The World Premieres Film Festival (WPFF) celebrates the power and magic of film by showcasing the films of critically acclaimed, upcoming directors from across the globe. Their mission is to launch their international premieres, right here in the Philippines. Their mission is to serve a growing number of film narratives in search of new venues of exhibition, and to launch their international premieres, particularly in Asia with its rapidly growing film industry. At the same time, the WPFF provides a unique opportunity for talented filmmakers from all over the world to converge and share their stories with a new audience.
Now on its 3rd year, over 60 international films will be shown at the Cinematheque Centre Manila, as well as partner venues: SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, Greenbelt 3, the Shang Cineplex, and the Uptown Cinemas. Films will be shown at a festival price of P100 at all venues, unless indicated otherwise.
The Festival’s 12-day duration kicks off on June 29 – 3PM at the Cinematheque Centre Manila, with the opening film premiere of the newly restored classic, “Pagdating sa Dulo” by Ishmael Bernal. The film features the legendary actress Rita Gomez and Vic Vargas.
The different sections that will be featured in the festival are as follows: Main Competiion, Filipino New Cinema, Intercontinental, Vietnam – Country of Honor, ASEAN Skies, Spotlight: China, and many more.
MAIN COMPETITION
A Dazzling array of international premieres featuring human narratives, ciltural diversities, and social issues from around the globe. With the acclaimed foreign directors in attendance. Awards to be given by an international jury shall include the Grand Festival Prize and Grand Jury Prize, Best Performance by an Actor, Best Performance by an Actress, Best Artistic Contribution, Technical Grand Prize, and Best Ensemble Performance.
The Main Competition Gala Premieres will take place at Shang Cineplex, Uptown Cinema and Greenbelt 3, followed by a Q&A with the director (free admission). Here are the entries:
- BY ACCIDENT (France) – Camille Fontaine
- LOVE ABOVE ALL THINGS (Spain) – Cinema De La Pena
- REDHA (Malaysia) – Tunku Mona Riza
- YEN’S LIFE (Vietnam) – Dinh Tuan Vu
- YOUNG LOVE LOST (China) – Xiang Guoqiang
- DAUGHTERS OF THE THREE TAILED BANNER (Philippines) – Gutierrez Mangansakan II
FILIPINO NEW CINEMA
Come and #SupportLocal at the Philippine premieres of six films that help Filipino filmmakers screen to local and international audiences. A special jury of Philippine cinema experts will award these six contemporary Filipino films with prizes including Best Picture (1st and 2nd place), Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Musical Score, Best Sound Design, Best Production Design, Best Performances (Male & Female) and Best Supporting Roles (Male & Female).
The Filipino New Cinema Gala Premieres will take place at SM Megamall and SM North EDSA Cinemas, followed by a Q&A with the director and cast (by invitation only). Here are the entries (click the title to view the trailer):
- CURIOSITY, ADVENTURE, AND LOVE – Sunshine Lichauco De Leon & Suzanne Richardonne
- EDSA – Alvin Yapan
- IADYA MO KAMI – Mel Chionglo
- KU’TE – Ronaldo Bertubin
- MEMORY CHANNEL – Raynier Brizuela
- RINGGO: THE DOG-SHOOTER – Rahyan Carlos
INTERCONTINENTAL
Highlighting the wealth of cultural diversity across different continents, and narrating the human condition through the medium of cinema, all countries outside of the Southeast Asian region are in the running for the “Intercontinental Prize for Best Film.”
Here are the entries:
- 3 BELEZZAS (Venezuela) – Carlos Caridad – Montero
- DALISAY (Italy) – Maurizio Baldini
- DAMN, NEW YORK (Spain) – Arturo Prins
- HOME GUARDS (Hungary) – Krisztina Goda
- LOVE. (China) – Yao Huang
- S IS FOR STANLEY (Italy) – Alex Infascelli
- THE STORM INSIDE (France) – Frabrice Camoin
- MOM AND OTHER LOONIES IN THE FAMILY (Hungary) – Ibolya Fekete
- MOSSIE (South Africa) – Darrell Roodt
- PARASOL (Belgium) – Valery Rosier
ASEAN SKIES
With films hailing from the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, this exhibit aims to create a regional community of active cultural exchange. Their close proximities and shared history gives each member state much common ground. Films will compete for the “ASEAN Skies Prize for Best Film.”
Here are the entries:
- ABOVE IT ALL (Laos) – Anysay Keola
- BEAST (Philippines) – Tom and Sam McKeith
- I AM HOPE (Indonesia) – Adilla Dimitri
- LAUT (Philippines) – Louie Ignacio
- PRICE OF LOVE (Cambodia) – Matthew Robinson
- REMITTANCE (Philippines)
- SURAT CINTA UNTUK KARTINI (Indonesia) – Azhar Kinoi Lubis
- 7 LETTERS (Singapore) – Boo Junfeng, Eric Khoo, K Rajahopal, Jack Neo, Tan Pin Pin, Royston Tan and Kelvin Tong
COUNTRY OF HONOR: VIETNAM
A WPFF first, The Country of Honor highlights the cinema of particular countries around the world to honor their filmmaking talent here in the Philippines. Our inaugural Country of Honor is Vietnam: eight contemporary Vietnamese films will screen throughout the Festival, with each Vietnamese director taking part in the Festival, roundtable discussions, attending media functions during their stay, and representing Vietnam at each gala event.
Here are the participating films:
- 2030 – Nguyen-Vo Nghiem Minh
- BEAUTIFUL WOMEN – Dinh Thai Thuy
- JACKPOT – Dustin Nguyen
- ON THE PEACEFUL PEAK – Nsut Nguyen Huu Murdi
- THE CHILDREN OF THE VILLAGE – Nguyen Duc Viet
- THE PROPHECY – Nsut Vurng Duc
- YELLOW FLOWERS ON THE GREEN GRASS – Victor Vu
- ZODIAC – 12 FIVE STEPS OF LOVE – Vu Ngoc Phuong
SPOTLIGHT CHINA
From beyond The Great Wall and beyond ! Join us as we screen new and critically acclaimed Chinese films: blockbusters, love stories, action… and an aupair. Prosperity to all who watch!
Here are the participating films:
- LET’S GET MARRIED – Liu Jiang
- MISS GRANNY (20, ONCE AGAIN) – Leste Chen
- ROCO KINGDOM 4: GO! GIANT VALLEY – Hugues Martel
- THE GALAXY ON EARTH – Ning Haiqiang
- WHEN A PEKING FAMILY MEETS AUPAIR – Chen Gang
- WOLF TOTEM – Jean-Jacques Annaud
FILIPINO CLASSICS
Timeless Philippine films, digitally scanned and restored, provide a wonderful look into our cinema’s past, meanwhile carrying a torchlight into our future. Catch a sneak peek into the budding collection of the National Film Archives of the Philippines (NFAP).
Here are the Filipino classics to be screened:
- BATANG WESTSIDE – Lav Diaz
- DAMORTIS – Briccio Santos
- GINAUHAW AKO, GINAGUTOM AKO – Quin Baterna
- PAGDATING SA DULO – Ishmael Bernal
- NOLI ME TANGERE – Gerrardo De Leon
- TURUMBA – Kidlat Tahimik
- WHITE SLAVERY – Lino Brocka
OUT OF COMPETITION
An illuminating exhibition of foreign films which have garnered success and critical acclaim at other international film festivals around the world.
- GALLOPING MIND (Belgium) – Wim Vandekeybus
- ONE KISS (Italy) – Ivan Cotroneo
- THE FOREST (Thailand) – Paul Spurrier
CINE VERDE
Cine Verde raises awareness of environmental issues and aims to incite societal change societal through the power of cinema. Presented in partnership with Connect4Climate (C4C), a global partnership program based at the World Bank, and global campaign, Film4Climate, committed to spreading climate change knowledge through cinema and related creative industries, and to finding ways to mitigate the environmental impact of film production.
- CHLOE & THEO – Ezna Sands
- RACING EXTINCTION – Louie Psihoyos
- RAFEA: SOLAR MAMA – Mona Eldaif
- EVER THE LAND – Sarah Grohnert
SILENT FRENCH SHORT FILMS
Featuring a special selection of rare short silent films, these timelessly whimsical clips from France’s past will lend the Festival a little extra European je ne sais quoi.
PARALLEL EVENTS:
JULY 1 – 11:00AM
International Film Conference (IFC)
Venue: Casino Español de Manila
Free and open to the public, the IFC aims to impart global film industry perspectives to everyone from those in the Filipino film industry, to students alike. Focused on the topic “Behind the Scenes: a 360 degree view of the film industry”, speakers includes top-tier film industry leaders from around the globe such as Katharina Böttinger (Sales and Technical Department of the European Film Market), Edgar Tejerero (President of SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc.), Attorney Ted Roper (partner lawyer of Freeman Freeman & Smiley, LLP, based in Los Angeles), and Hyong-Joon Kim (Korean film producer).
JULY 1 – 11:00AM
Mini International Film Expo (IFX)
Venue: Cinematheque Centre Manila
A spin-off to 2015’s International Film Expo (IFX), this year a Mini IFX will accompany the IFC. Featuring a short and sweet selection of the industry’s latest and greatest technologies, a select handful of exhibitors included RSVP, CMB, Arrays Technology, and Black Magic will digitally dazzle.
JULY 2
Director Roundtables and Q & A Panels
Venue: Cinematheque Centre Manila ( ASEAN Library )
Host: Mike Sano
A Vietnamese filmmaker will have panel discussion at 2 p.m.
A Main Competition filmmaker will have director round table discussion at 3 p.m.
FILM ASEAN LIBRARY INAUGURATION
Calling all interested in ASEAN cinema! The FILM ASEAN Library – or “Knowledge Management Centre” – is Asia’s newest hub for ASEAN cinema culture, creating access to books, magazines, and a rich variety of resource materials graciously contributed by the ten member states of the FILM ASEAN—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
OUTDOOR SCREENINGS
Outdoor screenings will bring a new cinematic experience to the festival! The outdoor courtyard within the Cinematheque complex is the perfect spot for cinema lovers to sit down and catch a flick, sipping refreshments in a more casual atmosphere than inside the darkness of the theatre.
Films to be shown include: French Silent films, environmental films in the parallel Cine Verde film section, and Filipino Classics.
For more information, visit www.wpff.ph, email info@wpff.ph, call (02) 256 9908, or check out our official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/worldpremieresfilmfestival.
Check out the full festival SCHEDULE here:
