Argentina shares its passion for their favorite sport to the Philippines via the 3rd Argentine Film Festival.

Basketball is to Filipinos as football is to Argentines.

This sport is at the heart of this Latin country’s culture and is an enormous source of pride. We may not know much about it but you do not need to be a fan to appreciate it when you head over at the Shang Cineplex Cinema 4 from May 11-14, 2017.

The 3rd Argentine Film Festival has six (6) films about the beloved sport with universal stories that will surely touch your hearts, make you laugh, think and be inspired.

A tribute to friendship, love, and humor, Papeles en el viento (Papers in the wind / 2015 / Comedy / 98 min) follows three long-time friends—Fernando, Mauricio and El Ruso—who are recovering from the loss of their comrade, El Mono, while trying to figure out how to take care of the daughter he left behind. They decide to recover a big investment El Mono had made when he had brought a soccer player who was supposed to become a star.

Metegol (Underdogs / 2013 / 107 min) is an animated film with a whole lot of heart, laughter, and a bit of magic. Amadeo is a shy but talented foosball player and when the characters from his favorite foosball game magically come to life, they embark on a wild adventure and confront the most fearsome of rivals on a pitch.

Meanwhile, Mujeres con pelotas (Goals for girls: a story of women with ball / 2014 / Documentary / 65 min) investigates the neglected world of women’s football in Argentina. Here, women players reveal how prejudice, and complete abandonment by local authorities, conspire against a sport that has grown worldwide. These women play and fight on and off the field to ensure that the words of the FIFA president would come true: “The future of football belongs to women.”

In Hijos nuestros (Easy ball / 2015 / Drama / 87 min), Hugo, who was once a professional soccer player, now lives a dull life as an overweight cab driver in Buenos Aires. But when Silvia and her son Julian hop into his cab one day, Hugo’s luck suddenly changes. He doesn’t know it yet, but life may be giving him a second chance.

Speaking of second chances, Patón Bonassiolle, 35 years of age and captain of a local football club, realizes that his career is nearing its end without him even achieving fame and fortune. El 5 de los Talleres (In The Five / 2014 / Comedy, Drama / 101 min), Patón will embark in a journey to fulfill a new purpose in life.

In Buenos Aires, historic tensions swell not only between teams Boca Juniors and River Plate, but also between working and ruling class in the days preceding the big game. Through a cultural lens, Argentine futbol club (2009 / Documentary / 98 min) provides an intimate look into the football club, its players and its fans, to reveals its resonance and impact throughout the nation.

Finally, Argentina y su fábrica de fútbol (Argentina and its football industry / 2007 / Documentary / 52 min) deals with the world of children and their early hard work before joining professional football teams.

Admission

Admission is FREE on first come first serve basis. All films will be shown in original version with English subtitle

Festival Screening Schedule (Shang Cineplex Cinema 4)

The 3rd Argentine Film Festival is made possible by the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in the Philippines, Shang Cineplex and the Film Development Council of Philippines.

Follow the film festival at www.facebook.com/ArgentinaEnFilipinas. You may also contact Shang at 370-2597 to 98 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage. Use #ArgentineFilmFestShang when posting about this year’s event.