INSTITUTO Cervantes de Manila brings back Película, the biggest annual Spanish film festival in Asia, at three separate venues in Metro Manila, Oct. 1-31.

Due to the past successes of its first seven seasons, organizers have doubled the number of films this year (over 40!), gone from one to three venues, and lengthened the festival. Cultural events have also been calendared, in line with the theme of this year?s festival: ?Locos por el cine? or ?Adik sa pelikula.?

With new partnerships forged by Instituto Cervantes, the cultural arm of the Spanish embassy, and the strengthening support from Spanish filmmakers, last year?s attendance is expected to increase this year.

Selection of films will be divided into four groups this year: Official Section (at Greenbelt 3 Cinemas); Cycle of Spanish & Filipino Documentaries (CCP); Spanish Cinema in 8 Films (screened at College of St. Benilde); and a selection of Latin American indie productions, Cine en Construcción (also at St. Benilde).

On Oct. 1, Película will kick off at Greenbelt 3, featuring multi-awarded films such as ?El truco del Manco? (The One-Handed Trick), ?Casual Day, Los Girasoles Ciegos? (The Blind Sunflowers), ?Retorno a Hansala? (Return to Hansala), and ?3 Días.?

Other films include ?El Nido Vacío? (Empty Nest), a comedy that explores the gap that occurs when children grow up and move away from home; and ?La Zona? (The Zone), about a wealthy compound surrounded by walls and surveillance systems to protect the locals against the violence of the slums.

The opening night at Greenbelt 3 will be preceded by a dance performance by B612, a vertical dance company.

The festival also gives tribute to Latin American films with the Mexican, the Argentinean and the Chilean Nights.

Also on Oct. 1, an exhibition on the evolution of the Spanish cinema will be featured at St. Benilde. Titled ?Crónica Visual del Cine Español? (A Visual Chronicle of Spanish Cinema), the exhibit will be divided into the three periods of Spanish cinema, aiming to recreate the journey of the films from the old-Europe and Latin American traditions to the current contemporary style.

There will be a series of workshops on scriptwriting and editing as well as the showcasing of Latin American indie films. Spanish filmmaker Max Lemcke will conduct a seminar on scriptwriting. Chilean director Oscar Cardenas will grace the Asian premiere of his film ?Rabia.?

Photos and docus

On Oct. 6 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), a photo exhibit of Filipino filmmakers by renowned Spanish photographer Óscar Orengo will open.

Featured in the exhibit?the first of its kind in the country?are local directors and actors from different generations such as Peque Gallaga, Brilliante Mendoza, Lav Diaz.

The following day, ?No Todo Es Verdad,? a selection of Filipino and Spanish documentaries, will begin at the CCP.

Película is organized by Instituto Cervantes, in cooperation with the Spanish embassy in the Philippines, AECID, Ministerio de Cultura of Spain, Filmoteca del Ministerio de AA.EE. de España, Cine en Construcción, Spanish Program for Cultural Cooperation, Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day, LRT, MRT, Cultural Center of the Philippines, College of St. Benilde, Greenbelt and Ayala Malls Cinemas.

Special thanks to Dusit Thani Manila, Qatar Airways, Jaguar, and welovepost.

Call 526-1482 or visit http://manila.cervantes.es or www.pelicula.ph. Instituto Cervantes de Manila is at 855 T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila.