By Roy Mabasa
Portuguese film students, film enthusiasts and members of the local media joined the Filipino community in celebrating the centennial year of Philippine cinema through a conference and film screening in Lisbon.
Film Director and Philippine National Artist Kidlat Tahimik (seated, rightmost) together with Cinemateca Portuguesa Director José Manuel Costa (standing, leftmost), Film Programmer Antonio Rodriguez (seated, second from left), and Professor Patrick Campos (seated, second from right) during the Conference on Philippine Cinema at Cinemateca in Lisbon, Portugal (Carlos Sampaio photo via DFA / MANILA BULLETIN)
Held recently at Cinemateca Portuguesa in the Portuguese capital, the conference gave an in-depth look at Philippine cinema, not only from a historical and analytical perspective but also on the developments of the Philippine independent film industry.
The Philippine, delegation led by University of the Philippines (UP) Professor and Film Institute Director Patrick Campos, gave an informative presentation entitled “100 Years in 100 Slides: A Survey on Philippine History” where he discussed the evolution of Philippine cinema and highlighted key historical events and phenomena in Philippine films.
In his talk, Campos also gave his reflection on the 100 years of Philippine cinema and how the history of the local cinema can teach the next generation of Filipino filmmakers.
Philippine National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik, for his part, delivered a brief introduction on his critically acclaimed film Mababangong Bangungot (Perfumed Nightmares), the story of a young Filipino jeepney driver infatuated the idea of space travel and the West who gradually becomes disillusioned after living in Paris. Originally released in 1977, the said movie was Kidlat Tahimik’s groundbreaking film.
The Conference on Philippine Cinema was made possible through the support of former Senator and now House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda as part of her contribution to the Philippine Embassy’s cultural diplomacy initiative, in collaboration with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and Cinemateca Portuguesa – Museu do Cinema.