‘Maynila Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag’ wins film restoration award in London

Lino Brocka's classic "Maynila Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag" won the Best Archive Restoration/ Preservation Title award at the 11th annual FOCAL (Federation of Commercial Audiovisual Libraries) International Awards in London on April 30, according to the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

The restoration was brought about by the FDCP and Martin Scorsese's The Film Foundation/World Cinema Project.

In a statement, the FDCP said that Cecilia Cenciarelli of Cineteca di Bologna and Davide Pozzi of L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory, the institutions that restored the film (in association with LVN, Cinema Artists Philippines and Mike De Leon), were present to receive the award.

A video message from Scorsese was also played, in which he thanked those who worked on the restoration.

“We were thrilled when the opportunity came to restore ‘Maynila,’ one of Brocka’s greatest films,” he said, adding, “It means a great deal to us to see our efforts acknowledged. I thank you.”

FDCP chairman Briccio Santos also thanked the award-giving body for the acknowledgement. “FDCP is most honored by this latest recognition for a film of great heritage significance to Filipino,” he said. “This affirms FDCP efforts to pursue the preservation and restoration of the country’s cinema classics.”

“Maynila” beat two other restored classics for the award: Jean Cocteau’s “La Belle Et La Bete” (1946) and J.B.L. Noel’s “The Epic of Everest” (1924).

Past recipients of the FOCAL Awards include David Lean’s “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962) and George Méliès’ “A Trip to the Moon” (1902). — BM, GMA News