'Lost Sabungeros: The Complete Story' to be screened at UE, PUP this March

The new and updated version of the “Lost Sabungeros" will be screened at two universities in Metro Manila!

According to a Facebook post by GMA Pictures, “Lost Sabungeros: The Complete Story” will be shown at the University of the East Caloocan on March 30 and at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Santa Mesa Campus on March 31.

The screening will be open to all students of the universities through registration links. 

"Lost Sabungeros" looks into one of the biggest scandals in the Philippines: the disappearance of over 30 sabungeros or cockfighters who have been missing since 2021.

The "Lost Sabungeros: The Complete Story" includes never-before-seen footage and new revelations. 

Its new trailer, released on March 4, stated that the film was “twice denied review” by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), citing its Cinemalaya premiere cancellation over “security concerns." 

Following the trailer's release, the MTRCB clarified that the film was not rejected or denied review. In response, GMA Public Affairs Senior Vice President Nessa Valdellon took to Facebook and addressed the MTRCB directly, saying the film company respected the board but stood by its own experience.

In 2024, the MTRCB withheld review for the documentary film.

“Lost Sabungeros" was supposed to premiere at the Cinemalaya in August 2024, but was canceled due to “security concerns.”

It eventually premiered at the QCinema International Film Festival in November 2024. It was also screened at the University of the Philippines Film Institute in the same month. 

"Lost Sabungeros" was previously shortlisted in the Documentary category under Investigative Journalism at the New York TV & Film Awards 2025. The documentary film was also nominated for the Best Documentary award at the 48th Gawad Urian Awards.

—Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA Integrated News