9/22/21

2021 Cine Europa 24

 

Cine Europa 24 presents the best of EU movies to audience worldwide right in the comforts of your home. Now on its 24th year, Cine Europa is the longest running European film festival in the Philippines.

The EU Delegation and the EU Member States Embassies together with Goethe Institut Manila, the Philippine-Italian Association and Instituto Cervantes de Manila are proud to present Cine Europa 24 from 1 to 29 September.

 


This year’s CE24 festival would be different as we are all following health protocols in this challenging time. CE24 has innovatively turned this challenge as an opportunity to present world class EU films via online screening reaching more Filipino moviegoers than ever. Cine Europa continues to stand proud with its strong partnership with the Film Development Council in the Philippines.

There are 17 films from the EU Member States and everyone is invited to watch via online screening for FREE. Just sign-up at www.cineeuropaph.com for your free access pass and to view the movie line-up schedules.

 

The EU Delegation, the European Union Member States Embassies together with Goethe-Institut, Instituto Cervantes de Manila and the Philippine-Italian Association, have curated a set of award-wining films showing the diversity of the European culture.





Cine Europa 24 Films:

Les Parfums (Perfumes) from France was launched during the CE Virtual Presscon held last August 26. The funny film directed by Grégory Magne, revolves around diva Mme Anne and her new driver Guillame. A self-centered woman she is, Anne, is faced by his candid driver who respects her but at the same time is bluntly honest and dares to refuse her unreasonable demands. This comic story will surely make you laugh!




Vlastníci (Owners) from the Czech Republic. Another comic film that will make you giggle. A story based on the play “The Society of Owners” will give the audience an insight of Czech mentality through funny moments…

Catwalk, from Sweden, a touching story about a seemingly impossible dream that comes true. The film drives a strong statement about equal value, disabled or not.



El Cuadro (The Painting) from Spain. “For three and a half centuries the enigma of Velázquez’s masterpiece Las Meninas has remained hidden. Can we solve its mystery now?”

Que Arde (Fire Will Come) is a captivating story of Amador, who just came out of prison, to live a quiet life until fire ruins it all. The film directed by Oliver Laxe is a Jury Prize winner in Cannes. It is also a co-production of Spain, France, Luxembourg.

From Poland is the film, The Lure, a story about two mermaid sisters, half human half fish, end up performing in a night club. When one of them falls in love with a beautiful young man, they face cruel and bloody choices.

Nos Batailles (Our Struggles), is an interesting Belgian film that will show you how Olivier juggles between the children’s needs, life’s daily challenges and his job, after her wife abandons the family.

Trezon, a Hungarian film with an exciting plot and “full of unexpected twists, where nothing and no one is what they seem to be.”

Vores mand i Amerika (The Good Traitor). “Denmark’s neutralist policy is a delicate thing” a film by Christina Rosendal that was released in 2020

I Doulia tis (Her Job) from Greece, relates a story of a working mother, Panayiota who is trapped within a domestic environment that prevents her from achieving independence but gets an opportunity to get a new life. Sadly this is prematurely pruned...

La Madre (The Mother) is an Italian film that talks about passions, sufferance, and torments of a priest, his mother and one of his parishioner. Originally set in a rural Sardinia by Grazia Deledda (author of the novel), it is moved by the filmmaker, Angelo Maresca to the metaphysics setting offered by the EUR building, in Rome, where everything is either black or white.

From the Netherlands is The Warden, a story of an old man who has been the warden of a bird sanctuary for almost half a century on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean. One day he receives notice that his posting will be discontinued. His happy life – in and alongside nature – comes to an abrupt end. But the warden refuses to accept his dismissal. Determined not to leave, he decides to fight back in his own way…

Einer wie Erika (Erik and Erika) from Austria is a true story of Erik Schinegger, a world champion skier and his life as a woman, his ultimate transition to manhood and his fight for recognition in an age where there was no place in the social dictionary for a word like “transgender”.



Acasă (My Home) is a Romanian film directed by Radu Ciorniciuc and recently released in 2020. It is a powerful narration of a family who lived calmly with nature in Bucharest until they are chased out and forced to adapt to life in the big city.

Aurora from Finland focuses on: immigration and addiction. It is an enjoyable dramedy from Finnish Lapland.  Conditional love between Aurora and Darian is needed to stop them from running.

The German film Kokon (Cocoon) was released in 2020 and is directed by Leonie Krippendorff. It is an adventurous story of Nora, a shy 14-year-old Berlin girl, making her way into adulthood.

Das Vorspiel (The Audition) tells a story of Anna’s passion for violin that has gone to the borders of breaking her family. Her competitive spirit is faced by her own failure. This a co-production film between Germany and France.

Register and watch Cine Europa films for free with on-demand screening at https://www.cineeuropaph.com/ and follow Cine Europa PH on Facebook for updates.

9/16/21

It’s 100 Days ‘til Christmas and it’s all about caring and giving at SM Supermalls

The past years have always had us counting down to the most wonderful time of the year when the ‘ber’ months roll in; Christmas carols fill the air, dazzling tree lights dot the streets, shopping for gifts becomes a sport, and everyone else goes on a diet to make way for Christmas feasts.



This year may not be as festive as previous years, but it will most certainly be more meaningful. SM showed us the most uplifting way to best celebrate the season with “100 Days of Caring”;  featuring 100 days of spreading love, thoughtfulness, and care for one another and for the communities surrounding our favorite SM malls. The virtual event showcasing the pledges happened Thursday, Sept 16, 2021 over FB Live and WatchSM on YouTube.


“100 days of Caring”. To kickstart the Christmas countdown, SM pledged to donate to over 10,000 beneficiaries, namely communities in need, hardworking SM employees, medical frontliners and dedicated delivery partners, among others. Some of the beneficiaries and their partner malls are as follows: 




‘Gift’ for your mental health. Aside from our physical health being at risk during a pandemic, our mental health is also affected due to the stress and anxiety these times bring. And since SM believes in the value of taking care of our mental health, Dr Gia Sison, MD DPCOM gave a  ‘Call to Share’ talk during the virtual launch. Dr Gia Sison is a mental health advocate and co-founder of PH Leader Livestrong Foundation. Her talk centered on how to cope during this stressful time and still find hope in a better tomorrow.

100 voices that care. If there’s one thing that binds us all Filipinos together, it’s our passion and love for music. While we may not be allowed to have big gatherings this year, SM entertained the audience with the performance of the 3 Divas – Rahda, Frenchie and Bituin Escalante; later on joined by 100 artists, singers, and SM employees and stakeholders who came together to sing during the virtual launch on Sept 16.

We may be in the middle of a pandemic, times may be tough, and many of us may be physically apart, but let’s not forget what this season truly means. To view the event, go to WatchSM on YouTube.