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SEAPAVAA Newsletter |
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Country Update: PHILIPPINES CCP reactivates film retrieval and restoration program 
Noted Filipino film director, Lino Brocka. In the Philippines, the move to have copies of outstanding cinematic works received a boost in May 1997, when the Board of Trustees of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) approved a request from its Film and Broadcast Unit for a supplemental budget to gradually reactivate its Film Retrieval and Restoration Program. Top priority was the retrieval of Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, a film by noted Filipino film director, Lino Brocka. The only extant copy of this film in the country had badly deteriorated and cannot be copied. The CCP also felt a renewed interest in Lino Brocka's films when he was being considered for the National Artist Award. Unfortunately, most of his films could no longer be viewed since these have been lost to the elements. Through the efforts of Agustin "Hammy" Sotto, CCP archival consultant for the project and SEAPAVAA council member, a copy of the film Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang was located at the British Film Institute (BFI), where many of Brocka's film negatives are stored. Hammy initiated talks with BFI and sought the assistance of Mr. Pierre Rissient, who was instrumental in having Brocka's works deposited at the BFI for preservation. Pierre endorsed the request of CCP for a copy of this important Brocka film after a clearance was secured from Mr. Danilo Brocka, representing the family of the late artist. The National Film and Television Archive (NFTVA) of the BFI, committed to making its collections as accessible as possible, produced and forwarded a new print of Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang to the CCP where, on June 8, 1998 as part of the country's centennial celebration, the film was again seen on the wide screen for the first time after so many years.
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