Welcomes guest of honor Sara Serraiocco, pays tribute to Pinocchio and, features a social segment
By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios
After a resounding success of the past editions in Bangkok, Manila and Hanoi, Moviemov Italian Film Festival returns to the Philippines with its tenth edition which will run from February 1 to 6, 2021 in an out-and-out virtual movie house, thanks to the participation of My Movies, bringing once more the best of the new Italian cinema to the Philippines. The Guest of Honor of this 10th edition will be the actress, Sara Serraiocco, one of the new international faces of the Italian cinema.
“Given the measures taken to contain the spread of the pandemic in Asia”, the two artistic directors Fabia Bettini and Gianluca Giannelli announced, “we decided to confirm the tenth edition of Moviemov Italian Film Festival Manila making it accessible online, as we are convinced that more than ever, it’s important to restart through culture and cinema.”
“I’m honored to be the guest of honor of Moviemov, a festival that gives visibility to Italian movies in the Philippines”, declared Sara Serraiocco. “Especially in this difficult time for cinema, with the movie houses still closed”.
Produced and organized by the cultural association Playtownroma and directed by Fabia Bettini and Gianluca Giannelli, Moviemov Italian Film Festival is a nomadic festival created in 2010 thanks to the support of the Directorate general for Cinema of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and activities and on the request of the Italian Embassies in Bangkok, Manila and Hanoi, with the support of public institutions and other partners in Italy and abroad.
The main purpose of the festival is to create a platform for the contemporary Italian Cinema abroad, particularly in the South East Asia, a region that represents a more and more interesting destination, from the cultural and commercial points of view.
This year, for the first time, Moviemov Italian Cinema Philippines will be organized in three different parts: Moviemov Showcase, with eight movies and a tribute to Pinocchio, on the occasion of its 140th anniversary; Moviemov Industry; and a Social Segment, with the screenings of the short movie Princess by Silvia Luzi and Luca Bellino.
The festival is organized in the Philippines with the support of the Italian Embassy, the collaboration of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Philippine Italian Association, Ateneo de Naga, Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan, De La Salle University Bacolod (Institute of the Moving Image), De La Salle University Manila, College of Saint Benilde School of Arts and Design, University of the Philippines Diliman Film Institute and the endorsement of the media partners like CNN Philippines, ANC, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Business and News.
MOVIEMOV SHOWCASE
This year’s showcase presents the following titles:
- NON ODIARE/ Thou Shalt Not Hate by Mauro Mancini
- VOLEVO NASCONDERMI / Hidden Away by Giorgio Diritti
- I PREDATORI / Predators by Pietro Castellitto
- PALAZZO DI GIUSTIZIA / Ordinary Justice by Chiara Bellosi
- PADRENOSTRO by Claudio Noce
- PUNTASACRA by Francesca Mazzoleni
- PINOCCHIO by Matteo Garrone
- IL MIO CORPO by Michele Pennetta
Screenings will be followed by talks with filmmakers, actors and producers, which will be accessible online both in the Philippines and Italy.
The festival will also pay tribute to Pinocchio, on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the first appearance of the famous character, protagonist of Carlo Collodi’s children’s novel, initially published serially on the weekly “Giornale per i bambini” (Children’s newspaper), between 1881 and 1882. The tribute will navigate through literature and cinema, with detailed “focus on” and masterclasses, and it will be organized thanks to the Embassy of Italy in Manila, and in collaboration with PIA and Ateneo de Naga University Press.
Moviemov Industry
An online business section with dedicated screenings and meetings will be organized with the purpose of promoting audiovisual products through dedicated screenings for buyers, panel discussions and online meetings, among others. A virtual fair experience, supported by a digital and secure tool for international relations activities, which allows us to provide to Italian and Filipino professionals an opportunity to be visible, to explore co-productions, funding and distribution of the most interesting and recent audiovisual products.
The Industry section is made possible thanks to the support of Ass.For.SEO, the funding by Regione Lazio and MOVIE UP 2020 and will be organized in collaboration with the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
Special Social Segment
A social segment, on the other hand, will represent a bridge of dialogue between Italy and the Philippines, a spotlight on realities that are often hidden but can emerge thanks to the power of images. For this edition, Moviemov will shed a light on the terrible fire that destroyed the homes of a Filipino community in Rome last August. The short film, Princess, directed by Silvia Luzi and Luca Bellino, tells of a silent community that lives on the edge of the river, in the center of Rome: men and women whose existence is ignored. As in an Italian Parasite, the protagonists of the short film are invisible to the city, and while the adults try to save what is left of their lives, three little girls imagine that to have a new home, it is enough to make a wish. A short film that has the great ambition of erasing the distance and put in contact worlds that are only seemingly disconnected.
Festival venue: https://www.mymovies.it/ondemand/moviemov/
For more info:
Philippine Italian Association: philippineitalianassociation@gmail.com
ACPLAYTOWNROMA: segreteria@alicenellacitta.com
