Filipino film festival was inaugurated amid a gathering of film connoisseurs and eminent personalities at the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce theatre, Chennai on February 18.

The 10-day film festival is being jointly organised by the Madras Film Society, Embassy of the Philippines, New Delhi, and the International Cine-Appreciation Foundation (ICAF).

Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge d’ Affairs of the Embassy of the Philippines in New Delhi Maria H Bugarin inaugurated the festival by lighting the holy lamp. She said that, “this festival would open a window to understand the culture of the eastern neighbour of India”. She also opined that such a festival was the best way to depict the culture and lifestyle of the Filipino people to India that has a large film industry to its credit.

G. Santhanam, Tamil Development, Religious Endowment and Information Secretary, talked about the similarities between India and the Philippines. He also spoke about the measures taken by the State Government to motivate the film industry.

Director Bharathirajaa commended the efforts of the Madras Film Society and ICAF in organising such festivals more often. He hailed the efforts, as such efforts pave the way for a cultural exchange.

Sumathi Ravichandran, Director and Head of Branch Secretariat, Ministry of External Affairs, explained the similarities between the films of the two countries, while president of the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce KRG expressed his desire to screen Tamil films in the Philippines.

Actor Swarnamalya, ICAF president S. Kannan and Madras Film Society general secretary G. Thangaraj too participated in the programme and addressed the gathering.

The festival, which is on till February 27, will screen twelve films.