20th French Film Festival Opens With a Bang
The red carpet opening night was filled with friends, free-flowing drinks and fantastic films!
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SALUT! Notable guests raise their glasses with French Ambassador to the Philippines Gilles Garachon.
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Pleasant smiles greeted everyone who walked down the red carpet at the Greenbelt 5 Fashion Walk last night, June 3, 2015, at the grand opening night of the 20th French Film Festival.
Despite the sweltering last-of-summer heat that veiled the evening, lively chatter from the guests, cocktails, wine or beer at hand, livened up the night together with the fireworks-filled backdrop.
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FULL HOUSE. The Fashion Walk has never been more elegant…or more jam-packed.
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Snippets of conversations about the critically-acclaimed La Famille Bélier, the 5PM film screened at Cinema 1 of Greenbelt 3, can be heard: how it was funny and bittersweet, a musical of sorts, a tearjerker.
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LA FAMILLE BELIER AND TAKLUB were both shown during the opening night.
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An excited buzz can also be heard as everyone waited in anticipation of Taklub, the Filipino masterpiece screened at 8:30 that night – excitement heightened even more with the presence of film director Brillante Mendoza, film producer Loren Legarda; and its star, Nora Aunor.
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THE Gilles Garachon, Film Development Council of the Philippines head Briccio Santos, TAKLUB director Brillante Mendoza, veteran actress Nora Aunor and Stores Specialists Inc. marketing communications manager Malu Francisco
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Overall, it was an impressive night filled with art and culture. The French Embassy promised a Cannes-like opening premiere. They ended up delivering so much more.
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CATCHING UP. Friends enjoyed discussing the film among other topics in an endless stream of chatter.
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PEUGEOT displays one of their babies as part of the opening night.
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Celebrating the diversity and the beauty of the film industries in France and the Philippines, the 20th French Film Festival will be held from June 3 to 9 in both Greenbelt and Bonifacio High Street cinemas. Aside from their spectacular movies, other events await Francophiles! For more information, check out our previous article about the festival!
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Article and photos by Madeline Castillo
Additional photos by Arvee Gomez