PH Embassy in Berlin Screens Indie Film “Verdict”, Promote Discussion on Violence Against Women and Children

BERLIN 30 March 2022 – Philippine Embassy in Berlin and the Filipino Community in Berlin conducted a film screening of the indie film “Verdict”, written and directed by Raymund Rivas Gutierrez,  on 27 March 2022 at the Katolische Kirchengemeinde Heilig Geist (Catholic Parish of the Holy Spirit) in Berlin to highlight issues affecting women in observance of the 2022 Philippine National Women’s Month.

The film, which focuses on the search for justice by a battered wife, received the Orizzonti Special Jury Prize at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival.

The Embassy’s Gender and Development (GAD) Officer Mary Luck Hicarte provided the context that violence against women and children is rooted in gender inequality or the uneven distribution of power among men and women in a society. “Bakit ba kailangan ng gender equality? Dahil kapag hindi pantay ang tingin sa lahat ng kasarian, kapag hindi ginagalang ang karapatang pantao ng bawa’t isa, iyan ang ugat ng maraming mga isyu sa lipunan, kabilang na ang karahasan laban sa kababaihan” she said.

Charge d’affaires Lillibeth Pono called on the members of the community to be vigilant against cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) and rallied their support for women victims of VAWC, regardless of their nationality.

The Chaplain of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Berlin, Fr. Tranquilino de Ocampo, SVD, provided insights on the sociological underpinnings of this phenomenon and enriched the discussion by drawing on his wealth of pastoral experience.

Around 40 members of the Filipino community who participated in the event had varied reactions, with some moved to tears by the indie film, and expressed appreciation for the activity. END

SMAK!  – 1^st Stage Production of Filipino Artist Khavn de la Cruz to  Premiere in Berlin

Filipino artist, filmmaker, musician and performer Khavn dela Cruz, in partnership with the German Federal Cultural Foundation, is set to premiere his first cross-genre stage production, “SMAK! SuperMacho AntiKristo – A Headless 100-Act Opera” at Berlin´s most iconic theater, “Volksbühne”, on 13 April 2022.  The show will run until end of April 2022.  

According to the German Federal Cultural Foundation, SMAK! is a reflection of the artistic theory and practice of the great theatre avant-gardist of the 19th-century  Alfred Jarry, juxtaposed with a literary reanimation of the unfinished novel “Makamisa” by Philippine national hero José Rizal.

The production features a mix of international artists which boasts of Filipino talents from its scriptwriters Khavn, Douglas Candano and Homer Novicio to its cast members which include singer-actor Bituin Escalante, filmmaker-cartoonist Rox Lee, singer-composer Bullet Dumas, theater actors Bong Cabrera and King Jon, and its stage and costume designer, Leeroy New. The script is also co-written by German author and musician Brezel Göring (Stereo Total) and stars the German actress Lilith Stangenberg, with artistic direction by Anna Heesen.

During the welcome dinner hosted by the Philippine Embassy for the production team, Charge d’Affaires,a.i. Lillibeth V. Pono expressed admiration for the recognition accorded in Germany to  the Filipino artists, and lauded the strong partnership between the Philippines and Germany in the field of culture and arts. END