Following the opening of the Active Vista International Human Rights Film Festival last February 2016 in commemoration of the 30^th anniversary of the EDSA Revolution, the festival continues to put spotlight on human rights issues through the Active Vista Presents: A Dutch-Filipino Film Festival. Celebrating the Anniversary of 65 years of Diplomatic Relations and 150 years of Consular Ties of the Netherlands and the Philippines, DAKILA, an artist collective organizing the Active Vista Human Rights Film Festival, in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, presents a Dutch-Filipino Film Festival showcasing the best of Dutch and Filipino films. Reflecting the strong commitment the two nations share to promote human rights, this festival will inspire sustainable innovations to address the global challenges ahead.

The Dutch-Filipino Film Festival opened last July 26, Tuesday, at the Shang Cineplex in Manila while the festival kicked off in Davao City today, July 30, Saturday, 5:00 pm at the Abreeza Mall. Her Excellency Marion Derckx of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands graced the festival in Davao City.

According to Ambassador Derckx, “This is the first Filipino-Dutch Film Festival in the Philippines and we are proud to be organizing this as part of Active Vista. The theme we have chosen to celebrate our anniversary is about sustainability. How can the Philippine-Netherlands partnership contribute to a sustainable world that promotes human dignity? We need innovation. And inspiration – which this film festival hopes to bring.”

The festival in Davao opened with the screening of two films, EEN DAG IN ‘T JAAR (12 Months in 1 Day) by Margot Schaap and MISS BULALACAO by Ara Chawdhury. The Dutch film, 12 Months in 1 Day, won the Special Newcomer Award and FIPRESCI (Int. Film Critics) Award at the IFF Mannheim- Heidelberg while the Bisaya film, Miss Bulalacao, won Best Screenplay at the Cinema One Originals Film Festival and the Best First Feature Award from the Young Critics Circle.

DAKILA Davao Managing Director, Jessica Madrazo, said, “Here in Mindanao, we are faced with immense challenges – issues on environment, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, hunger, human trafficking, conflict and poverty. The films screened in this festival present these social issues beyond headlines and statistics. We hope that through this joint endeavor by Dakila and the Dutch Embassy of presenting socially relevant themed films in Davao City, we shall be able to inspire audiences to be more involved into contributing in bringing about genuine social change.”

The Dutch-Filipino Film Screenings is a special section of the Active Vista International Human Rights Film Festival. The festival program in Davao City includes the roadshow for the “Bayani Ba ‘To forum: Heroism X Pagibig” which brings discussions on heroism through the new historical film, Hermano Puli by Gil Portes to 5 schools in Davao City – Ateneo de Davao University, Philippine Women’s College, Holy Cross of Davao College, University of Mindanao and University of the Philippines Mindanao.

In a statement at the Festival Opening of Active Vista, Netherlands Ambassador to the Philippines Marion Derckx, said, “Our partnership with DAKILA is a testament to the strong collaboration between Filipino and Dutch artists and filmmakers. Through our lineup of films, we aim to bring to light the global realities of pressing issues such as human rights and the need for innovative solutions to sustain developments in this field.”

Bannering the theme, Truth X Imagination, Active Vista Festival Director, Leni Velasco, said, “Dakila’s partnership with the Dutch Embassy has always been forged by two core elements – human rights and innovations. There can be no innovations with out creativity. Thus, in Active Vista, we invoke the power of art, of cinema, in enlightening and empowering the public on social concerns. The power of cinema lies on its ability to mirror and hammer society by tapping into our consciousness. Sometimes, It is in encountering the imaginary that social truths become amplified—this is “truth X Imagination. Through the Dutch-Filipino Film Festival, we invite the public to surrender to the logic of dreams with hope that the absurdity of imagination and fantasy allow us to tap into our humanity and churns out our genuine concern for human rights and dignity towards the social change we all aspire.”

A cocktail reception was held prior to the screenings for guests and partners of the festival. Visayan filmmaker of Miss Bulalacao, Ara Chawdhury, introduced her film to Davao audiences. Hermano Puli lead actor Aljur Abrenica also graced the festival by speaking to students of the Philippine Women’s College and the Holy Cross of Davao College during the forums of the festival. The festival shall run in Davao City till August 5 and will travel to key regional cities nationwide with screenings in Manila, Iloilo, Cebu and Baguio.

After the opening of the Dutch-Filipino Film Festival in Abreeza Mall, free screenings will be held at the FDCP Davao Cinematheque from August 2-5, 2016 (Tuesday to Friday). Below are the screening schedules:

August 2, 2016, Tuesday

3:30 PM A FAMILY AFFAIR by Tom Fassaert

5:30 PM PUROK 7 by Carlo Obispo

August 3, 2016, Wednesday

3:30 PM Dutch-Filipino Short Films

5:30 PM THOSE WHO FEEL THE FIRE BURNING by Morgan Knibbe

August 4, 2016, Thursday

3:30 PM A HAUNTING HISTORY by Ilse van Velzen/Femke van Velzen

5:30 PM EDNA by Ronnie Lazaro

August 5, 2016, Friday

3:30 PM SHIFT by Siege Ledesma

5:30 PM BOYS by Mischa Kamp

Active Vista dares to inspire a revolution of the minds of its audience by bringing together truth and imagination, advocacy and art, and empowerment and entertainment on the big screen. Active Vista is organized by DAKILA, an organization of artists and advocates building a movement of heroism towards social transformation. Dakila fosters citizenship by building one’s capacity to make change; organizes communities to be part of the movement for change, and takes on advocacy campaigns to bring about strategic actions that make real change. It was founded by multi-awarded writer and journalist Lourd de Veyra, musician Noel Cabangon, veteran actor Ronnie Lazaro, Parokya ni Edgar bassist Buwi Meneses and comedian Tado (+).

The Active Vista International Human Rights Film festival is co-presented by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the University of the Philippines Film Institute, Movies that Matter, and civil society organizations such as the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, the Ateneo Human Rights Center, the Alternative Law Groups, Metro Manila Pride and the Filipino Freethinkers.

In Davao City, the festival is co-presented by the Communication Majors’ Alliance of Davao, SWITO Corporation, Sine K’Mindanawon, Pasalidahay, UP Salida, JCI and the Ateneo Film Circle.

For the complete festival opening program and film synopses, visit www.activevista.ph. For press inquiries and to confirm attendance for the festival opening, you may contact Melissa Barrera at lahingdakiladavao@gmail.com or at mobile number +639224093406.

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