Irish film to kick off 2023 Cine Europa in Iloilo

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

An Irish comedy-drama film about a widow and a stray dog who reminded her of her late husband will kick off this year’s celebration of the 26th Cine Europa film festival at the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ (FDCP) Cinematheque Centre Iloilo this Friday, July 7.

The 2022 Irish-language film “Roise and Frank” by Rachel Moriarty and Peter Murphy tells the story of Roise (Bríd Ní Neachtain), whose life is shaken by the entry of a dog named Frank, whom she indulges with food and play, while believing in reincarnation.

It won Best Actress in a Lead Role – Film (Neachtain), and was nominated for Best Original Music, Best Film, Best Director Film, Best Script, and Best Production Design, at the Irish Film and Television Awards. It was also nominated as Best Irish Film at the Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards.

It also received recognition from the Sedona International Film Festival, Cambria Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Port Townsend Film Festival, Sonoma International Film Festival, and the San Diego International Film Festival.

“Roise and Frank” will be shown at the Cinematheque Centre Iloilo at 6:00 p.m., following a reception hosted by the Embassy of Ireland, with Irish Deputy Head of Mission Brian McCrohan and European Union (EU) Ambassador Luc Véron coming over to welcome everyone.

The film’s screening is also an event to celebrate the “upgraded” ties between the Philippines and Ireland, which formally opened its own embassy in the country in November 2021.

Cine Europa will also feature 27 other European films from July 7 to 15:

• ‘Marocco (Mikado)’ from Romania and Czechia;
• ‘Os Demónios Do Meu Avô (My Grandfather’s Demons)’ from Portugal, Spain, and France;
• ‘Imad’s Barndom (Imad’s Childhood)’ from Sweden and Latvia;
• ‘Mitra’ from The Netherlands;
• ‘Kratt’ from Estonia;
• ‘Smagen af sult (A Taste of Hunger)’ from Denmark;
• ‘Murina’ from Croatia and Slovenia;
• ‘Historia – Stygn för Sápmi (Historia – Stitches for Sapmi)’ from Sweden;
• ‘My Love Affair with Marriage’ from Latvia and Luxembourg;
• ‘Bégiké (Runner)’ from Lithuania and Czechia;
• ‘Luxembourg, Luxembourg’ from Ukraine;
• ‘Ensilumi (Anv Day Now)’ from Finland;
• ‘Miss Viborg’ from Denmark;
• ‘The Cleaners’ from Germany;
• ‘Szelid (Gentle)’ from Hungary and Germany;
• ‘Ramona’ from Spain;
• Short film ‘Olmo’ from Italy;
• ‘Io Sto Bene’ from Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany; and
• ‘Dodo’ from Greece.

Daily schedules are available on the FDCP Cinematheque Centre Iloilo’s Facebook page.

Cine Europa is a month-long film festival organized by the EU delegation together with the EU member states and cultural institutes with this year’s co-presenter being Germany’s Goethe-Institut Philippinen.