(stylized as PELICULA>PELIKULA) is a Spanish film festival held in Manila every October by the Instituto Cervantes de Manila, in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain to the Philippines. Created in 2002, this event shows award-winning Spanish and Latin American films.
Due to the PelÃÂcula's yearly success, the festival made big changes during its eighth season in 2009. The duration of the festival was lengthened, and the number of venues was increased from one to three venues to accommodate more films. The festival's venues include the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Greenbelt Cinemas, and the De La Salle- College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts.
Aside from film screenings, supplementary cultural events were also organized based on the yearly theme of the festival. Photographic exhibits, cinema workshops, music and dance performances add color to the film festival. These events do not only showcase the classical and contemporary Spanish culture to the Filipinos, but they also create a bridge between the Filipino and Spanish cultures. Past events include Oscar F. Orengo's photographic exhibit of portraits of fort-four of the Philippines' greatest film directors, seminars on film directing by Max Lemcke and Oscar Cardenas, and performances by Spain's leading vertical dance company called B612, award-winning flamenco guitarist Oscar Herrero, and piano and violin duet named Duo Rivera, just to name a few.
The Spanish Film Festival held annually in the Philippines each October showcases a diverse selection of contemporary Spanish and Latin American films, celebrating the richness of Spanish cinema and culture. The festival features a wide range of genres, from dramas and comedies to documentaries and short films, highlighting the work of prominent and emerging filmmakers from Spain and the Spanish-speaking world.
Each year, the festival offers audiences the chance to experience both critically acclaimed and commercially successful films, often including award-winning titles from prestigious festivals such as Cannes, San Sebastián, and Goya Awards. Popular films from past editions have included:
The PelÃÂcula Choice Award, established in 2004, allows viewers to vote for their favorite film. Below is the list of films chosen as winners by the audience.