UP Film Institute Screenings This December

The UP Film Institute once more affirms its advocacy for human rights with this year’s edition of Cine Veritas – the annual festival with focus on socially relevant films that uphold the plight of the underprivileged and marginalized sectors of society. Main features include titles that are the current pride of Philippine cinema: Pepe Diokno’s “Engkwentro” (Best Picture of the Orrizonti Section and Best Debut Film at Venice); Ralston Jover’s “Bakal Boys” (Dragons and Tigers Special Mention at Vancouver, Golden Alexander Special Mention at Thessaloniki, Labor Film Prize at Torino) and Ferdie Balanag’s “Walking the Waking Journey,” the acclaimed documentary that made waves at this year’s Cinemalaya with its account of a Himalayan monk’s epic voyage.

A gesture of solidarity for the human rights cause is extended by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with the free presentation of “Women in Shroud” – an exposé of the arbitrary legal system in Iran endured by women accused of adultery and sentenced to the death penalty. Dedicated women’s rights’ activists one of whom is Shadi Sadr, the recipient of this year’s Human Rights Defenders Tulip Award in the Netherlands , are portrayed in their collective effort to help victims appeal and overturn their death sentences.

Completing the Cine Veritas screening line-up is another Philippine production, “Marlon,” Best Documenary Winner at the 2008 Cinemanila International Film Festival.

Apart from screenings, the Cine Veritas festival hallmarks as well exhibits, fora, performances in cultural nights at the Ishmael Bernal Gallery mounted by various artists groups led by Concerned Artists of the Philippines , Southern Tagalog Exposure, Ugnayan ng Nagkakaisang Artista, SILIP, Tudla and Ugat-Lahi Collective.

The UP Film Institute wraps up its December screenings with a distinguished selection of Italian contemporary cinema courtesy of the Embassy of Italy. Six films are featured, namely, Luciano Melchionna’s "Gas"; Angelo Longoni’s "Caravaggio" ; Francesco Amato’s "Ma Che Faccio Qui" (What I’m Doing Here); Giacomo Campiotti’s "Mai Piu Come Prima" (Never Again as Before); Massimo Andrei’s "Mater Natura"; and Roberto Faenza’s "I Vicere"

(The Viceroys).

Here is the concerned rundown of films for UP Film Institute screenings with listed playdates accordingly:

CINE ADARNA/ MAIN THEATER:

Women in Shroud
Dec 10 Thu 5 p.m.

Engkwentro
Dec 10 Thu 7 p.m.

VIDEOTHEQUE:

Walking the Waking Journey
Dec 5 Sat 6:30 p.m.
Dec 10 Thu 6:30 p.m

Bakal Boys
Dec 7 Mon/Dec 8 Tue 4:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
Dec 9 Wed/Dec 10 Thu 4:30 p.m.
Dec 11 Fri/Dec 12 Sat 4:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m..
Dec 14 Mon 6:30 p.m.

Marlon
Dec 9 Wed 6:30 p.m.
Dec 12 Sat 2:30 p.m.
Dec 14 Mon 4:30 p.m.

Gas
Dec 15 Tue 5 p.m.

Caravaggio
Dec 15 Tue 7 p.m.

Ma Che Faccio Qui (What I’m Doing Here)
Dec 16 Wed 5 p.m.

Mai Piu Come Prima (Never Again as Before)
Dec 16 Wed 7 p.m.

Mater Natura
Dec 17 Thu 5 p.m.

I Vicere (The Viceroys)
Dec 17 Thu 7 p.m.

ISHMAEL BERNAL GALLERY:

Artists' Night on Human Rights - December 6, 7 and 8