THROUGH the initiatives of Instituto Cervantes and the Embassy of Spain, the country’s film archivists are now a step ahead when it comes to restoring beloved masterpieces of past decades.
Alongside the 14th edition of Pelicula-Pelikula, the annual Spanish film festival in the Philippines, Filipinos and Spanish nationals had the chance to bond, as members of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the National Film Archives of the Philippines (NFAP) learn new methods from Spain’s film archiving specialists Filmoteca de Andalucia.
The FDCP and NFAP participated in the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation’s ACERCA seminar, a first in the Philippines that deals with the organization, restoration and preservation processes of the country’s film heritage.
Filmoteca de Andalucía Director Pablo García Casado flew into the country from Spain to lead the seminar.
According to FDCP Chairman Briccio Santos, linkages fostered between the Philippines and Latin American countries are not limited to the annual film festival alone and the seminar was geared toward the betterment of the FDCP staff in the preservation of the country’s old films.
“With this event every year, Pelicula becomes not only the face of Spain but the face of our historical and collaborative ties,” Santos said.
Santos noted that from 500 restored films, the collection of the council has grown to 30,000. More good news for the council is the arrival of new equipment in digitizing films.
Santos said a scanner that can speed up the digitizing process of film would arrive next year.
A restoration project involving the 1971 film by Ishmael Bernal, Pagdating Sa Dulo, in partnership with Instituto Cervantes, will have a representative from the FDCP go to Spain to observe and assist in the restoration process.
Aside from the film festival, Spanish movies will also make its way to the more historically Hispanic part of Manila, in Intramuros.
In cooperation with the Intramuros Administration and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Instituto Cervantes will be bringing Pelicula to the inner Manila, relying on the demand of Manileños for some dose of the arts. Pelicula will also be showcased in Baguio, Davao, Iloilo and Zamboanga.
With more venues for the film festival and a growing number of audience engaging in the annual event, Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Luis Calvo said there is maturity in Pelicula even if it is just on its 14th year.
Ambassador Calvo added that the film festival serves as one of the “drivers” of cooperation between Spain and the Philippines. He added that film cooperation is an important part of their cultural agenda and that they will continue this line of cooperation because it unites Spanish-Philippine cultural legacy.
Danielle Gabriel