GOVPH

PRESS RELEASE

Art of Filipino filmmaking in showcase with Lav Diaz and his movies in Vienna

 Photo credits: Mr. Harold Khan

14 October 2024. Internationally-acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz visited Vienna for the moderated screening of his two movies, ‘‘Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan’’ (“ Norte, the End of History”) and ‘‘Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon’’ (“From What is Before”) at the Filmmuseum Vienna and masterclass filmmaking workshops at the University of Applied Arts Vienna (Die Angewandte). 

“Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan” is a 2013 Lav Diaz film that explores the themes of crime, social class, and family, while “Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon” is a 2014 period film that explores rural life in the Philippines and the roots of societal fear and oppression. Introduction sessions to the films were moderated by the Island Tides Initiative and Filmmuseum Vienna and masterclass sessions with Lav Diaz were hosted at Die Angewandte after the film showing to learn on the creative process of the filmmaking. A cooking demonstration of adobo and sinigang was part of the second day of the masterclass at Die Angewandte, providing a taste of Filipino cuisine to the participants.  

The films were shown on 14 October (Norte) and 16 October (From What is Before). The filmmaking masterclass sessions with Lav Diaz were conducted on 15 October (1100H) and 17 October (1100H) at the Die Angewandte. His newest film Phantosmia will premiere on 18 October at the Viennale Festival. 

Ambassador Evangelina A. Bernas thanked the Island Tides Initiative for activities that foster knowledge exchange between Filipino artists and the audience in Vienna. She also thanked Filmmuseum Vienna for being the repository of Lav Diaz Films for easier access to the well-acclaimed works of the Filipino director. 

The Island Tides Initiative is the interdisciplinary Philippine Research Program on artistic and curatorial practices in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with an emphasis on the Philippines. It is launched by the Department of Artistic Strategies at the University of Applied Arts Vienna (Die Angewandte) and supported by the Philippine Embassy in Austria. END

PRESS RELEASE

Igorot Austria Continues Isneg tradition through Say-Am Festival Celebration in Vienna

12 October 2024. In commemoration of the Indigenous Peoples Month, the Igorot Organization Austria celebrated the Say-Am Festival in Vienna. The festival was celebrated through a dinner feast of Filipino food, a parade of indigenous clothing, indigenous dances of the Mountain Province, traditional games, and community singing and dancing. 

Ambassador Evangelina A. Bernas commended the Igorot Organization for passing on Mountain Province traditions to the younger generation of Filipinos in Austria. She added that the Filipino traits of hospitality and multilingual upbringing set Filipinos apart and allow them to thrive in foreign lands like Austria. 

The festival culminated with an audio visual presentation of the Mountain Province in the Philippines and a performance of a traditional Igorot dance. /END

PRESS RELEASE

Island Tides Initiative stages the story of migrant workers in Magic Maids Performance

Photo Credits: Mr. Gerard Rabara

12 October 2024. Island Tides Initiative brought Filipino choreographer and performing artist Ms. Eisa Jocson and Sri Lankan Ms. Venuri Perera for a one-night-only public performance of ‘‘Magic Maids’’ at the Tierquartier Vienna. 

Magic Maids was a theater performance by duo Ms. Jocson and Ms. Perera. The performance explored topics such as the European witch hunt, PH myths and lores, and the plight of women and migrant workers–in particular domestic workers from the Philippines and Sri Lanka.Magic Maids used different types of brooms as props, symbolizing the witch and the maid. Around 100 people attended, mostly Filipino artists and art students in Vienna, who were captivated by the witty symbolisms and matter-of-fact mentions of the artists on actual experiences of migrant workers. After the performance, the artists interacted with the audience in a discussion on the research and work in preparation for Magic Maids. 

The Island Tides Initiative is the interdisciplinary Philippine Research Program on artistic and curatorial practices in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with an emphasis on the Philippines. It is launched by the Department of Artistic Strategies at the University of Applied Arts Vienna (Die Angewandte) and supported by the Philippine Embassy in Austria. END.

Photo credits: Mr. Harold Khan