FEAST for the EYES
By: Bettina

Come one, come all and satisfy your hunger for a major Spanish and Latin American cultural boost with films that will make you “see drama, taste fear, hear joy, feel love and breathe pelicula.”

The cultural arm of the Spanish Embassy, Instituto Cervantes, brings back the biggest and most anticipated film festival in Asia and the Pacific to in Manila, heralding the 9th year of Pelicula, the Spanish and Latin American Film Festival.

“We want to make Manila the number one cultural capital in Asia,” says Jose Rodriguez, director of Instituto Cervantes.

The institute hopes to bring the films outside of Manila in the years to come and make the films available for more people. But for now, having another Spanish Film Festival this year is enough reason to celebrate.

“This is the jewel of our cultural affairs,” says Rodriguez. And, truth be told, this years’ festival (ongoing until Oct. 10) is more than a feast for the eyes.

The film festival showcases 23 of the most awarded and extensively well-selected line-up of films including Bolivia; Cachimba; Garbo, El hombre que salvo el mundo (Garbo, the Spy); and Celda 221 (Cell 221) at the Greenbelt 3 cinemas.

To further reinforce the bond between the Filipino and Spanish culture that continues to thrive here in the country through the festival, the premiere of Filipino movie directed by Jim Libiran entitled Happyland is also featured. The film is about a Spanish priest starting a football tournament for children amidst the impoverished state of Tondo, Manila.

For more information, please call 526-1482 or visit http://manila.cervantes.es or www.pelicula.ph. Instituto Cervantes de Manila is located at 855 T.M. Kalaw St. Ermita, Manila.

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