Rough Groove

1st Russian Film Festival in Cebu, free admission

This is something that I should watch! The 1st Russian Film Festival in Cebu will be held at Ayala Center featuring classic and contemporary films including one by the great Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky, The Mirror. And the best thing? ITS FREE!

Check the details below:

The Russian Film Festival is a major cultural event that brings to the Philippine audience the best of Russian Cinema today as well as real masterpieces from its glorious past.

Presented by Mosfilm Studios in cooperation with the Embassy of the Russian Federation, Film Development Council of the Philippines, Arts Council of Cebu Foundation, Ayala Center Cebu and the Philippines-Russia Friendship Society, Inc., the Festival will feature five (5) classical and contemporary films produced by the biggest Russian filmmaker, Mosfilm Studios.

To commemorate this 2010 the 65th anniversary of their victory in the Second World War to which the Soviet Union made tremendous contribution, a photo exhibition will also be mounted for the duration of the festival.

The Russian Film Festival 2010 is one of the biggest events being implemented in preparation for the 35th anniversary on June 2, 2011 of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the republic of the Philippines.

The Festival is offered free to the public on March 26 & 27 at Ayala Onstage on a first-come, first-seated basis up to maximum theater capacity. The Films will have English subtitles.

SCHEDULE:
March 26
7:30 pm Screening “The Star” (PG 13)

March 27
12:00 pm Mirror (PG 13)
2:30 pm Vanished Empire (R13)
5:00 pm Ward No. 6 (PG 13)
7:30 pm Agony (R 18)
•Event Type : Cinematic Arts
•Admission: free
•Schedule(s) and Venue(s):
March 26, 2010 → Onstage, Ayala Center Cebu
March 27, 2010 → Onstage, Ayala Center Cebu

Movies watched: December 09

Pensionat Oskar – Susanne Bier, 1995 (Sweden)
Avatar – James Cameron, 2009 (US)
L’uomo che ama (When a Man Loves) – Maria Sole Tognazzi, 2008 (Italy)
Kundun – Martin Scorsese, 1997 (US)
En kort en lang (Shake It All About) – Hella Joof, 2001 (Denmark)
City Rats – Steve Kelly, 2009 (UK)

November 09 movies watched

Zombieland – Ruben Fleischer, 2009 (US)
Superhero Movie – Craig Mazin, 2008 (US)
Sorority Row – Stewart Hendler, 2009 (US)
Romance X – Catherine Breillat, 1999 (France)
Jennifer’s Body – Karyn Kusama, 2009 (US)
Garage Days – Alex Proyas, 2002 (Australia)
Fast Food Nation – Richard Linklater, 2006 (UK)
Choke – Clark Gregg, 2008 (US)
The Black Balloon – Elissa Down, 2008 (Australia)
2012 – Roland Emmerich, 2009 (US)
The Twilight Saga: New Moon – Chris Weitz, 2009 (US)

Film: an Introduction, 2nd Ed. – William Phillips

I have no film subjects during college and lately, I have been looking at film appreciation workshops but found none. The same is true with books until this one.

What a good find during a visit at Bestsellers, the bookstore at Robinsons Galleria. For such an informative book, Film: An Introduction, its a steal at only P299 ($7)! The quality of the paper is good for the price and this isn’t even a local reprint. Published by Bedford/St. Martin, 2002, it can be used as a student material.

Inside:

• its fully illustrated with high quality film stills with informative captions to illustrate key concepts
• it has extended resources to give the complete picture like novel excerpts from storyboards, interviews with noted filmmakers that gives one a complete introduction to the medium
• helpful definitions found at the margins of pages
• color plates, helpful glossaries and an accompanying website
• film examples from different era starting with the Lumiere Brothers to contemporary (pre 2002) titles

Well, as a movie fanatic, I do look forward to be more educated about the medium that I love.

October 09: 21 movies watched

Batalla en el cielo (Battle in Heaven) – Carlos Reygadas, 2005 (Mexico)
Tres dias (Before the Fall) – F. Javier Gutiérrez, 2008 (Spain)
53 dias de invierno (53 Winter Days) – Judith Colell, 2006 (Spain)
Asi de precipicio (At the Edge of the Abyss) – Teresa Suarez, 2006 (Mexico)
Kika – Pedro Almodovar, 1993 (Spain)
La buena vida (The Good Life) – A. Wood, 2008 (Chile)
La misma luna (Under the Same Moon) – Patricia Riggen, 2007 (Mexico)
Laberinto de pasiones (Labyrinth of Passions) – Pedro Almodovar, 1982 (Spain)
Mancora – Ricardo de Montreuil, 2008 (Peru)
Matador – Pedro Almodovar, 1986 (Spain)
A casa de Alice (Alice’s House) – Chico Teixeira, 2007 (Brazil)
Jalla jalla (The Best Man’s Wedding) – Josef Fares, 2000 (Sweden)
Laitakaupungin valot (Lights in the Dusk) – Aki Kaurismaki, 2006 (Finland)
La Finestra di Fronti (Facing Windows) – Ferzan Ozpetek, 2003 (Italy)
Mio fratello è figlio unico (My Brother is an Only Child) – Daniele Luchetti, 2007 (Italy)
L’Age Des Tenebres (Days of Darkness) – Denys Arcand, 2007 (Canada)
Ha-Asonot Shel Nina (Nina’s Tragedies) – Savi Gavison, 2003 (Israel)
Mamma Mia – Phyllida Lloyd, 2008 (UK)
The Savages – Tamara Jenkins, 2007 (US)
The Ugly Truth – Robert Luketic, 2009 (US)
Whisper – Stewart Hendler, 2007 (US)