Cinemalaya axes premiere of 'Lost Sabungeros' for 'safety of all involved'

Cinemalaya has pulled the plug on the first public screening of Lost Sabungeros due to "security concerns."

Organizers of the local independent film festival announced the cancellation on Sunday, Aug. 4, via social media. "Due to safety concerns, the screenings of Lost Sabungeros on August 8, 2024 and August 9, 2024 have been cancelled," the statement read. 

PhilSTAR L!fe reached out to Cinemalaya PR director Glaiza Lee and was given the same statement posted online. The festival did not disclose what "safety concerns" prompted the cancelation. Instead, they noted, "Our paramount concern is the safety and well-being of our audience, staff, and all involved. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time. Thank you for your continued support."

Senior AVP for Public Affairs LJ Castel on his Facebook said all threats must be taken seriously, but also noted that canceling the film is a victory for those who sought to silence them.

"Lahat ng banta, dapat sineseryoso. Pero ang hindi pagtuloy sa screening ng Lost Sabungeros sa Cinemalaya ay pagkapanalo ng inihahasik na takot," he wrote. "Halos dalawang taon naming binuo ang docu-film na ito at tinanggap na bahagi nito ang panganib. Ngunit sinuong ng produksyon ang peligro, para siyasatin ang pagkawala ng mahigit tatlumpung mga sabungero."

Castel continued that as journalists and ordinary citizens, we shouldn't just ignore the mysterious disappearance of people.

"Ipikit mo lang ang iyong mga mata at isipin mong sa susunod na tilaok ng manok hindi mo na makikita ang mahal o pamilya mo, anong mararamdaman mo? Sa hindi pagtuloy ng Lost Sabungeros sa Cinemalaya, sino nga ba ang tunay na pinrotektahan mula sa mga banta? Sino nga ba ang totoong nailigtas sa anumang isisiwalat ng dokyu? Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. Hindi na malaya. Hindi na rin independent," Castel continued.

The film, produced by GMA Public Affairs and GMA Pictures, was initially set for a two-day screening at Ayala Malls Manila Bay cinemas on Aug. 8 at 5 p.m. and Aug. 9 at 5:30 p.m.

According to Lee, Lost Sabongero's Aug. 8 schedule will be replaced by Julius Lumiqued's The Wedding Dance, which tells the story of a Kalinga couple set in 1942. The schedule was initially set to be filled by Balota, another film produced by GMA Pictures that stars Marian Rivera. Meanwhile, Lost Sabungeros' supposed Aug. 9 screening has not been filled out.

Lost Sabungeros is directed by GMA Public Affairs executive producer and director Bryan Kristoffer Brazil. According to GMA, the docu "aims to investigate and find answers regarding the disappearances of over 30 sabungeros who have been abducted in various incidents since 2021."

It highlights the three whistleblowers who "came forward to share their knowledge about the crimes allegedly committed by those who abducted the missing sabungeros."

The film's trailer below features news reports and interviews from the relatives of the missing cockfighters. In addition, one whistleblower is documented saying that the victims were brought to a farm and that he saw the incident with his own eyes. When asked if the missing sabungeros were still alive, the unidentified man shook his head in silence.

In a separate interview published on July 31, Brazil gave a glimpse of how the production team exerted enormous effort into the film. 

“Hindi naging madali ang proseso sa pagbuo ng dokumentaryo dahil ilang taon din sinundan ng team ang mga karakter sa kanilang paghahanap sa kanilang mahal sa buhay," the director said.

Brazil also stressed that the film is not only a chronicle of the cockfighters' disappearances, but also an eye-opener for the nation. He explained, "Para sa akin, mahalagang mapanood ito ng ating kababayan dahil hindi lang ito kuwento ng mga sabungero, pinapakita rin nito ang matagal ng problema ng ating bansa, ang kawalang hustisya o culture of impunity na kalimitang binibiktima ang mahihirap at walang boses."