Tikoy Aguiluz' Cinemanila International Filmfest opens at the Market Market on Nov.11

DIRECTOR TIKOY AGUILUZ is busy megging two big-budget period films, “Asiong Salonga” and “El Presidente” but he continues to spearhead the annual Cinemanila International Filmfest now on its 13th year. This will be held at the Market Market cinemas from November 11 to 17, in cooperation with Mayor Lani Cayetano of Taguig. All movie aficionados shouldn’t miss this important event that will show a total of 80 films from all over the world. “The Beautiful Game” section will feature films about football or soccer like “Zidane” (about famous French footballer Zinedine Zidane), “The Two Escobars” (the intertwined story of Colombian footballer Andres Escobar and drug kingpin Pablo Escobar), “Offside” (about Iranian girls who want to watch a World Cup match even if they’re forbidden to do so), “The Cup” (about two Tibetan refuge novice monks who are crazy with football), “Bend It Like Beckham” (with Keira Knightly) and our own “Happy Land” (about streetkids who form a soccer team, with Phil Younghusband in a guest role.)

There’ll also be a “Horror Picture Show” section with “I Saw the Devil” from Korea, “Vanished: Age 7” from Japan, “The Tunnel” from Australia, “Suspiria” from Italian Master of Horror, Dario Argento, who’ll receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Other acclaimed film you shouldn’t miss are “Pina” (opening film) by German Wim Wnders, “13 Assassins by Japan’s Takashi Mike, “Blind” by Anh Sang Hoon of South Korea, “Once Upon a Time in Anatolya” by Nuri Ceylan of Turkey, “Tropa de Elite” by Jose Padilla of Brazil, “The Mirror Never Lies” by Kamila Andini of Indonesia, “Nightfishing” by Park Chan Wook of South Korea whose acclaimed “Old Boy” is now being remade in the States, and many more. Competing in the Digital Lokal indie competition are “Sakay sa Hangin” by Regiben Romana, “Senyorita” by Vincent Sandoval”, “Sa Kanto ng Ulap at Lupa” by Mes de Guzman, and “Lawas Kan Pinabli” by Christopher Gozum. There will also be short films and documentaries. As a tribute to Nora Aunor who’ll receive a Lifetime Achievement Award with Quentin Tarantino and Mario O’Hara, four of her films will be shown: “Bona”, “Himala”, “Minsa’y Isang Gamo-Gamo” and “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos”. For the schedules of film screenings, you can check it out on facebook.com/groups/246306172084819 or on twitter.com/CinemanilaIFF.