From Feb. 1 to 6, Filipino cinephiles can watch eight new Italian movies online

The woodcarver, the Blue fairy, and the puppet who wished to become a real boy are the elements that made fairy tale The Adventures of Pinocchio a true classic. The timeless story by Italian writer Carlo Collodi, with its prime character whose nose grows long when he tells a lie, became a cultural icon all around the world. With the help of Italian filmmaker Matteo Garrone, old and new fans of the story can witness the magic of love and adventure of Pinnochio yet again.

This year, the Moviemov Italian Film Festival pays tribute to the 140th anniversary of Pinocchio. For its 10th edition, the virtual movie fest will once more bring the best of the new Italian cinema to the Philippines, with actress, Sara Serraiocco, as its guest of honor.

“Given the measures taken to contain the spread of the pandemic in Asia, we decided to confirm the 10th edition of Moviemov Italian Film Festival Manila making it accessible online, as we are convinced that more than ever, it’s important to restart through culture and cinema,” artistic directors Fabia Bettini and Gianluca Giannelli announced.

Produced and organized by the cultural association Playtownroma, Moviemov Italian Film Festival is a nomadic festival that started in 2010. Its main purpose is to create a platform for the contemporary Italian Cinema abroad, particularly in the South East Asia, a region that represents a more and more interesting destination, from the cultural to commercial points of view.

From Feb. 1 to 6, Filipino cinephiles can watch the following movies online.

• Non Odiare / Thou Shalt Not Hate by  Mauro Mancini
• Volevo Nascondermi / Hidden Away by Giorgio Diritti
• I Predatori / Predators by Pietro Castellitto
• Palazzo di Giustizia / Ordinary Justice by Chiara Bellosi
• Padrenostro by Claudio Noce
• Puntasacra by Francesca Mazzoleni
• Pinocchio by Matteo Garrone
• Il Mio Corpo by Michele Pennetta

Screenings will be followed by talks with filmmakers, actors, and producers, which will be accessible online both in the Philippines and Italy.

Moviemov Industry

An online business section with dedicated screenings and meetings will be organized with the purpose of promoting audiovisual products through dedicated screenings for buyers, panel discussions and online meetings, among others. A virtual fair experience, supported by a digital and secure tool for international relations activities, which provides Italian and Filipino professionals an opportunity to be visible, to explore co-productions, funding, and distribution of the most interesting and recent audiovisual products.

The Industry section is made possible thanks to the support of Ass.For.SEO, the funding by Regione Lazio and MOVIE UP 2020 and will be organized in collaboration with the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Special Social Segment

A social segment, on the other hand, will represent a bridge of dialogue between Italy and the Philippines, a spotlight on realities that are often hidden but can emerge thanks to the power of images. For this edition, Moviemov will shed a light on the terrible fire that destroyed the homes of a Filipino community in Rome last August. The short film, Princess, directed by Silvia Luzi and Luca Bellino, tells of a silent community that lives on the edge of the river, in the center of Rome: men and women whose existence is ignored.

The protagonists of the short film are invisible to the city, and while the adults try to save what is left of their lives, three little girls imagine that to have a new home, it is enough to make a wish. A short film that has the great ambition of erasing the distance and put in contact worlds that are only seemingly disconnected.

Visit www.mymovies.it to join the festival.