Pop Culture

[Guide] 1st Pacific Alliance Movie Nights at Shangri-La Plaza

September 20, 2022

Seven films from Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Singapore are screening for free on Sept. 21-25!

Filipinos have of course long been exposed to mainstream Hollywood productions, but film is not limited to global releases and big-name-led blockbusters. There are many more gems from different parts of the world that widen one’s perspective and tell insightful and poignant stories that resonate with the rest of us – truly proving that films cut across borders and boundaries.

Shangri-La Plaza, a strong supporter of the cinematic arts, is bringing a new film festival to the metro. For the first time, it is hosting the Pacific Alliance Movie Nights, in partnership with the Embassies of Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Singapore in the Philippines and the Film Development Council of the Philippines, screening for free at the Red Carpet at the Shang on September 21-25.

This film fest features seven films from the Pacific Alliance member states Chile, Colombia, and Mexico and from its first associate state Singapore. The Pacific Alliance is a Latin American economic bloc that mainly aims to reduce trade barriers among member states with the Philippines as one of its observer states.

1st Pacific Alliance Movie Nights Film Lineup

Arráncame la vida (Tear this Heart Out)
2008 | Mexico

A young woman named Catalina married an old prominent politician who turned out to be ruthless and unfaithful. Set in the 1930s, it was Mexico’s official submission for the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Cuando los hijos regresan (The Kids are Back)
2017 | Mexico

This comedy movie is about a happily retired couple who must face an unpredicted menace—their adult children are moving back home.

El Piedra (The Stone)
2018 | Colombia

This Rafael Martínez Moreno film is about an unsuccessful boxer who gets paid to lose fights and finds himself taking care of a boy who claimed to be his son.

Chiribiquete
2017 | Colombia

This documentary film follows the fascinating journey of Colombian archaeologist and anthropologist Carlos Castaño, who leads an expedition to the Chiribiquete mountain range to showcase what makes this paradise a true jewel of the Amazon.

Calzones Rotos (Family Secrets)
2018 | Chile

A dark comedy set in rural Chile in the 1950s about a family that’s about to uncover their dying matriarch’s old secrets after she confessed to killing her husband.

Mis hermanos sueñan despiertos (My Brothers Dream Awake)
2021 | Chile

A feature film about teenage brothers Ángel and Franco who are living in a juvenile center where their dreams feel out of reach, until a rebellious young man arrives and gives them hope by offering them a possible yet risky escape.

MIS HERMANOS SUEÑAN DESPIERTOS (My Brothers Dream Awake), by Claudia Huaiquimilla – TRAILER W/ENG SUBS from MEIKINCINE ENTERTAINMENT on Vimeo.

Motel Acacia
2019 | Singapore

A horror film that centers around JC, a young half-Filipino man who’s mentored by his tyrannical father to take over their family business, a creepy motel that takes in illegal immigrants.

Admission & Screening Schedule

Screenings are FREE on a first-come, first-served basis. All films will be shown in their original language with English subtitles.

DateFilm TitleScreening
Sept 21 / WedArráncame la vida (Tear this Heart Out)7:30 pm
Sept 22 / ThursCalzones Rotos (Family Secrets)2:30 pm
Chiribiquete4:45 pm
Motel Acacia6:45 pm
Sept 23 / FriMis hermanos sueñan despiertos (My Brothers Dream Awake)3:00 pm
El Piedra (The Stone)5:00 pm
Cuando los hijos regresan (The Kids are Back)7:30 pm
Sept 24 / SatChiribiquete1:00 pm
Arráncame la vida (Tear this Heart Out)3:00 pm
Calzones Rotos (Family Secrets)5:20 pm
Motel Acacia7:30 pm
Sept 25 / SunMis hermanos sueñan despiertos (My Brothers Dream Awake)1:30 pm
Cuando los hijos regresan (The Kids are Back)3:45 pm
El Piedra (The Stone)5:40 pm
Arráncame la vida (Tear this Heart Out)7:30 pm

Visit the Shangri-La Plaza official Facebook page for updates.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.