"MANILA  –  The fight is our fight."  These were the words of Fernando Josef, vice president and artistic director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), at the opening of the 2004 Pride International Film Festival (PIFF) at the CCP Dream Theater (Tanghalang Manuel Conde) in Manila.

Josef emphasised the institution's support "to uplift and empower the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender in our society, [and] to enlighten others about the issues and concerns affecting this oftentimes marginalized, if not discriminated against sector."

Festival director and organizer Severino Planas revealed that "the PIFF will donate a portion of its overall festival proceeds to our initial beneficiary Positive Action Foundation Philippines, Inc. to help in their endeavors in fighting for HIV/AIDS prevention and control, and facilitating support responses for the needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS in the Philippines." PIFF's mission is to help advocate HIV/AIDS education on awareness, prevention and care through film screenings and its other events before and during the festival.

Ulf Walden, Minister/Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Sweden, introduced the opening film, "Show Me Love," the box-office hit and award-winning debut feature of Swedish director and writer Lukas Moodysson. The film, a favorite at various international film festivals and a top-grossing film in some Nordic countries, revolves around the story of two teenage girls at the sleepy town of Amal.

Walden led the group from the Embassy of Sweden composed of Drasko Markovic, Johan Egger, Thomas Benden, Philippa Mandry, Karolina Huss, Elizabeth Hasselbom, Christopher Boddington, and Nayoka Martinez.

Also present were Lars Loberg, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Royal Norwegian Embassy; Bernard Regnauld-Fabre, Political Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of France; Martin Macalintal, Audiovisual Correspondent of the Embassy of France; Jose Ma. Fons, Deputy for Cultural Affairs of Instituto Cervantes; Luis Montero of the Embassy of Spain; Aki Hakanen of the Embassy of Finland; Quezon City councilor Mike Planas; CHED Commissioner Manuel Punzal; Joshua Formentera, president and executive director of PAFPI; Ingrid Holfelt, David Johnson, Francisco Tornieri, and Sophia Cho of the Asian Development Bank;

Katsui Kaya and Hiroyuki Ikemoto of IOM; Sid Gomez Hildawa, CCP visual , literary, and media arts department manager; Dramatis Personae artistic director Lito Casaje and artist-in-residence Ronnie Bernardo; columnist Jose Ricardo Isaac; designer Rajo Laurel; Jane Albito, Regional Manager of Entertainment Imaging, Kodak Philippines, Ltd.; Digna Roxas-Arce, VP for Marketing of Arce Dairy; Elain Uy, marketing associate of Yehey.com; Jonathan Vizcarra of Premier Wine & Spirits, Inc.; Anne Bavarel of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP); Vicky Belarmino and Ruth Pequierola of the CCP media arts division; and Maxie Evangelista and Hero Reyes of the Society of Film Archivists (SOFIA).

Three short films, namely the HIV/AIDS educational film "Just Like You Imagined" from the New York-based Scenarios USA, "Target Audience," and "Lipstick," preceded the opening film.

PIFF is an international premiere gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual and HIV/AIDS themed digital film and video festival that presents for the first time in the country never-been-seen shorts, documentaries, animations and features from countries like Lebanon, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Italy, Switzerland, Brazil, Canada, USA, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, and the Philippines.

The festival is sponsored by the CCP, Kodak, Skyy Vodka, the Embassy of Sweden, the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the Canadian Embassy, Warner Music Philippines, Ad-Man Resources, Inc., Yehey.com, Sifra Interiors and Objects, Magic 89.9 FM, 99.5 RT FM, and 103.5 K-Lite FM.

The closing night on August 28 will be highlighted by the presentation of the "Judy" Award to Madonna and the "Lifetime Achievement and Distinction" Award to Sir Ian Mckellen before the screening of the closing film "Mambo Italiano" by Emile Gaudreault on August 28.

25 August, 2004