NEWSFLASH

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CENTENNIAL FILMFEST TO SHOW OLD, RARE FILMS

Manila, May 11, 1998 - Several sources in the Philippines and overseas are being tapped for rare and old films which depict important events in Philippine history for exhibition in the Centennial Film Festival from June 17 to 23.

"Historical documentaries assume great importance considering the fact that Philippine independence and local cinema were born almost at the same time," Sison said. "It was during the revolution that a more subtle change took place with the arrival of the first film apparatus on our shore."

Some of these documentaries include works on Jose Rizal, Emilio Aguinaldo, Andres Bonifacio and other heroes. The films were done by the country's major film artists like the late Lamberto Avellana, national artist for film and theater.

Through the efforts of a group headed by Nick DeOcampo of Mowelfund, in charge of retrieval, restoration and reprinting of the festival films, the National Historical Institute has made available for exhibition some rare and old documentaries.

Among them are: Soul of a Fortress, Man and His Dreams, Battle Among the Clouds (Gregorio del Pilar), Fireband (Bonifacio), Dambana ng Kagitingaan, Plaridel, Rizal in Heidelberg, Aguinaldo (re-enactment), Survivor, Disenchanted (Mabini), and El Legado.

Also considered by the filmfest committee are historical films which Sison explains "serve as filmic memory of our nationhood" such as: La Campana de Baler by Avellana, Intramuros, The Wine Patriots and Memories of Old Manila by Nick DeOcampo.

Six participating theaters will exhibit no less than 30 full-length films and 12 or more documentaries during the seven-day film festival.

The filmfest is a joint project of the Philippine Centennial Commission, Presidential Management Staff and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.