THE PHILIPPINES BRINGS RESTORED FILIPINO CLASSICS TO IL CINEMA RITROVATO

BOLOGNA, ITALY – The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) participated in the 40th Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna, Italy last June 20 to 28, 2026, highlighting the country’s ongoing efforts to preserve and celebrate Philippine cinema on the international stage. 

The main highlights of the Philippine participation were the sold-out world premiere of two (2) newly restored Filipino classics: 

Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang by National Artist Lino Brocka was presented as an Official Selection under the Cinema Libero section. The film was restored by the FDCP’s Philippine Film Archive and L'Immagine Ritrovata, in partnership with Carlotta Films and Janus Films/The Criterion Collection. 

Sangandaan (Sister Stella L.) by Mike de Leon was presented as an Official Selection under the Recovered & Restored section. Its restoration was completed by the FDCP’s Philippine Film Archive, L'Immagine Ritrovata, and Mike de Leon, in collaboration with Regal Films.

(From left to right: Leo P. Katigbak, Cecilia Cenciarelli, Vincent Paul-Boncour)
 

Leo P. Katigbak (FDCP-PFA) introduced both premieres, joined by Davide Pozzi (L'Immagine Ritrovata) for Sangandaan (Sister Stella L.) and by Cecilia Cenciarelli (Il Cinema Ritrovato Co-Director) and Vincent Paul-Boncour (Carlotta Films) for Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang.

Highlighting the festival’s enduring appreciation for Lino Brocka’s work, Il Cinema Ritrovato Co-Director Cecilia Cenciarelli remarked, “We will screen any Lino Brocka film, any day of the week. We feel he has a home here.”

 

The National Artist was also honored at Cinema Modernissimo, where his name is engraved on one of the theater’s seats as a tribute to his lasting influence on world cinema.

(From left to right: Leo P. Katigbak, Vincent Paul-Boncour, Josh Siegel, Davide Pozzi)

The festival also paid tribute to acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Mike de Leon with a special panel honoring his life and legacy, held at the Auditorium DAMSLab in Piazzetta Pier Paolo Pasolini on June 23, 2026.

The discussion featured Josh Siegel of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Vincent Paul-Boncour of Carlotta Films, Leo P. Katigbak of the FDCP’s Philippine Film Archive (PFA), and Davide Pozzi of L’Immagine Ritrovata, who reflected on De Leon’s body of work and their shared experiences in preserving and promoting his films. 

On June 25, 2026, the FDCP’s Philippine Film Archive (PFA) formalized the repatriation of ‘Diwata ng Karagatan’ (1936) from the Royal Film Archive of Belgium (CINEMATEK). Present during the turnover  were Bruno Mestdagh, Tomas Leyers, Leo P. Katigbak and Julian Eudela. 

The film’s existence was first brought to the attention of former PFA head Dominic Bekaert and filmmaker Lav Diaz. Unaware of this information, filmmaker, historian, and film archivist Nick Deocampo independently rediscovered the film during his personal search for Filipino films overseas and immediately sought the assistance of the FDCP’s Philippine Film Archive (PFA) to facilitate its preservation and eventual repatriation.

Now undergoing restoration under the FDCP’s Philippine Film Archive (PFA), Diwata ng Karagatan marks another significant milestone in Philippine cinema as one of the few surviving pre-war Filipino feature films. Its restoration and eventual public screening will further enrich the country’s film heritage. 

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