Matti.
Competing under the International Short Film Competition is Manong ng Pa-aling (Man of Pa-aling) by E del Mundo.
A number of short films will be featured under the Philippine Short Film Program. This includes Ang Magpakailanman (Eternity) by Raymond Red, Babylon by Keith Deligero, Gikan sa Ngitngit nga Kinailadman (From the Dark Depths) by Kiri Dalena, Manila Death Squad by Dean Colin Marcial and Maria by JP Habac.
The Shorts in Front of Features will showcase Anino (Shadows) by Raymond Red, Palugid (Margins) by Paolo Villaluna and Juan Tamad Goes to the Moon (1898) by Khavn dela Cruz.
To further introduce the Filipino filmmaking and how these stories were cultivated over a hundred years, FDCP in cooperation with the organizers of the Exground Film Festival will have the following events that will feature Filipino movers and filmmakers: History Panel: 100 Years of Philippine Cinema with speakers Ed Lejano, Edward Cabagnot, and Raymond Red on Nov. 20; Human Rights Panel with speakers Raffy Lerma, Kiri Dalena, and Rosa Castillo on Nov. 24; and Philippine Cinema Night on Nov. 21.
The ongoing Exground Film Festival runs until Nov. 25 at Wiesbaden, Germany.