First EU-PH film fest to be held in Italy

Filipino filmmakers will soon have a home in Italy, if not the whole European continent, to showcase their talent to an even wider audience.

The latest in a long list of film festivals held in Europe, the European Philippine International Film Festival (EPIFF) looks to show works of some of the best Filipino filmmakers from around the world. Organized by the Islands Stream Cultural Association of Florence, Italy, EPIFF is on the hunt for films that will help Italians (and Europeans in general) “understand the complexity of the Philippine society, the richness and the diversity of its culture, and the amazing beauty of their landscapes,” the organizers said in a statement.

EPIFF is also looking at connecting Filipino filmmakers with Italian and, later on, European producers and distributors as a step towards promoting films from both the Philippines and Europe in their respective countries.

It will take place on March 7, 8, and 9 at the historic Cinema della Compagnia, which is a few minutes away from the famous Piazza Duomo. It will be the opening act of this year’s The Asian Spring, a series of Asian film festivals which includes China’s Dragon Film Festival and India’s River to River Florence Film Festival.

The EPIFF, however, isn’t just an ordinary showcase of Filipino films. It’s a competitive film festival with six awards up for grabs: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, Best Actress, and the Audience Favorite award. Side events and special screenings of movies apart from the official entries will also be held throughout the three-day film festival.

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Source: Philippine Italian Association