After its international premiere at the 16th Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, France last year, National Artist for Film Lino Brocka’s neo-noir crime classic, “Jaguar” (restored) comes back home to the Philippines to open the 7th Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival.
With opening ceremonies to be held on Tuesday, September 23 at Gateway Cinema 5, this will be the Asian premiere of the 4K restored version of “Jaguar”, thanks to the collaborative efforts of FDCP’s Philippine Film Archive (PFA) division and Cité de Mémoire. The cast and crew have been invited to grace the event for a special talkback session after the screening.
Released in 1979, “Jaguar” made history as the first Filipino film to be nominated for the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival. It tells the story of Poldo, a security guard who becomes entangled in crime while protecting a wealthy playboy, confronting moral dilemmas and tragic consequences amid class disparity and the destructive pursuit of fame.
Inspired by a news story from the book “Reportage on Crime” by National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, “Jaguar” is written by Jose F. Lacaba and National Artist for Film Ricky Lee. It stars award-winning actors Phillip Salvador and Amy Austria.
Sinag Maynila celebrates the Philippine Film Industry Month by featuring the restored works of our National Artists as part of the festival’s “Pambansang Alagad ng Sining” section, to be screened in select Metro Manila cinemas together with the competing films.
This section will also include the digitally restored 1978 film “Atsay”, directed by Eddie Garcia, starring National Artist for Film Nora Aunor. “Atsay” was restored in 2022 through the efforts of FDCP’s Film Restoration program spearheaded by its Philippine Film Archive (PFA) division.
On the inclusion of the “Pambansang Alagad ng Sining” section: “As we give a spotlight to the Sinag Maynila finalists, Filipino filmmakers who are either first-timers, veterans, amateurs, or professionals, we also highlight the important works of our National Artists.
“And we thank the Film Development Council of the Philippines for their effort to restore and preserve these masterpieces which allows movie goers to see these films in all their splendor and glory, as it was meant to be seen — sa pinilakang tabing,” says Sinag Maynila Founder, Wilson Tieng.
This by-invitation screening event is co-presented by the Philippine Film Archive (PFA), Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA), Solar Pictures, and Gateway Cineplex.
With over 300 submissions, the Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival 2025 has narrowed down the finalists to 5 feature films, 15 documentaries, 41 short films, with 36 films from students. Acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza is the festival director.
The 61 films in competition will be screened for one week from September 24 to 30, at the official screening venue partners: SM Mall of Asia, SM Fairview, Robinsons Manila, Robinsons Antipolo, Trinoma, Market! Market!, and Gateway Cineplex. Ticket prices are at P250 per admission.
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