bury me in this dress

Doi! I want to go to the Russian Film Festival but CCP is far. I hate Manila traffic. Anyway, here’s the schedule.

To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of the Philippines on June 2, 2011, a festival of Russian films will be presented at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) on March 16-20, 2010 and Onstage, Ayala Center, Cebu City on March 26-27, 2010. A photo exhibit will also be mounted for the duration of the festival to commemorate Soviet Union’s victory in World War II.

The event is a presentation of Mosfilm Studios, Russia’s biggest filmmaker, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Russian Federation, Film Development Council of the Philippines, the CCP and the Philippines-Russia Friendship Society.   Five classical and contemporary films produced by Mosfilm will be screened: Ward No. 6, Vanished Empire, The Star, Mirror, Agony.

Russian Film Festival 2010 Screening Schedule – Cultural Center of the Philippines (FREE ADMISSION)

March 16 (Tue) 07:30PM, CCP Little Theatre – Ward No.6
March 17 (Wed) 04:00PM, CCP Tanghalang Manuel Conde (Dream Theatre) – Vanished Empire
March 17 (Wed) 07:00PM, CCP Tanghalang Manuel Conde (Dream Theatre) – The Star
March 18 (Thu) 04:00PM, CCP Tanghalang Manuel Conde (Dream Theatre) – The Mirror
March 18 (Thu) 07:00PM, CCP Tanghalang Manuel Conde (Dream Theatre) – Agony
March 19 (Fri) 07:00PM, CCP Tanghalang Manuel Conde (Dream Theatre) – Vanished Empire
March 19 (Fri) 04:00PM, CCP Tanghalang Manuel Conde (Dream Theatre) – Ward No.6
March 20 (Sat) 04:00PM, CCP Tanghalang Manuel Conde (Dream Theatre) – Agony
March 20 (Sat) 07:00PM, CCP Tanghalang Manuel Conde (Dream Theatre) – The Mirror

All screenings are free on a first-come, first served basis. Kindly note that the CCP Dream Theatre has a limited seating capacity of 100 only. could only accommodate 100 pax. For more information, kindly call the CCP Media Arts division at 832-1125 local 1704 and 1705.

via Eat Drink Dance

I blogged about Scarlet Tears before. These guys are just awesome! Well, on the 30th you’ll find me in their anniversary gig at Genre Bar in Cubao-X. Who wants to join me? The entrance is free and starts at 9PM.

Other bands who will be playing that night are:

Biscochong Halimaw
Decay Transit
Filter Filter
Inconnu Ictu
Isolation Ward
Ode to La Luna
The Discoball
X9

The 5th Anniversary CD shall be made available on this event for just Php80. Those who come in costume will be given a treat.

Scarlet Tears was conceptualized around November of 2003. A rag tag bunch of able musicians started to flesh out the band’s music in early 2004 up to the band’s first performance on October 30, 2004. The band’s music elaborates the dark side of love and lust, and the melancholic state of being bitter and scorned by the world of shallow love and destructive lies.

Scarlet Tears is comprised of: Sam Vigilia (keyboard synthesizer), Katrina Pallon (vocals), Ayn Tolentino-Azarcon (bass guitar), Jeff Azarcon (drums), and Bennet Gubat (guitar).

The Philippine Outpost of the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers will be raising funds for the victims of typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng. For a minimum donation of P50. You can take a picture with a stormtrooper and help flood victims get their lives back.

From October 14 to 21, 2009 Embassy of Italy and Philippine Italian Association will hold the 8th Italian Film Festival at the Shangri-la Mall. The first day (October 14) is by invitation but from 15 onwards it will be open to the public free of charge.

Schedule

OCTOBER 15 (THURSDAY)
2:00 pm Basta un niente (1:25)
4:30 pm Gas (1:40)
7:00 pm I vicere’ (2:00)
9:30 pm Provincia meccanica (1:47)

OCTOBER 16 (FRIDAY)
2:00 pm La febbre (1:48)
4:30 pm Mater natura (1:33)
7:00 pm L’uccello dalle piume di cristallo (1:40)
9:30 pm Il Maestro degli errori (1:45)

OCTOBER 17 (SATURDAY)
2:00 pm Uno su due (1:40)
4:30 pm Ma che ci faccio qui (1:32)
7:00 pm La vera leggenda di Tony Vilar (1:32)
9:30 pm Gas (1:40)

OCTOBER 18 (SUNDAY)
2:00 pm Caravaggio (2:10)
4:30 pm La vera leggenda di Tony Vilar (1:32)
7:00 pm Mater natura (1:33)
9:30 pm La destinazione (2:04)

OCTOBER 19 (MONDAY)
2:00 pm Il Maestro degli errori (1:45)
4:30 pm La febbre (1:48)
7:00 pm Uno su due (1:40)
9:30 pm Ma che ci faccio qui (1:32)

OCTOBER 20 (TUESDAY)
2:00 pm Provincia meccanica (1:47)
4:30 pm L’uccello dalle piume di cristallo (1:40)
7:00 pm Caravaggio (2:10)
9:30 pm Basta un niente (1:25)

OCTOBER 21 (WEDNESDAY)
2:00 pm La destinazione (2:04)
4:30 pm La febbre (1:48)
7:00 pm Ma che ci faccio qui (1:32)
9:30 pm I vicere’ (2:00)

For the synopses, visit spot.ph

This year’s Spanish Film Festival will be held in several locations: Greenbelt 3 Cinemas, Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theater), and SDA Museum (College of Saint Benilde).

Schedule:

Synopses:

Don’t Ask Me To Kiss You, Because I Will

Title: No me pidas que te bese, porque te besaré
Director: Albert Espinosa
Year made: 2008
Format: cine, 35mm
Duration: largometraje – 95 min
País producción España
Versión originalEspañol
SubtituladoInglés

This comedy is about Albert who’s repenting his decision to marry and takes guitar lessons with “special” people to distract himself before the wedding takes place or not. Espinosa, the scriptwriter of Tu vida en 65 minutos, takes in his first feature film the same approach as Woody Allen in many aspects, making you think what makes us special and what makes us jerks.

Strangers

Title: Forasters (Forasteros)
Director: Ventura Pons
Year made: 2008
Format: cine, 35mm
Duration: largometraje – 105 min
País producción España
Versión originalCatalán
SubtituladoInglés

Forasters tells the story of a single family that lives through two traumatic events with a forty-year gap between them: the loss of a family member and the arrival of new unfamiliar neighbours. Two events that end up disrupting the alleged harmony of the family. The fragility of the family ties, the passage of time, the meaning of existence, and above all, the fear and distrust of the unknown (the outsider, the stranger, the foreigner) upsets the “sensible” mentality of these traditional individuals.

14 Kilometers

Title: 14 kilometros
Director: Gerardo Olivares
Year made: 2007
Format: DVD
Duration: largometraje – 95 min
País producción España
Versión originalEspañol
SubtituladoInglés

Politicians and sociologists are one in saying that immigration is the main problem which the West would face in the 21st century. The African and European continents are separated by the Strait of Gibraltar with just “14 kilometers” distance. In Africa, there are millions of people whose only aim is to enter Europe due to poverty experienced in their country. For these immigrants, hunger understands neither borders nor barriers. This feature film wants to contribute a bit to the immigration phenomenon. Thanks to Buba Kanou, Violet Sunny and Mukela Kanou, we will know a little bit more on the reality of Africa and, with it, we will embark on a perilous long trip towards Europe, passing through Mali, Niger, Algeria and Morocco.

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Was there a Korean Film Festival last year? I don’t remember. Anyway, I just learned about this.

click to enlarge

Korean Film Festival 2009
September 24 – 29
Cinema #3
Screening Schedule:

Sept. 24 (Thursday)
2:00 PM-Barking Dogs Never Bite (R-13)
5:00 PM-Sa-kwa (R-13)
8:00 PM-Forbidden Quest (R-13)

Sept. 25 (Friday)
2:00 PM-Driving with My Wife’s Lover (R-18)
5:00 PM-Forbidden Quest (R-13)
8:00 PM-The Show Must Go On (R-13)

Sept. 26 (Saturday)
2:00 PM-Beyond the Years (PG-13)
5:00 PM-Barking Dogs Never Bite (R-13)
8:00 PM-Old Boy (R-18)

Sept. 27 (Sunday)
2:00 PM-Beyond the Years (PG-13)
5:00 PM-Barking Dogs Never Bite (R-13)
8:00 PM-Driving with My Wife’s Lover (R-18)

Sept. 28 (Monday)
2:00 PM-The Show Must Go On (R-13)
5:00 PM-Driving with My Wife’s Lover (R-18)
8:00 PM-Sa-kwa (R-13)

Sept. 29 (Tuesday)
2:00 PM-Forbidden Quest (R-13)
5:00 PM-The Show Must Go On (R-13)
8:00 PM-Old Boy (R-18)

Driving with My Wife’s Lover
Won triple awards in 2007 in the Sundance International Film Fest, International Film Festival Rotterdam and the Belgrade International Film Festival.

The story revolves around Tae-han, who runs a stamp shop in a small town. His life changes when he decides to play witness to his wife’s infidelity.

Forbidden Quest
Won honors in the Grand Bell Awards, Blue Dragon Film Awards, and Korean Film Awards in 2006.

Forbidden Quest is an interesting historical comedy that follows the journey of writer Yun-Seo, a man born into a life
of privilege. He decides to become the best erotic author of his time, creating palace intrigues as his work increases in popularity.

Beyond the Years
Beyond the Years is about two siblings who were adopted separately by singer Yu-Bong. Dong-ha falls in love with Song-hwa, but decides that the relationship would not work and eventually leaves home. Still, he never really stops loving his sister, and everything he does ultimately traces back to her.

The Show Must Go On
A dramatic film that revolves around the life of gangster In-gu, who dreams of nothing but moving his family out of their crowded apartment into a more spacious home. His wife tells him to find a more respectable job. His daughter will not
acknowledge him so he begins the challenge of finding a means to provide for his family.

Sa-Kwa
A romantic drama that tells the story of Hyeon-jeong, who is unexpectedly dumped by her boyfriend of 7 years. She
vows to find a new suitor to replace him as soon as possible, as her biological clock keeps ticking away. She ends up falling in love with the most unlikely man at the same time that her ex-boyfriend tries to win her back.

Old Boy
The film follows the journey of a man who has been imprisoned for 15 years without him knowing why. He is released, only to find out that his kidnapper is not done with him yet.

Barking Dogs Never Bite
A satirical film about a lazy university lecturer who depends on his pregnant wife’s salary yet wonders how he can bribe his
way to professorship. The constant yapping of a dog in their apartment block finally gets to him, and he sets out to find it with the intention to murder it.

I’m curious about Old Boy, Forbidden Quest and Sa-Kwa. Admission to the festival is free.

It’s that time of the year again and Cine Europa is more awesome because they’re giving away a package tour to Europe to a very lucky attendee. That’s just a bonus because free film festivals, european films at that, are gems. Like last year, it will be held at Shang Cinema, Shangri-la Mall in Mandaluyong. The opening night will be on September 10, 2009 and public viewing will start the next day.

click to enlarge

Here are each film’s synopsis. Click on the thumbnails to enlarge. (more…)

A couple of hours ago, I was at the Nine Inch Nails concert. I’m not a die-hard fan but I do love some of their songs. Trent is still a rock god. He’s gorgeous and still sexy too so I’m really glad I got good seats. I watched with Marco and we bought our tickets as soon as the concert was announced. Shabby also went with us but she just bought her ticket today if I’m not mistaken. Anyway, I should have brought a camera. Ticketnet said they don’t allow cameras but there were so many people with cameras tonight. All I have are crappy shots from my iPhone. If I had a decent camera with me, I would have taken awesome shots because I was near the stage and the lighting was good. Instead, I got shots like this.

That would have been fine…sort of…except I stupidly forgot to charge my iPhone so the battery ran out even before the middle of the concert. I still had fun though. I saw some friends and familiar faces. I also missed seeing some which is a shame.

The setlist for the Philippine leg of their Wave Goodbye Tour is as follows:

• Somewhat Damaged
• Terrible Lie
• Heresy
• March of the Pigs
• Piggy
• Closer
• Reptile
• The Becoming
• I’m Afraid of Americans
• Burn
• Gave Up
• La Mer
• The Fragile
• Non-Entity
• Gone, Still
• The Downward Spiral
• Wish
• Survivalism
• Mr. Self Destruct
• Echoplex
• The Day The World Went Away
• Dead Souls (Joy Division cover)
• The Hand That Feeds
• Head Like A Hole
• Hurt

It was a great concert and if it really is their last tour, I’m even gladder I watched it.

It’s Eiga Sai once again! Yay! It’ll be from July 2 to 12 here in Metro Manila and the films will be shown in Shangri-la and UP Film Center. There will be screenings in Davao, Cebu, and Baguio on different dates.

Shangri-La Plaza

July 2 (Thu)
7:00 PM – ALWAYS – Sunset on Third Street (by invitation)

July 3 (Fri)
2:00 PM – Tony Takitani
4:30 PM – Turn Over
7:00 PM – Kamome Diner

July 4 (Sat)
2:00 PM – Memories of Tomorrow
4:30 PM – ALWAYS – Sunset on Third Street
7:00 PM – Memories of Matsuko

July 5 (Sun)
2:00 PM – Memories of Tomorrow
4:30 PM – Mind Game
7:00 PM – Memories of Matsuko

July 6 (Mon)
2:00 PM – The Milkwoman
4:30 PM – Mind Game
7:00 PM – Turn Over (more…)

The 14th French Film Festival will be held in Shangri-la Cineplex from June 5 to 14. Admission is free on a first come, first serve basis. This year’s lineup is a retrospective on 14 films which were shown during the Cannes Film Festival as well as a preview of our very own Raya Martin’s La Independencia.

Below is the synopsis of the films:

ÇA BRULE
Director: Claire Simon
Cast: Camille Varenne, Gilbert Melki, Olivia Willaumez, Kader Mohamed, Marion Maintenay, Morgane Moré, Jean-Quentin Châtelain, Nabil Radi, Mathieu Bagnis
Running time: 1h 51mn
She lives in the Var, she has a horse, and she’s angry.
The exalted love story of an adolescent 15-year-old, with a local man: Jean, 37 years old, teacher, voluntary fireman, married and father of two. It’s the beginning of vacation and the eternity of summer.

A TOUT DE SUITE
Director: Benoît Jacquot
Cast: Isild Le Besco, Ouassini Embarek, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Laurence Cordier, Fotini Kodoukaki, Catherine Davenier, Nicolas Pignon, David Ayala, Odile Vuillemin, Léonor Graser, Emmanuelle Bercot, Olivier Augrond, Sabri Lahmer, Fatiha Chériguene
Running time : 1h 35mn
Set in the 1970s, A Tout de Suite is the story of a 19-year-old girl who discovers that her lover, seemingly a Prince Charming, is actually a thief who has just committed murder. “Tout de suite,” instantly, her safe and comfortable world is turned upside down and she is swept into an adventure that takes her from Spain to Morocco and Greece.

LA PIANISTE
Director: Michael Haneke
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Benoît Magimel, Annie Girardot, Anna Sigalevitch, Susanne Lothar, Udo Samel
Running Time: 2h 10mn
Erika Kohut, 40 years old, is a respectable piano teacher at the Conservatory of Vienna. Living a single life, hardened by a possessive mother, she is a musician who leads a frustrated sex life. Frequenting peep shows and watching porno films, Erika dives into a morbid voyeurism and practices masochism. Until one day, when Walter, a 20-something student falls in love with her. From this affection is born a troubled relationship, emotional and perverted, between master and disciple.

MARIE JO ET SES DEUX AMOURS
Director: Robert Guédiguian
Cast: Ariane Ascaride, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Gérard Meylan, Julie-Marie Parmentier, Jacques Boudet, Yann Trégouët, Frédérique Bonnal, Souhade Temimi, Maïa Sevleyan, Frédéric Garbe, Danielle Stefan, Jacques Germain, Axel Koehler
Running Time: 2h 5mn
Marie-Jo loves her husband Daniel dearly, but is also passionately in love with her lover Marco. She is torn between the two, with tragic consequences.

FLANDRES
Director: Bruno Dumont
Cast: Adélaïde Leroux, Samuel Boidin, Inge Decaesreker, Patrice Venant, Henri Cretel, Jean-Marie Bruveart, David Poulain, David Legay
Running Time: 1h 31mn
In Flanders, Demester other and young local men enlist as soldiers to fight in a distant land. He also falls in love deeply with the young Barbe, even accepting her strange ways and her many lovers. Tragically, the war exacerbates the relationship between them, leading them to extremes.

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Just a quick post. I passed by construction site with awesome graffiti panels several but it was only earlier that I was able to take photos of it.

I wish there are more of this kind of graffiti in the Philippines. I always see just those crappy gang names scrawls.