Five (5) Filipino films will be featured at the 21st Far East Film Festival (FEFF) in Udine, Italy happening from April 26 to May 4, 2019.
Filipino films under the Competition Section include “Hintayan ng Langit” (“Heaven’s Waiting”) directed by Dan Villegas, “Miss Granny” directed by Bb. Joyce Bernal, “Eerie” directed by Mikhail Red, and “Signal Rock” directed by Chito S. Roño. Meanwhile, “Nunal sa Tubig” (“A Speck in the Water”) directed by Ishmael Bernal will have its world premiere under the Restored Classics section.
Through the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP)’s International Film Festival Assistance Program (IFFAP), the Agency will provide support to selected Filipino films for their participation in the festival.
“We are always glad that we could be of assistance to our very own filmmakers who made it to international film festivals to represent Philippine cinema,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Mary Liza Diño. “Last year, the Philippines was chosen as the Country of Focus in the Far East Film Festival as part of the celebration of the One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema, and we are pleased that the festival continues to showcase different voices from around the world by including Filipino films in their lineup this year,” she added.
Meanwhile, among the 15 titles selected by Focus Asia for the 21st Far East Film Festival’s All Genres Project Market, two (2) Filipino film projects were chosen to pursue opportunities for co-production and co-financing in Europe and Asia. These include Focus Asia Award winner at the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), “The Grandstand” directed by Mikhail Red and produced by Pauline Zamora, and the coming-of-age drama “Everybody Leaves” directed by Phyllis Grae Grande and produced by Alemberg Ang. These film projects will be presented in panels, one-to-one meetings, and screenings to more than 200 industry professionals.
Also to be showcased is “Babylon” directed by Keith Deligero and produced by Thipsena Supatcha from Thailand and Lyndel Gale Osorio for Ties That Bind, an Asia-Europe co-production workshop. Selected projects for this workshop will be featured in the market’s collateral section and will have the chance to meet producers, financiers, and distributors from Europe and Asia.
Projects selected for the Far East Film Festival’s Project Market will be presented from April 30 to May 2, 2019, while the Italian session of Ties That Bind will happen from April 29 to May 3, 2019.