This November, Filipino films are coming back to Berlin thanks to The First Reel Filipino film festival. This year’s lineup is definitely something to look forward to as it’s a well-rounded mix of genres. Stepping away from what people usually think Filipino films are all about and have already seen before, the films showcase stories on Filipino the youth, individual talent, growing pains, and issues – both timely and timeless.
Happening from 6-10 November at Berlin’s oldest cinema – the Kino Moviemento in Kottbusser Damm, here’s the rundown of the films you can catch as published by the festival’s team:
November 6, Wednesday (19 Uhr)
Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?
(This Is How We Were Before, How Are You Doing Now?) Eddie Romero, 1976
Set at the turn of the 20th century during the Filipino revolution against the Spaniards and, later, the American colonizers, it follows a naive peasant through his leap of faith to become a member of an imagined community.
Event: Adobo cook off featuring Ayan Filipino Streetfood’s Bulawan Callanta. (Sponsored by the Philippine Embassy)
November 7, Thursday (19 Uhr)
Respeto
Treb Montreras II, 2017
An aspiring young rapper strikes up an unexpected friendship with an elderly bookstore owner who has a dark past of his own.
Event (21:30 Uhr): Flip-Hop: Filipino Rap Narratives
Featuring Europe-based Filipino and Filipino-European rappers, the event will not only showcase a brief performance, but also a discussion about their journey in the hip-hop scene, as well as their experiences and what it means to being a Filipino rapper in Europe.
November 8, Friday (19 Uhr)
Ang Nawawala
(What Isn’t There) Marie Jamora, 2012
During a visit to his home in Manila, Gibson — mute since childhood — redefines his relationships with his family, his friends — and himself.
Event (21:30): Soundtrack Sountrip: Listening Session for Ang Nawawala
November 9, Saturday
6 Degrees of Separation From Lilia Cuntapay (17 Uhr)
Antoinette Jadaone, 2012
A professional horror movie extra prepares for her first-ever acting award nomination.
Dog Days (19 Uhr)
Timmy Harn, 2018
A half-black half-Filipino Michael Jordan wanna-be sets his way towards his “hoop dreams.”
Event (21:30): Storytelling Night
Storytellers share their journey in search of belonging, identity, and a sense of home.
UPAA will also be selling Filipino food to raise funds for their scholarship project.
November 10 Sunday
Selected Shorts (17 Uhr)
Voices from the South: Short films from the Mindanao Film Festival
Documented (19 Uhr)
Jose Antonio Vargas, 2013
Journalist Jose Antonio Vargas becomes a crusader for immigration reform.
Event: Of Lives and Language: A Roundtable on Semantics and the power of words in relation to the migrant identity.
UPAA will also be selling Filipino food to raise funds for their scholarship project.
This year, there will also be a special exhibition featuring works of young students who participated in filmmaking workshop hosted by Arbi Barbarona. Participating filmmakers are between the ages of nine to 17 and are from the Bakwit school, the Nabunturan province, the Caraga region, MSU IIT, as well as from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
First Reel started in 2015 and was founded by Lola Abrera. The films, meanwhile, are curated by Trinka Lat. Catch the festival this November at:
Kino Moviemento
Kottbusser Damm 22, 10967 Berlin
www.moviemento.de
You can also get more information by visiting The First Reel’s website. What are you planning to watch? Sound off in the comments. 😉
