Saturday, October 04, 2008 The Stuff and Spice of Life By Terry D.C. Betonio
THERE is a special treat for Cagayan de Oro film buffs as Liceo de Cagayan hosts Cine Europa 11, a yearly European film festival, from October 3 to 5, 2008.
Films about the stuff and spice of life -- love, romance, despair, laughter, hope -- from 11 European countries are up for showing at the Rodelsa Hall of Liceo de Cagayan University.
"Fuera de Carta," a romantic comedy film from the Instituto Cervantes, Spain's cultural institute in Manila, had its screening on October 3, which served as the highlight of the festival's opening.
"Fuera de Carta" is a film that tells about the story of Maxi, a gay restaurant owner who has to live with his kids again.
The movie, which received the Audience Award at the 2007 Malaga Spanish Film Festival, shows how Maxi copes up with his love and family life.
Thelma Gecolea, public affairs officer of the Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines, said Cine Europa started as a gift of the European community to the Filipino people in 1998.
Since then, she said the festival has become a tradition of fostering cultural relationship between the European countries and the Philippines.
Among the European countries that are members of the European Union, which joined the festival, are Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Switzerland, which is not a member of the European Union, is joining the film festival for the first time.
Ambassador Peter Sutter of the Embassy of Switzerland said independence is still deeply rooted among the Swiss, that's why it takes some time before they will become a member of the European Union.
Switzerland is showing two films - "Vitus," a film about a boy who has the capability to hear like a bat and studies encyclopedias at the age of five; and "Latebloomers," a film about two older women who worked together for the fulfillment of the other woman's dream of putting up a boutique that sells hand-made lingerie, which incidentally has not been positively accepted by the village people.
Richard Kunzel, director of the German Cultural Institute/Goethe Institut, said Cine Europa is an opportunity for them to visit Cagayan de Oro.
Ambassador Sutter also said the festival is a good chance for the people of Cagayan de Oro, and the Filipino in general, to use the films as a "window to Europe."
Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, head of delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines, graced the opening activity of the festival on October 3 along with "Fuera de Carta's" Spanish filmmaker Nacho G. Velilla, Director Jose Rodriguez of Instituto Cervantes and Dr. Mariano Lerin, president of Liceo de Cagayan University.
In his message, Ambassador MacDonald said Cine Europa, now on its 11th year, boasts another milestone as it opened the Mindanao leg in Cagayan de Oro.
"I hope that Cine Europa will give you the opportunity to rediscover the distinctive and very diverse European culture and heritage, most especially as we celebrate the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue this year," he said.
Ambassador MacDonald added that through this medium of film, "We will be able to foster a better awareness and understanding of each other's culture."
Cine Europa has been to other places in the country such as Davao, Cebu and Baguio. Admission to the film festival is free on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested moviegoers may get the free movie passes from The Office of Cultural and Public Affairs at Liceo de Cagayan University.
