OBVIOUSLY happy to be with the Philippine contingent includes: Monster Jimenez, Mario Cornejo, Raymond Lee, Mitchelle Moreno, Jim Libiran, Martin Macalintal, Nes Jardin, Ato Bautista, Nicolas Pichay. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Pichay of NCCA
Red-letter days in Paris By Bayani San Diego Jr. Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 02:48:00 07/06/2008
PARIS—Red is the color of heightened creativity at the 6th Paris Cinema International Film Festival, where over 47 Filipino films are currently being screened in a special showcase.
The MK2 Bibliotheque Salle (Cinema) 11, where Cinemalaya winner “Big Time” was shown on Wednesday, has walls and huge, comfy sets all in bright red.
Red is also the color of the brochure of the Philippine showcase prepared by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
Passion
After all, red is the universal color code for passion.
Mario Cornejo, who co-directed “Big Time” with Monster Jimenez, told the mixed crowd that gathered at Salle 11: “We made this film three years ago… when young filmmakers were finding their voice in the country’s movie industry.”
He summed up “Big Time” as a product of pure, adulterated “joy” among the cast and crew.
Turnout
Jeremy Segay, festival consultant, told Inquirer Entertainment he was surprised at the good audience turnout for “Big Time.”
“People were laughing, enjoying it, and the 126-seater Salle 11 was almost full,” he noted. “I didn’t expect the theater to be packed because ‘Big Time’ was only the second screening for that day.”
Earlier that same afternoon, Auraeus Solito’s “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” was the first Philippine movie shown at the fest.
The good showing of “Big Time” was unexpected, Segay explained, because “the film and the directors are not yet that well-known in France. But it seems the French are curious to watch Filipino movies.”
He described the Paris Cinema crowd as “different.”
Inquirer Entertainment observed that the “Big Time” audience consisted of young and old, retirees and students, male and female.
MK2 Bibliotheque, which also houses the national library, is “a very popular venue” said Segay.
Affordable
Moreover, a ticket to the Paris Cinema festival is quite affordable, he pointed out.
“For only 25 euros,” Segay added, “a viewer can watch as many films as he wants. The low ticket price allows people to take risks and watch films they’ve never heard of. They can dare to sample new, unfamiliar viewing fare.”
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