Rough Groove

Cinemanila International Film Festival opens

The much awaited 7th Cinemanila International Film Festival will be opened tonight at the Manila Hotel and the opening film, Hidden Blade by Yoji Yamada will be screened at SM Manila 0930H.

The festival will run until 25 October and almost a hundred films will be screened from different countries and of course, from the country with digital shorts and full feature films. Cesar Montano’s Cebuano Panaghoy sa Suba is in competition, vying for the coveted Lino Brocka Award.

The festival award

Okay, a hundred films are too much given the time and my work schedule. Better that I was able to watch a few of the films when it had its advanced screenings before:

- the Belgian Film Week Cinemanila advance screenings
- the CinemaOne Originals
- Dekalog 5 & 6
- Panaghoy sa Suba
- La Visa Loca
- and others (City of God, Frozen Land, Daybreak)

I just hope I can complete the other 8 of Dekalog, watch Brokeback Mountain, and other great films especially those from Iran.

However, even if its the opening of the film fest, I was quite disappointed that they haven’t yet provided screening schedules! I called their office to inform them that they haven’t posted it at their website and I was told that they’ll check. Checking back, I just found this:

“For inquiries regarding the screening schedules, please call SM City Manila at 5239240, SM San Lazaro at 7862488, Robinson’s Place Movieworld at 5367811, and Isetann Cineworld at 7334228.”

Other than that, the venue is quite far from my workplace and with the traffic and all, its really an effort to watch these movies, except maybe during weekends.

Well, I will not rush. Instead of being there at the opening night at SM Manila, I’ll continue to watch the remainder of the films on offer at the Pelicula - Pelikula at Greenbelt 1 which is just a few minutes from the office and the tickets are cheap at P31 only. On schedule: Noviembre - Achero Manas and El abrazo partido - Daniel Burman.