Investigative documentary film “Lost Sabungeros” will not be screened in regular theaters and on television after not being reviewed by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).
According to a post by GMA Public Affairs, the film by director Bryan Kristoffer J. Brazil did not receive a review due to the possibility of breaching a subjudice rule, which prohibits public discussions of cases still being discussed in court.
The docu-film explores the disappearance of thirty “sabungeros” and features interviews with the families they left behind, along with a deep dive into the issues of cockfighting and its ties to those in power.
Notably, “Lost Sabungeros” was supposed to premiere at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival last August but was canceled due to “security concerns.”
The MTRCB has informed the producers and director of the film about the next steps they may take to receive a permit from the agency.
The film will still be screened at the UP Film Institute on Nov. 28 and 29 and remains open to the public.