PARIS, France—The Philippine showcase in the 6th Paris Cinema International Film Festival is described as the country’s biggest involvement in a foreign movie event.

Rolando S. Atienza, chair of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), explained: “It is the most extensive participation of Filipino films at one time and in one place.”

The special program is dubbed “Country of Honor: Philippines.”

Jeremy Segay, festival consultant, told Inquirer Entertainment that the Philippines is only the third country featured in the prestigious program. “In 2006, South Korea was chosen. Last year, Lebanon.”

He said the Philippines was picked for the special tribute because of “its new generation of filmmakers and [a body of work] filled with energy and audacity.”

Jim Libiran, director of the competition film “Tribu,” said that Pinoy “classics” are included in the lineup precisely because these movies had a profound impact on the current crop of filmmakers.

Now showing in different theaters here are 40 features, six shorts and one documentary from the Philippines.

Main venue for the Filipino films is MK2 Bibliotheque, an upscale cineplex in the heart of the French capital.

A Fodor’s online forum (on travel) participant described MK2 as “inarguably the best Paris movie multiplex [that] features art and mainstream movies [and boasts] huge, comfy seats.”

Among the first to be screened today at MK2 are Cinemalaya’s “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” and “Big Time”; and Cinemanila’s “Tuli.”

“Caregiver,” the gala event of the Philippine program, is set in the same cineplex on July 4. Expected at the gala screening are the film’s star, Sharon Cuneta and director, Chito Roño.

Digna Santiago, chair of the FDCP’s Paris Cinema Task Force, said the “Caregiver” screening is set in a 600-seat theater.

On July 5, “Dekada ’70” and “Ploning” are to be screened back-to-back at the Balzac theater in Champs Elysses. Piolo Pascual is gracing the “Dekada” screening, to be followed by “Ploning,” with Judy Ann Santos and director Dante Nico Garcia in attendance.
Discussions

Also in the lineup is a series of round-table discussions on Philippine cinema, starting today. On July 4, a forum on Financing, Production, Distribution and Exhibition is set. On the same day, a round-table discussion on New Independent Cinema is scheduled.

FDCP, the main sponsor of the Philippine program, collaborated with the French and Philippine Embassies, as well as the Department of Tourism in mounting the event.

Kodak Philippines, Santiago related, also helped in providing film stock for the new subtitled prints of “Caregiver” and “Ploning.”

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