Philippine Embassy Promotes Lisbon Premier of Lino Brocka’s “Bayan Ko: Kapit Sa Patalim” at the Cinemateca Portuguesa

Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna M. Feria delivers her short remarks during the film screening at Cinemateca Portuguesa. (Lisbon PE photo)

LISBON 26 June 2021 – As part of Mes Filipino sa Lisboa, the yearly month-long celebration of  Philippine Independence by the Philippine Embassy in Lisbon, the Embassy, in collaboration with the Cinemateca Portuguesa, co-hosted the Lisbon premier of the 1984 Lino Brocka classic film,  “Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim”, on 25 June 2021 at 5:30 in the afternoon, at the Manuel Félix Ribeiro Hall of the Cinemateca Portuguesa.

This Lino Brocka classic film was one of the 21 films which comprised the Cinemateca’s June film cycle, entitled Carta Branca (Carte Blanche) curated by the highly respected Portuguese film and music critic, Augusto Seabra. Mr. Seabra chose 21 films from different countries, which featured 5 countries from Asia, including the Philippines. Known for being an avid admirer of Asian films, Augusto Seabra became a friend of Lino Brocka in the course of his career as a film critic, having the highest esteem for his Filipino director friend all throughout the years.

“The Lisbon premiere of one of Lino Brocka’s classic films was another way to show the brilliance of the Filipino as an artist, one dedicated to his craft, whose expertise in the field of film has reached out to audiences beyond the Philippines, even 30 years after his death”, according to Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna M. Feria.

The Philippine Embassy continues to forge stronger cultural and people-to-people ties between the Philippines and Portugal through the medium of films. In addition, it provided the Portuguese and general public to experience the technical and artistic sophistication of the Philippine film industry. END

For more information, visit https://www.lisbonpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinPortugal/.