Best of Filipino Filmmaking Highlighted in 3rd European Philippine International Film Festival

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The Philippine Business and News
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EPIFF goes VIRtuAL

The EPIFF (European Philippine International Film Festival) will hold its third edition this 2020 online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Founded by renowned filmmakers, Ruben Soriquez and Maurizio Baldini, and in partnership with the Philippine Italian Association (PIA), the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ICCPI) PI under the auspices of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the EPIFF will take place this coming October 24 to 25, 2020.

After its successful first two editions, the EPIFF will continue to host the festival that promotes the art of Filipino Cinema in Italy and all over Europe as well even with the current situation. This festival is a means to allow both Italians and other Europeans to have a better understanding of the complexity of the Philippine society. From its diverse and rich culture to its amazingly beautiful landscapes, the EPIFF will be able to showcase these during the 2-day festival to people all over Europe through the new indie and classic movie streaming platform at iWatchMore
(www.iwatchmore.com/categories/epiff).

Must-watch films

The festival will display five films that will be competing for the coveted EPIFF awards such as the Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, and the Audience Award. The previous two editions saw Honor thy Father of Erick Matti and El Peste of Richard Somes winning the Best Film award last EPIFF 2018 and 2019, respectively.

This 2020, the five films that will be competing are the following:

● Sonata by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes. This is a 2013 film starring Cherie Gil and Carlo Jalandoni where it talks about a woman (Cherie Gil) whose whole life revolved around her art but goes on a self-destructive behavior once she loses it. Carlo Jalandoni then plays the role of the young boy who will help Gil’s character to get out of the deep funk she’s in and slowly falls in love with her art once more.
● Badil by Chito S. Roño. Also known as Dynamite Fishing, this 2013 film takes place in a small village in the Philippines on the eve of an election. It stars Jhong Hilario whose role was to make sure that his father’s responsibility to the incumbent Mayor del Mundo will be fulfilled after his father falls ill on the eve of the election. The film revolves around how politics is heavily related to corruption during this era and how far people will go to get what they want.
● Bamboo Flowers by Maryo Delos Reyes. Irma Adlawan, Ruru Madrid, Orlando Sol, and Mylene Dizon stars in this 2013 film where each of their characters is having a difficult time getting through life. As the title states, the film revolves around these people who are facing their own challenges and obstacles in life but overall the film features how resilient they are despite it all, just like the bamboo plant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Crescent Rising by Sheron Dayoc. The 2015 award-winning documentary film focuses on Mindanao’s forgotten people through three different lenses of characters who are unfortunately caught in a crossfire of unwavering faith and ambiguous histories. The themes of war and justice are highlighted in the film as it showcases what war can do to people, families, and communities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land from God by Kevin Piamonte. This short film that was shown last 2018, tackles the numerous struggles that the Ati tribe has to go through in their quest to preserve their culture in this rapid modernization and commercialization of the famous tourist spot, Boracay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aside from the five competing films, the 2020 EPIFF will also be showcasing two films for everyone to enjoy by the festival’s very own founders. Ruben Maria Soriquez’s 2019 film named The Spiders’ Man (trailer) is one of the non-competing films available during this years’ EPIFF in which two half-brothers, one of which is affected by Autism and Schizophrenia, had thieves burst into their home. When the thieves have failed to find any money, chaos ensures and things got out of hand. While Maurizio Baldini’s 2016 film called Dalisay is the second non-competing film in the festival where it stars Sue Prado who’s character went through an unfortunate accident where she also lost both her parents. As she grows closer to a woman called Nida, she gets to know what higher love is and how the rhythm of nature affects each of our souls.

Don’t miss out on the third edition of the EPIFF which will be hosted by the virtual godmother of the 2020 EPIFF, Ms. Cherie Gil herself! EPIFF is organized by the Island Stream Cultural Association of Florence, Italy, in partnership with various organizations in the Philippines. You can learn more about the festival by visiting their website at https://www.epiff.org/

www.iwatchmore.com/categories/epiff

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