FOR MANY film enthusiasts, September means it is time for the annual Cine Europa Film Festival at the Shangri-La Mall’s Cineplex. The longest running film festival, now ongoing at the Mandaluyong City mall until Sept. 26, is a fusion of the best of classical and contemporary films from the European Union.

Now in its 20th year, the film festival brings to the Philippines 24 films from 16 European countries, namely Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Norway.

This year’s edition of the film festival continues to aim a spotlight on the creativity and ingenuity of the Filipino filmmakers who have strong connections to Europe through their films.

On Sept. 23, the Cinema One Original film 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten by director Petersen Vargas will be shown at 1 p.m. Set in Pampanga during the period after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, the film stars Khalil Ramos as an honor student who tutors Fil-American-transferees at the school played y Jameson Blake and Ethan Salvador. The film, which depicts the coming-of-age of a gay boy, won the Audience Choice award at the 32nd Torino LGBTQ International Film Festival in Italy. Members of the cast have been invited to speak about the making of the film after the screening.

There will be a “double feature” on Sept. 24. Showing from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. is director Lav Diaz’s Mula Sa Kung Ano Ang Noon. The film, about the horrors of martial law, won the Grand Prize Golden Leopard Award at the 67th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. Mr. Diaz and the film’s lead actress, Hazel Orencio, will be at the screening, together with film critic and educator Adrian Mendizabal.

To be unveiled at 7 p.m. on the same day is the work-in-progress documentary Journeyman Finds A Home (The Life Story of Simone Rota). Mr. Rota, a football player with the Philippine Azkals Men’s National Team and Davao Aguilas FC, was abandoned when he was a child and adopted by an Italian couple. Mr. Rota will be present at the screening and forum together with film makers Albert Almendralejo, Maricel Cariaga, and Clodualdo “Doy” del Mundo.

Admission to all the film festival screenings is free on a first-come, first-served basis. For inquiries and screening schedules, call 370-2500 loc. 597 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage.

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