Italian Cinema Goes Home to Venice Grand Canal Mall

Tenor Mark Joshua Morales and Soprano Angella Lista serenade guests while on gondolas at the opening of the Italian Film Festival, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig, September 30, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Written and photographed

By Jude Bautista

The Venice Grand Canal Mall was glittering with lights and the voices of opera. Tenor Mark Joshua Morales was clad in red tuxedo floating on a gondola. Soprano Angella Lista was on her own gondola. The two balancing themselves on the calm waters, serenaded guests on the PONTE RIALTO restaurant by the bank.

2nd from right: Italian Amb. Marco Clemente with from left: PIA GM Alessandro Milani, Festival Dir. Antonio Termenini and Brillante Mendoza at the opening of the Italian Film Festival, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig, September 30, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

You could be forgiven if you believed you were actually in the city of Venice instead of McKinley Hill in Taguig, Philippines. As it was the opening night (September 29, 2022) of the Italian Film Festival organized collectively by Direzione Generale Cinema e Audio Visio, Embassy of Italy Manila and the Philippine Italian Association.

Festival Dir Antonio Termenini; The Italian Film Festival opening was held at the Venice Cineplex, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig, September 30, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

The public can watch the best and newest Italian cinema has to offer for free in the Italian Film Festival. It will run from September 29- October 2, 2022. Amb Marco Clemente Brillante Mendoza, JFM Dir Ben Suzuki were among those showing their support for the monumental cinematic event.

In a speech, Festival director Antonio Termenini described the seven films:

— 3/19 by Silvio Soldini, ‘deals with the theme of immigration with particular tact. ‘

— A CHIARA ‘a beautiful second work by Jonas Carpignano’.

— IL SILENZIO GRANDE (THE GREAT SILENCE) ‘the eccentric comedy by Alessandro Gassman’

— L’ARMINUTA (THE RETURN) by Giuseppe Bonito, ‘a film that will be enjoyed by cinephiles’.

— AMERICA LATINA – ‘the third original work by the D’Innocenzio brothers, a disturbing portrait of the Italian countryside’.

‘Then, in the best tradition of Italian cinema there will be two particularly entertaining comedies UNA NOTTE DA DOTTORE (DOCTOR ON CALL) by Guido Chiesa and LA SCIARSI UN GIORNO A ROMA (BREAKING UP IN ROME) by Edoardo Leo’.

AMERICA LATINA screened at opening night, starred Elio Germano one of the most celebrated Italian actors. Having won the David di Donatello (Best Actor award), not just in Italy but also in Cannes.

Film and Cultural Exchange

Newly appointed Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairman Tirso Cruz III gave a video message before the screening. Being a well-respected and working actor, he has yet to iron out the events with his shooting schedule.

On top of which, Chairman Cruz had to preside over the closing of the Philippine Cinema Month. Where they announced ON THE JOB: THE MISSING 8 as the official Philippine entry to the 95^th Oscar awards in the Best International Feature Film Category. Actor John Arcilla, incidentally won the Volpi Cup at the Venice fest in 2021, for the same film.

FDCP Chairman Tirso Cruz III; The Italian Film Festival opening was held at the Venice Cineplex, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig, September 30, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

In his video message Cruz highlighted the partnership between the Philippines and Italy through cinema, “Know that I am with you in spirit, rest assured that the FDCP is always here to extend its full support for the cause of cultural exchange. It has been more than two years since the pandemic has disrupted our beloved film industry. And now more than ever it is critical that we work together as a film loving community… Partnerships like the Italian film festival are important because the only way to get through the current challenges is to work together.”

Return of Italian Cinema

Cruz also made note that, Italian movies were screening in Manila prior to the second world war, “A historian friend once related to me how, before the great wars, the streets of Escolta Manila, used to be lined with beautiful stand-alone theaters that showed films from Europe. Most notably Italian films. I told him how fortunate he was to bask in all that culture. While some of us today have to actually go to Europe to see those great films.”

The Italian Film Festival opening was held at the Venice Cineplex, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig, September 30, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

“Tonight is significant because it represents the return of Italian films in Philippine movie houses, since in a long time…The road to recovery is steep but the journey becomes bearable when you have a community that has your back. Tonight part of that community is here. I would like to take the time to congratulate The Philippine Italian Association for organizing this festival. Thank you Direzione Generale Cinema e Audio Visio and Embassy of Italy Manila for making this festival possible.”

Venice Cineplex, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKInley Hill Taguig. Photo by Jude Bautista

PH Cinema in Rome

Antonio Termenini is not only the auteur behind the Italian Film festival here, he is also the Festival Director for the Asian Film Festival held in Rome. As such he has supported Filipino and other Asian filmmakers for more than a decade.

Festival Dir Antonio Termenini; The Italian Film Festival opening was held at the Venice Cineplex, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig, September 30, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

He said, “The Philippine cinema shown yearly in Rome, has always had a special place in our Asian Film Festival. In 2008, we were the first in Europe to present a complete retrospective of Brillante Mendoza’s works. In 2010, he visited Rome after being awarded in Cannes Film Festival as Best Director for KINATAY. Filipino films have always had a prominent place in the four categories of the festival, i.e. competition, out of competition, young directors and retrospectives.”

From right: PIA GM Alessandro Milani, Festival Dir. Antonio Termenini, Brillante Mendoza, JFM Dir Ben Suzuki and JFM Asst Dir Wataru Abe. The Italian Film Festival opening was held at the Venice Cineplex, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig, September 30, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Termenini also mentioned the many Filipino directors he has met and supported over the years, “I recall many Masters in the field, such as Juno Rablas, winner of two awards with KALEL 15 and BIG NIGHTS. Sonny Calvento, winner of Young Director’s Award in 2018 with THE DECAYING. Other Masters like Lav Diaz and other important filmmakers like the late Joseph Laban, Daniel Palacio, Ralston Jover and Raya Martin.”

Watch the latest Italian movies for free at the Italian Film Festival from Sept 29 to Oct 2, 2022, Venice Cineplex, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig.

Masked mimes greet you in Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig. Photo by Jude Bautista

http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebautista.wordpress.com/

http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebautista.wordpress.com/

Map of Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill, Taguig.

http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebautista.wordpress.com/

Tenor Mark Joshua Morales and Soprano Angella Lista at the opening of the Italian Film Festival, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig, September 30, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebautista.wordpress.com/

Watch the latest Italian movies for free at the Italian Film Festival from Sept 29 to Oct 2, 2022, Venice Cineplex, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig.

http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebautista.wordpress.com/

The Italian Film Festival opening was held at the Venice Cineplex, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig, September 30, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebautista.wordpress.com/

Map of Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill, Taguig.

Map of Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill, Taguig. (27)

http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebautista.wordpress.com/

From left: Italian Amb. Marco Clemente and Brillante Mendoza at the opening of the Italian Film Festival, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig, September 30, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Watch the latest Italian movies for free at the Italian Film Festival from Sept 29 to Oct 2, 2022, Venice Cineplex, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig.

http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebautista.wordpress.com/

Modern take on stained glass at the Venice Cineplex, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig. Photo by Jude Bautista

http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebautista.wordpress.com/

Watch the latest Italian movies for free at the Italian Film Festival from Sept 29 to Oct 2, 2022, Venice Cineplex, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Taguig.

http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/ ,

http://judebautista.wordpress.com/