The Italian film fest has found a new home in Shangri-La Cineplex. Since Oct. 14, the week long fest holds screenings from 2 p.m. onwards and has free admission. In previous years the Cultural Center of the Philippines was host to the fest, but showed only one film per month. This time the Italian Embassy together with the Philippines Italian Association will have a week-long fest showing four films a day.

Shangri-La Cineplex has become the home of many international film fests over the years because of the central location and enticing, well maintained cinemas. This year however has seen an increase of similar events. Starting August there was “Eigai Sai” or Japanese film fest followed by the 3rd Silent film fest, Cine Europa, the Korean film fest and now the Italian film fest. Cristina Moricca Assistant Office Manager of the Philippine Italian Association said, “We are very grateful to Shangri-La for giving us the opportunity to show our films free of admission. They have been very open and helpful with the idea of sharing these films with the Filipino public without the intention of profit.”

Emmanuela Adesini the Cultural Attaché of the Italian Embassy said, “Shangri-La has helped us gain a wider audience and accessibility. We are able to share the latest works of young Italian film makers. An example is Dario Argento who is one of the favorite filmmakers of Quentin Tarantino. We have films for the family, gay themed movies, dramas and widest range genres.”

This year the exchange between Filipino and Italian cinema was raised to a higher level. The film “Engkwentro” by Pepe Diokno played an important role in this exchange by garnering the Orizzonti and Dilaurentis awards from the Venice film fest. Adesini was credited by Diokno as the “one who supervised the subtitling of the film at a minimal cost.” Adesini was very impressed with Diokno, “He is still a student at UP, aged 21. I have my own class there, my students helped me. They were the ones who told me that the dialogue was in Visayan. ‘Engkwentro’ shows that we can present our country to other people showing not only the best but letting people know what’s really happening.”

Pepe Diokno himself highly recommended watching the Italian film fest because “films are the best carrier of culture.” The lineup of films is a great mix of genres that appeal to different viewers. There are romantic comedies, action, historical bios and the like.

“La Febbre” or “The Fever” for example is a memorable modern romance set in Northern Italy. Mario Bettini (Fabio Volo) has an inner creative talent that is yearning to be discovered. But due to the demands of everyday living, he goes for the practical job of a council surveyor for the city of Cremona. He and his friends invest their time, effort and money in opening a club. While his life is set, he meets Linda played by Valeria Solarino. He falls in love with the dark haired beauty and her warm spontaneous approach to life. Solarino also played the role of Maja in “Chemical Hunger” shown in last year’s Cine Europa.

Silvana Ancelloti-Diaz, art director of Galleria Duemila, shared that Francesco Riccardo Monti, an Italian sculptor who lived in the Philippines, came from the city of Cremona. Monti worked with Filipino sculptor Juan Arellano in the 1950s. Monti’s sculptures can be seen in the cemetery scenes of “The Fever.”