Strong Philippine Cinema Delegation Present at 68th Berlinale
Supported by the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Filipino filmmakers and films are well-represented this year at the Berlin International Film Festival with films in competition and filmmakers participating in the Berlinale Talents and Co-Production Market.
Lav Diaz’s “Ang Panahon ng Halimaw” (Season of the Devil) is an official entry to the Main Competition while “Babylon” directed by Keith Deligro is competing at Berlinale Shorts. “Manila Scream Expanded” by Roxlee is also featured at the Forum Expanded Section. Meanwhile, four (4) participants are at Berlinale Talents – Pam Reyes, Anthony Falcon, McRonald Nacario, and Leeroy Lee. Bradley Liew and Bianca Balbuena’s Motel Acacia is also featured at the Co-Production Market.
“Once again, Philippine cinema is recognized and represented at this prestigious Festival. It makes us proud that the efforts and talents of our filmmakers are affirmed by the international audience,” said Chairperson and CEO Liza Dino.
Director Lav Diaz, winner of Silver Bear Alfred Bauer prize at the 2016 Berlinale, “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis (A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery)” comes back with a 234-minute film, this time, a Filipino Rock Opera that shows the life in a remote village in the Philippines during the Martial Law. Director Keith Deligero’s, “Babylon” is a 20-minute short film about two young girls who travel through time to assassinate a small town dictator to revise history but ended up with a weird mixed-up adventure with a talking chicken, a videoke machine from the future, a set of violent triplets and prank calls from the 90s, only at Barangay Babylonia. Manila Scream Expanded combines three recent short films by Philippine underground filmmaker Roxlee, Manila Scream, Yours Trolley, and Slicing Art. The film and its maker and protagonist take us on an idiosyncratic journey through the streets of Manila. Screened last February 20 and another on the 23rd.
FDCP will be hosting the Philippine Night at Berlin on February 21 in celebration of the Filipino delegates and as opportunity to interact and network with international film commissions, festival programmers, and distributors.
The 68th Berlin International Film Festival runs until February 25, 2018 in Germany.