Cine Europa highlights PH-EU shared values through film
By Andrea B. Ramos
Cine Europa, the longest-running European film festival in the Philippines, returns for its 29th edition with a strong lineup of films that explore social realities, personal struggles, and shared human experiences through the lens of European cinema.
At the festival’s opening, European Union Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Massimo Santoro emphasized how cinema continues to bridge cultures and encourage meaningful dialogue between Europe and the Philippines.
“Cine Europa continues to be more than just a film festival in a country as culturally vibrant and diverse as the Philippines. Cine Europa has become a platform for dialogue — a celebration of voices, perspectives, and shared human experiences,” Ambassador Santoro said.
“Through cinema, we bring Europe closer to Filipino audiences, showcasing not only our diversity but also the values that connect us.”
He added that in a world facing increasingly complex challenges, films remain powerful tools for empathy and understanding.
“In a time where the world faces complex challenges, cinema recalls our shared humanity and the importance of empathy, dialogue, and understanding,” he said.
Opening this year’s festival was the Czech Republic’s historical drama Waves (2024), directed by Jiří Mádl.
Set during the 1968 Prague Spring and the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia, Waves follows journalists from Czechoslovak Radio who continue broadcasting truthful reports despite political intimidation and threats. Told through the perspective of technician Tomáš Havlík, the film explores themes of morality, courage, media responsibility, and the fight for freedom of expression.
Czech Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Karel Hejč highlighted the importance of cultural exchanges such as Cine Europa, noting how films can encourage reflection, critical thinking, and historical awareness.
“The film reminds us how quickly freedom of expression can become a threat to those who rule by force, and that this freedom is never abstract but a fragile right that must be defended again and again,” Ambassador Hejč said.
“It stays alive through people who dare to speak, write, broadcast, and create even when doing so is difficult, uncomfortable, or even dangerous.”
The ambassador also stressed the continuing relevance of the film’s message in today’s global climate.
“It resonates strongly in our own time when we see repeated attempts to silence independent voices, control information, and deny nations their right to choose their own future,” he added.
Admission to Cine Europa is free on a first-come, first-served basis. Screenings at Shangri-La Plaza’s Red Carpet Cinema run from May 28 to June 3.
The festival will also travel to other parts of the country, including:
Tacloban — June 11 to 15
Cagayan de Oro — June 29 to July 4
Closing his remarks, Ambassador Hejč expressed hope that the film would inspire audiences to reflect on both history and the present, while recognizing the importance of defending truth and freedom of expression.
“I hope that tonight’s tense and emotional story about courage, betrayal, and the power of a single voice in a moment when history is being rewritten will inspire conversations about history, the present, and above all, the responsibility we all share to defend the freedom to speak, create, and tell the truth,” he said.
“And may the waves thus created travel far, connecting Europe and the Philippines through our shared values and mutual respect.”
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