UPHOLDING cinema as a tool for meaningful expressions of life, the Varsitarian, the 81-year-old official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas, will be holding CineVita Film Festival 2009 on February 26 and 27 at the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex Auditorium, UST, España, Manila.
Now on its third year, CineVita will feature internationally acclaimed independent films by Thomasian filmmaker Brillante Mendoza. The films to be screened are Cannes Film Festival 2008 finalist “Serbis”; Durban, South Africa International Film Festival 2008 Best Film “Foster Child”; Berlin International Film Festival’s 2008 Caligari Film Award winner “Tirador”; and the Jeunju, South Korea Film Festival‘s 2007 Netpac Award winner “Kaleldo.”
Mendoza, a UST Fine Arts alumnus, will hold a talk after each screening. Actors Julio Diaz, Coco Martin, and Cherry Pie Picache will grace the event.
Also this summer, the 2009 UST CineVita will hold a film workshop with participants to be granted scholarships by the Varsitarian. The workshop will be handled by another Thomasian filmmaker, Jim Libiran, director of “Tribu,” the 2007 Cinemalaya grand prix winner and 2008 Youth jury Prize winner of the Paris Cinematheque.
CineVita, which took its name from the word “cinema” and “vita” (life), is a non-profit and educational endeavor of the Varsitarian with the UST Institute of Religion and Communication Arts Students Association. All films are open to the public. Admission is free.
For inquiries, call the Varsitarian office at 406-1611 local 8235. Contact Danielle Dandan at 0926-7006392 or visit cinevita2009.multiply.com.