Cine Europa 12 Opens in Manila on September 11 @ the Shang

Cine Europa 12 opens in Manila on September 11 at the Shang

Known as a patron of the arts and culture, premier lifestyle destination Shangri-la Plaza once again fulfill its commitment of bringing endless pleasures as it plays host to Cine Europa.

Now on it's 12th year of offering powerful and touching European films to the Philippines, the popular film festival opens on September 10, 2009, with public screenings from September 11 to 20 at the Shang Cineplex.

Cine Europa 12 will be opened by Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, Head of Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines, Mr. Alvaro Trejo, Deputy Head of Mission of Spain representing the Presidency of the European Union, Atty. Andy Bautista, Chairman and CEO of Shangri-La Plaza Corporation and Ms. Lala Fojas, Executive Vice-President and General Manager of Shangri-La Plaza Corporation.

Through a collaboration between the Goethe Institut in Manila and the EU Cultural Group and Shangri-La Plaza, the festival will also be featuring a panel discussion animated by German film experts Eberhard Junkersdorf, Dennis Gansel and Dr. Peter Zimmermann at the Shang Cineplex's Premiere Theatre on September 11 from 10:30 to 11:30 am.

This year, eighteen European films ―from Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom― were carefully handpicked to cater to the Filipino audiences. Opening the festival is Swedish film Grabeen I Graven Bredvid (The Guy in the Grave Next Door) by Kjell Sundvall, a contemporary romance between a farmer and a city girl.

Germany's Dennis Gansel tackles the underpinnings of fascism via the energetic and gripping drama Die Welle (The Wave). Four teenaged boys lose their innocence during what is to be their last summer together in the Belgian film De Laatste Zomer (The Last Summer) by Joost Wynant. From France comes the Julie Lopes Curval-directed Toi Et Moi (You and Me), a story of two sisters striving to find true love.

Jan Sverak brings to the silver screen the tale of 3 lives caught in the middle of war via the Czech Republic's Tmavomodry Svet (Dark Blue World). Life is not lived in fantasies and exotic dreams, in Danish director Ole Bomedal's film Kaerlighed Pa Film (Just Another Love Story) wherein the truth catches up with everyone eventually. Finland's Joulutarina (Christmas Story) by Juha Wuolijoki is the touching tale of how Santa came to be. Four young rascals wreak havoc in 1960s Berne, Switzerland in Michael Stenier's Mein Name Ist Eugen (Rascals on the Road).

The U.K.'s Saul Dibb presents a compelling portrayal of England's `It Girl' in The Duchess. Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza offer a Spanish suspense-thriller in Rec. S Certy Nejsou Zerty (Give the Devil His Due) by Hynek Bocan which revolves around the friendship between a poor, brave young man and a nice devil. An old prince unwittingly influences the lives of local people in Romania's Orient Express by Sergiu Nicolaescu. On the trail of a rare butterfly, the Zoo Rangers saves the rainforest from destruction in the Johan Nijenhuis-directed Zoop In Zuid Amerika (Zoo Rangers In South America) from The Netherlands.

Italy's I Demoni Di San Pietroburgo (The Demons of St. Petersburg) by Giuliano Montaldo is the story of writer Fyodor Dostoevsky and his search for the terrorist group responsible for the assassination of the Imperial Family. From Austria comes Freigesprochen (Free to Leave) by Peter Payer about the short moments that can change lives forever. Bernd Sahling's Die Blindganger (The Blind Flyers) follows the adventures of a group of blind musicians. E Pericoloso Sporgersi (Sundays On Leave) by Nae Caranfil is interestingly set in the late Ceausescu era of Romania. Love is like Santa, you have to believe in it in Joram Lunsen's film Alles Is Liefde (Love is All) which shows that love indeed conquers all. Another tale about love, Hynek Bocan's S Certy Nejsou Zerty (Give the Devil His Due) follows the story of Peter, a brave but poor young man who gets involved in a love triangle with two princesses.

Cine Europa 12 is presented by the European Union Member States' Embassies and the Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines. It is supported by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Rajah Travel Corporation, Yo Card and Click the City. Admission to the screenings is free on a first-come, first-served basis.

For film screening schedules and other inquiries, please contact 633.7851 or log on to www.shangrila-plaza.com.