‘Lost Sabungeros’ director on screening cancellation: We feel helpless

Bryan Brazil, director of the controversial documentary “Lost Sabungeros,” has called on the organizers of Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival to clarify the source of the “security concerns” that became the reason for the cancellation of the docu’s screenings as part of the festival lineup.

An announcement from Cinemalaya on Aug. 6 said it was canceling the Aug. 8 and Aug. 9 screenings “due to security concerns.” The documentary’s slot on Aug. 8, 5 p.m., would be replaced by Julius Lumiqued’s “The Wedding Dance.”

“Our paramount concern is the safety and well-being of our audience, staff and all involved,” according to Cinemalaya and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), which produces the annual indie fete.

Brazil claimed he had no idea where the security threat was coming from and that he and his producers simply “relied on Cinemalaya’s short announcement on social media. They said the decision came from the Cinemalaya board. I just hope they also clarify where this is coming from. People are left guessing,” he told Inquirer Entertainment on Wednesday afternoon.

Voices left unheard

When asked to share his thoughts on the cancellation, Brazil said he felt really frustrated because this was painful to his team and to the “characters” who chose to continue the fight, despite the risks.

“Lost Sabungeros,” GMA Public Affairs’ first documentary film, aims to investigate and find answers regarding the disappearance of over 30 “sabungero” who have been abducted in various incidents since 2021.

“We had hoped for this to be the ‘space’ for their voices to be heard, but this opportunity was taken away from them,” the director said. “We feel helpless about the organizer’s decision to cancel the screenings. We just hope that this will not be a precedent, especially for independent filmmakers. If they can do this now, they could still do this in the future,” said Brazil.