Mike De Leon Classic “Batch ‘81” Screens at New York Museum of Modern Art
MoMA introduces the newly-restored print of “Batch ’81” prior to the screening at the Titus Theater
29 January 2018 NEW YORK – Considered as a masterpiece of modern Philippine cinema, Mike De Leon’s “Batch ‘81” screened at the prestigious Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City on 24 January.
The film was presented as part of the 15th MoMA International Festival of Film Preservation from 18 January to 01 February. The Festival aims to present classic films from around the world which have been newly-restored.
The Batch ’81 restoration was curated by the Asian Film Archive at L’Immagine Ritrovata Laboratory. Director Mike de Leon and Cinematographer Rody Lacap supervised the color grading of the newly-restored version.
Mainstream and Filipino audiences viewed the film at the Titus Theater 1 of the MoMA and commented on the timely restoration of the film considered as one of the gems from the second golden age of Philippine cinema.
Noted Philippine Film historian and screenwriter Gil Quito who was on hand at the screening noted that it is a significant for more and more classic Filipino films being restored so that more audiences are able to view these cinematic gems.
Batch ’81 was originally released in 1982 and screened at the Cannes Film Festival Directors’ Fortnight and the Toronto international Film Festival (TIFF). END
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