29 July 2016 – The Philippines is the focus country of the 42nd Summer Film School Uherské Hradiště in Moravia, Czech Republic from July 22 to 30. Seventeen Filipino films are featured in the “largest non-competitive film festival in the Czech Republic”. This festival was first organized in 1964 with the objective of broadening the horizons of film club members and fans, majority of whom are secondary and university students.
Every year, thousands flock to Uherské Hradiště to see films from different genres. In each of the past 16 years, the Summer Film School has attracted about 6,000 viewers at six screening venues and in two open-air cinemas that are located around town. The Summer Film School Uherské Hradiště is organized by the Association of Czech Film Clubs. They held their Press Conference at the Philippine Embassy on June 23.
The Philippines is the first non-European focus country since 2007; and this was made possible through the initiative of Czech Ambassador to the Philippines, Jaroslav Olša, Jr.
The Philippine film presentation includes classic films, sci-fi films, and other genre films -- which were brought to the Czech Republic courtesy of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
Filipino film director Lino Brocka’s films including “Tinimbang ka Ngunit Kulang,” “Insiang,” and “Maynila sa Kuko ng Liwanag” will be screened. Articulo Uno´s blockbuster “Heneral Luna,” as well as “Baler,” “Dekada ´70” and “Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon” are also entered in the Film Festival. Other films include FPJ’s newly digitally remastered “Ang Padrino” and “Ang Panday,” and one of the Darna films; likewise contemporary films like “The Gifted,” “Baler” and “No Other Woman” by Viva Entertainment. Highly acclaimed films by Lav Diaz, Brillante Mendoza and Raya Martin are also featured.
Representing the Philippine Embassy were Philippine Ambassador to the Czech Republic Victoriano M. Lecaros, First Secretary & Consul Juan E. Dayang, Jr., and Attaché Maximo Ortiz. They attended the opening ceremony on July 22 and subsequently watched some of the films through the invitation of the Association of Czech Film Clubs.
Czech Ambassador Olša was in Uherské Hradiště to introduce some of the films like Darna and Dekada 70 to the Czech public. According to Ambassador Olsa, the Philippine focus in a Czech film festival will be the “second and by far the biggest to happen in the last two years”. The first one was for the Film Asia Film Festival in December 2015. END