Instituto Cervantes partners with schools in Spanish filmfest

 Instituto Cervantes de Manila has tapped different educational institutions in Metro Manila as partners for the 23rd Pelicula > Pelikula Manila Spanish Film Festival, which runs until October 13.

The festival, which features more than 20 Spanish and Latin American films, is being held this year in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Film Institute (APFI), Ateneo de Manila University-Modern Languages, CIIT College of Arts and Technology, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), Far Eastern University (FEU) Institute of Arts and Sciences, iAcademy, Mapúa University School of Media Studies (SMS), Meridian International (MINT) College, University of the Philippines Film Institute (UPFI), and the UP Department of European Languages.

Mapúa Digital Film Program Chair, SMS professor, and filmmaker Sheryl Andes moderated the talkback session with “Benito Pérez Buñuel” director Luis Roca and producer Marta de Santa Ana after the Asian premiere of their documentary last October 8.

The film explores the life and influence of Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel and Spanish writer Benito Pérez Galdós. The audience had the opportunity to learn about the creative process behind the documentary, as the filmmakers shared their insights on Galdós' and Buñuel's legacy and their passion to bring it to life.

Meanwhile, Spanish filmmaker Mario Torrecillas conducted a two-day postproduction workshop at iAcademy Nexus Makati last October 8 and 9. Torrecillas provided 12 students from APFI, CIIT, DLS-CSB, iAcademy, Mapúa, and MINT with hands-on experience on the postproduction process and practical knowledge of stop-motion animation. 

Torrecillas earlier discussed his work as a comic book writer and his experience of adapting comics to cinema in his talk “From Comics to Film” and presented the film “Loli Tormenta,” of which he wrote the script, last October 7 at Cinema 2, Shangri-La Plaza Red Carpet Cinemas. He also facilitated a free animation workshop for children last October 6 at the Grand Atrium of the mall.

Pelicula > Pelikula is also made possible through the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, AECID, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Teatro Real, the Embassy of Argentina in the Philippines, the Embassy of Brazil in the Philippines, the Embassy of Colombia in the Philippines, CMB Film Services Inc., Kinoise PH, and SINEGANG PH, and sponsored by Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc., Arthaland, Ayala Corporation, BOYSEN, Fundador, Terminal Six, and Barcino.

All screenings are free of charge, and films will be shown in Spanish (or their original language) with English subtitles. Audience members will also receive exclusive merchandise for every five (5) films they watched. They can collect stamps on their ballots after each screening to earn their rewards.

For more information and updates on the festival, including the full schedule, visit the Instituto Cervantes de Manila website at https://manila.cervantes.es or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila.