25th French Filmfest unreels at Greenbelt 3 cinemas from October 22-30

 

By Archie Liao

The French film festival is one of the most anticipated film festivals in the country. For one, the Filipinos and the French share the same passion for movies. Soon after the Lumière brothers invented cinema, Pathé projectors found their way to the Philippine islands and soon enough Filipinos were making films already. The French Film Festival has been bringing some of the most critically acclaimed and crowd pleasers to the discerning Filipino audience in search of movies that look into social issues, family values and beautiful scenery that are close to the heart. 

On this 25th edition, and as part of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of France-Philippine diplomatic relations, the festival brings to Manila a fresh selection of films, current releases and some that came out in the last two years. To open the festival is Eiffel by Director Martin Bourboulon that recounts the building of the Eiffel Tower inspired by a love story. 

The selection includes Lost Illusions by Xavier Gianolli, Farewell Mr Haffmann by Fred Cavayé, set in Paris during the 2 nd World War, Notre Dame on Fire by Jean-Jacques Anneaud about the incident that damaged another historical monument in the center of Paris, Him by Guillaume Canet on the life of a music composer, Paris Memories, remembering Paris uner terrorist attacks, a sequel to the popular French agent OSS 117 : From Africa with Love. Rise by Cédric Klapisch tells an inspiring story about a ballet dancer. About Joan by Laurent Larivière and Promises by Thomas Kruithof are the two most recent films starring Isabelle Huppert who was the main actress in Brillante Mendoza’s Captive. 

The French Film Festival is also the event that brings together France and the Philippines together with the screening of Filipino films that have gained recognition by the French audience. Like On the Job by Erik Matti that was shown in the Director’s Fortnight in Cannes. OTJ Missing 8 will be screening also in the Festival. In the height of the pandemic, Director Sigrid Bernardo flew to Paris with actors and crew to shoot Walang Kaparis, produced by Piolo Pascual. While the film is still in post production, it paves the way toward co-productions between France and the Philippines. 

The Film Development Council of the Philippines under the Chairmanship of Tirso Cruz III will strive to work toward the signing of a co-production agreement between France and the Philippines that will open more opportunities for collaboration between French and Filipino filmmakers and more French and Filipino movies to watch for our viewers! The 25th edition of the French Film Festival unreels at Greenbelt 3 Cinemas from October 22 to 30, 2022.