VIENNA--The Viennale, Vienna's international film festival, takes place from October 17 until 29. As in previous years, the festival will again feature a bold variety of exciting and diverse film entries from all over the world with film screenings at six different cinemas located in the city's historic centre.

This year's main program, a selection of new feature films and documentaries, covers approximately 140 entries. It offers an extraordinarily wide range of cinematic forms and countries of origin. 

RP contribution

The only Philippine contribution to the Viennale is Khvan De la Cruz’ "Maynila sa Kuku ng Dilim." Khvan is personally attending the film festival.

During the first screening of his film on October 19, 2008 at the Urania Cinema, he was gladly welcomed by the Austrian viewers. He introduced the film and even rendered a corresponding song for the film.

Khvan’s film is all about a sturdy man with a dark expression. He follows a delicate beauty, clad in innocent white clothes, through the streets of Manila. In his attempt to keep her away from the trash and vice of the metropolis, he becomes a murderer. Sometimes he simply stands around with his arms folded, observing people in the streets and unleashing tirades of hatred in the form of an inner monologue. Yet at the same time, he repeatedly proceeds to horrible crimes, which he considers himself chosen to commit.

Lino Brocka 
 
The title of Khavn's most recent film refers to Lino Brocka's 1975 movie "Manila in the Claws of Light," with which it shares the theme of search and danger as well as Bembol Roco in the role of the suffering and loving avenger.

In addition, Khavn incorporates Filipino film history with the montage of excerpts from Roco's work as an actor, and the resulting repetition of motifs gives Maynila in the Fangs of Darkness the air of a social parable.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Khvan mentioned that he is also scheduled to attend the film festival in Czech Republic and in Copenhagen. Through his participation in worldwide film Festivals, he hopes to solicit more support for the independent filmers in the Philippines.

Tributes in Viennale

The two tributes of this year's Viennale are: "Tribute to Bob Dylan", an attempt to establish an association between Dylan's work and the cinema, and "Tribute to Werner Schroeter", an opportunity to get to know one of the most unusual and most radical film makers of our times.

The Viennale Zentrale under the roof top of Urania serves both as the festival's central meeting point as well as the location for a number of events. It will host discussions, lectures, readings and sessions with film makers and it will provide the ideal place for parties, concerts, music events and various live acts.