While bereft of sound, silent films have become the entertainment of choice for some as it stimulates imagination. These people enjoy seeing the developmental aspects of the film industry. And you will be surprised to know that there are really good movies that happen to be silent.
Now the much-anticipated annual International Silent Film Festival Manila
(ISFFM) is back! The upcoming festival gives feature films more depth with its live musical
performances.
Established in 2007 as the first of its kind in Asia, the ISFFM promises to bring once
more to Manila film buffs and music aficionados an extraordinary experience. From the
1890’s to the 1920’s, audiences around the world were enchanted by the magic of
watching soundless images on a screen accompanied by live music played by different
performing artists.
This year, the Philippine-Italian Association, the Film Development Council of the
Philippines, the Embassy of France, the Goethe-Institut Philippinen, the Japan
Foundation Manila, the Embassy of the United States of America, the Instituto
Cervantes, and the Embassy of Austria, are extremely proud to present the 12 th iteration
of the International Silent Film Festival in Manila. Scheduled from August 30 th to
September 2 nd at SM Cinema 2 of SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, the 2018 ISFFM
brings together the very best of silent cinema from its eight member-countries, to be
accompanied by the best Filipino musicians in the scene.
The Festival reels off at 8:00 pm on Thursday, August 30th with the Philippine-Italian
Association, the Italian Embassy and the Italian Chamber of Commerce presenting
the most important of those stylish melodramas made-in-Italy, Rapsodia Satanica
(Satanic Rhapsody 1915-1917), directed by Nino Oxilia. The film tells the story of
ageing Italian aristocrat Dame Alba d’ Oltrevita who discovers a particular and special
solution for her beauty by forging a pact with the devil. The blues band Miles
Experience will accompany this film with a live performance.
On Friday, August 31st, at 7PM, the Film Development Council of the Philippines
will present a unique offering in The Lost Film Triology which is composed of
“Filipiniana”, “Aswang (1933),” and “Juan Tamad Goes to the Moon (1898)”; and an
excerpt from “Nitrate: To the Ghosts of the 75 Lost Philippine Silent Films (1912-1933).”
A live musical performance by Khavn & the Kontra-Kino Orchestra will accompany the
film.
At 9:00 pm, also on August 31st , the Embassy of France will present the drama La
Passion de Jeanne D’Arc (1928), directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer. The film tells the
story of the trial of Joan of Arc in 1431. The film will be scored by the multi-awarded
pianist and versatile musician Dingdong Fiel, alongside Andrew Constantino (Clarinet)
and Kyongmin Nam (Cello).
On Saturday, September 1 st at 4PM, the Goethe Institut will screen The Cabinet of
Dr. Caligari (1920), dubbed as “the first true horror film”. Directed by Robert Wiene, the
film tells of a mad doctor suspected of sending a corpse on a killing spree. The movie
will be live scored by Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino, widely identified as Kontra-
GaPi.
At 6PM, the Japan Foundation, Manila will screen A Straightforward Boy (1929) by
Yasujiro Ozu that tells a story of Bunkichi who kidnaps a boy, Tetsubo, who has an
appetite for sweets. This screening will feature Silent Film Narrator Tito Genova
Valiente, who will provide a live interpretation of the silent film. The screening and
narration will be accompanied by contemporary pop folk/ethnic sound group Tanikala
Tribe.
Closing the night at 8PM will be the U.S. Embassy's screening of the film Our
Hospitality (1923), considered to be a groundbreaking work for the comedy film genre.
Directed by and starring Buster Keaton, the film tells the story of Willie McKay, who gets
caught in the middle of the infamous "Canfield"–"McKay" feud, an obvious satire of the
real-life Hatfield–McCoy feud. The film will be scored by Brass Munkeys, a band of
veteran musicians known for their lively and bold performances on stage.
On Sunday, September 2nd at 5PM, the Instituto Cervantes will present the musical
comedy Frivolinas (1926). Directed by Arturo Carballo, Frivolinas is about a widower
who loves the nightlife, and a comedian who falls in love with the old man’s daughter.
Tapati, a collaboration of artists embracing influences of rock, reggae, blues, jazz, pop,
folk and Philippine Neo-ethnic tribal music will accompany the film.
Culminating the festival at 7:30PM will be the Embassy of Austria’s Die Kleine
Veronika (1929), directed by Robert Land. The film tells the story of Tyrolean mountain
girl, Veronika, who travels to Vienna to visit her aunt, only to find out that the city
experience she has been dreaming of is not all the fun and glamorous life she had
previously imagined. The live score will be played by avant-pop electronica solo Joee &
I. The Embassy of Austria presents this year’s entry in partnership with Hearlife
Foundation, Inc., a non-stock, non-profit organization created to champion the Filipino
deaf, and MED-EL Philippines, an affiliate of cochlear implant provider MED-EL
WorldWide from Innsbruck, Austria.
This year's film festival experience will have a unique addition, an exhibit at the SM
Cinema lobby. The exhibit will be presenting a visual installation of this year’s
participating films.
The 12th International Silent Film Festival is made possible in partnership with SM
Cinema, SM Cares, Amici, Sunny16 Lab, Cineteca Bologna, Institut Français, Embassy
of Japan, Embassy of Spain, Filmoteca Española, Austrian Presidency of the Council of
the European Union, HearLife Foundation, Inc., Med El, Fringe Creatives, and the
Barista & Coffee Academy of Asia.
All screenings will be open to the public on a first come, first served basis.
Do visit
www.facebook.com/InternationalSilentFilmFestivalManila for more information on the schedule and inquiries.
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