00:00 As the Chinese New Year approaches, six Chinese films will be screened for free as part of
00:05 the 18th Spring Film Festival.
00:07 That's starting tomorrow, January 23rd until the 30th.
00:11 Now to tell us more about this, we have in the studio Marjorie Manabat or Waii.
00:17 Now Marjorie here actually is the director of Ateneo Ricardo Leong Chinese Studies, the
00:22 organizer of the film fest.
00:24 Good morning to you and thanks so much for joining us.
00:26 Good morning Miss Christine.
00:28 You have wonderful news to share with us.
00:31 The 18th Spring Film Festival is actually happening tomorrow.
00:35 Yes, so tomorrow is the start of the 18th Spring Film Festival.
00:41 So we have prepared six different films about China, about the latest popular films that
00:52 came in top grosser films such as The Captain and then The Bravest.
00:59 Some are even based on real events that happened back in 2010 and 2015.
01:04 That's right.
01:05 Well, what is the goal, Waii?
01:06 What would you say would be the goal of this year's film fest?
01:11 Our goal is actually to promote the culture and of course to gain more interest and of
01:16 course promote friendship and understanding across cultures.
01:21 And earlier you did mention about the films.
01:24 So let's break it down a little bit so our viewers once they go there they'll understand
01:28 what these films are all about.
01:29 First, how were they curated?
01:31 How did you choose these six films to show at the film fest?
01:36 Well, first we checked which ones are the popular ones and of course with the help of
01:41 the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, they were able to help us send all these popular
01:48 films and very important films to more about China.
01:53 Okay, so okay.
01:54 We do have, you mentioned something about The Captain.
01:57 So what, are you familiar with The Captain?
01:59 It's about what, an airline?
02:01 What is that?
02:02 Yeah, it's an accident that occurred on air and this happened back in 2014 and it's a
02:12 movie directed by Andrew Lau so they wanted to show what happened actually inside the
02:18 aircraft and everyone was saved, all the passengers as well as the crew.
02:25 So the story is about the successful return of the aircraft.
02:30 Incredible.
02:31 And it's also interesting because all these five films that you're showing are all from
02:35 different genres.
02:36 Yes.
02:37 So Looking Up.
02:38 Looking Up is about space?
02:40 Yes, it's actually about an astronaut but it's focused more on the values of the astronaut
02:52 himself and what he remembers, the teachings that he learned from his parents.
02:58 And the other films, we'll just go straight to it, you have White Snake.
03:03 Yes, it's an animated film.
03:05 Ah, okay.
03:06 So something that the whole family, the children can enjoy.
03:09 What about the White Snake?
03:10 Okay, so it's about a story of a snake catcher and he had developed amnesia and he's now
03:19 wanting to end a fall in love and then he's torn between the two, whether to continue
03:27 with his original mission when his memory came back or continue with the romance.
03:34 Ah, something nice.
03:36 I think I want to watch that.
03:37 Interesting.
03:38 You also have Legend of the Demon Cat.
03:40 Yes.
03:41 So it's also an animation.
03:46 Okay, it's an animated film.
03:49 The Demon Cat, there's a legend so they want to know what about, is it really true?
03:56 And it's a collaboration or a work between a Japanese monk and a poet.
04:02 And lastly that you will also be having is The Bravest which is also based on a true
04:05 story.
04:06 Yes, that's right.
04:07 Okay.
04:08 So The Bravest is a story about the firefighters.
04:11 So back in 2010 there was a huge explosion in an oil depot in China and the story is
04:20 more about how the heroic measures done by the firefighters, how they were able to contain
04:27 it.
04:28 Quite interesting films.
04:29 Okay, so this will all happen starting tomorrow.
04:32 You're going to have the gala tomorrow.
04:33 Yes, tomorrow.
04:34 And you're also going to be having a film showing on the gala.
04:37 Yes, it is.
04:39 So we have a special screening of the Full River Red tomorrow and this is like a comedy
04:49 but it's during the ancient times, the setting is in ancient times.
04:54 A comedy thriller, a little bit of what's going to happen tomorrow at the gala.
04:59 Aside from that, I understand that you're also going to be having related activities
05:05 more than just film, a lot more than just film.
05:08 Yes, that's right.
05:10 So we've been giving free basic Chinese painting workshops every year in the Shangri-La Plaza
05:19 Mall.
05:20 So it's going to be the same but we try to have more participants.
05:26 It's open and it's for free.
05:28 Oh, wonderful.
05:29 Nice that we can all try and experience the culture that the Chinese community has to
05:35 offer us.
05:36 Now, how would you best describe, Wai, how would you best describe the Filipino-Chinese
05:40 culture here in the Philippines?
05:43 Okay, so our Chinese culture is so similar to the Filipino culture.
05:49 It's very close-knit and we put value more on family relationship.
05:57 And that's why actually we're getting the best of both cultures here.
06:03 Yes, and we've always grown up actually with the Chinese community.
06:09 For the gala that's happening, are you going to also, as we continue to celebrate or we're
06:13 looking forward to celebrate the Chinese New Year on February 10, right, are you going
06:18 to have all of the dragon dance happening at the gala?
06:22 Yes, actually tomorrow part of the celebration there's going to be a lion and dragon dance.
06:29 And at the end of the gala night, the lion and dragon dance will lead the viewers to
06:36 go up to the cinema so they will be seeing the lion walking, going up to the escalators
06:45 and escorting everyone to watch the film.
06:47 Oh, it's going to be an interesting, fun gala night.
06:50 For all those viewers that would like to know more about the Chinese culture, where should
06:56 we go?
06:57 How can they find out more about that?
06:59 Is there a website?
07:00 Yes, in Ateneo we also offer courses on Hokkien, which is one of the popular Chinese dialects
07:10 here in the Philippines.
07:12 And we also offer other courses aside from that and special lectures.
07:18 Ateneo de Manila also hosts the Confucius Institute, so they also offer a lot of courses
07:26 from Mandarin and of course painting as well.
07:29 And that's open to everybody or must you be a student?
07:32 No, it's open to everybody.
07:33 Okay, time for me to brush up on my Chinese, you know, my opinion and what not.
07:41 Okay, so do invite our audience to come and participate and enjoy all that the Spring
07:48 Film Festival has to offer.
07:49 Thank you, Miss Christine.
07:50 So we're inviting everyone to watch the Ateneo Spring Film Festival.
07:56 So aside from not only everyone here in Metro Manila will be able to watch it, on March
08:06 it's going to be in Pavia, Iloilo, then on April it's going to be in Cebu, and then on
08:12 May it's going to be in Laguna.
08:15 That's right.
08:16 It's nice that you'll be able to bring these films, not only here in Metro Manila, which
08:21 of course we do enjoy, but you'll be able to share it with the rest of the country.
08:25 What a wonderful experience that we can all enjoy.
08:29 Thank you so much for that.
08:30 Waii, thank you for being with us here on New Day.
08:34 All the best to you.
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