Veteran filmmaker Mike de Leon passes away
Renowned Filipino filmmaker Mike de Leon has passed away. He was 78.
The news was confirmed by the Film Development Council of the Philippines and a French film distributor, Carlotta Films, which worked closely with him on Thursday, Aug. 28.
"[His] life was dedicated to film. His consistent imagination to explore the language of cinema shaped what we understand of Philippine filmmaking today, " FDCP Chairman Jose Javier Reyes said.
De Leon was a key figure in Philippine cinema. He was the grandson of Narcisa de Leon, the founder of LVN Studios, one of the most prominent film companies in the Philippines.
Known for his critical political films, de Leon’s work was a staple of the Martial Law era. His works include Kisapmata (1981), Sister Stella L. (1984), and Batch '81 (1982), an award-winning film about fraternity and hazing.
In 2018, he came up with another film, Citizen Jake, starring journalist Atom Araullo. De Leon also worked as a producer on Lino Brocka’s masterpiece, Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag (1975).
De Leon was famously outspoken, often using his art to comment on the country's political landscape.
In 2022, his film, Itim (1976), was screened at the Cannes Classics. During this time, he released a statement recalling the martial law era and criticizing the return of the Marcos family to power.
"I was asked if the government was doing anything to support films like Itim. I was young and had an attitude. I said the government's sole commitment to filmmaking was documenting the daily existence of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos," he quoted one of his books.
His candid remarks about the government’s lack of support for cinema led to his passport being pulled, leaving him unable to attend international film festivals under the Marcos Sr. dictatorship.
"Horror has now acquired a more sinister meaning. It is no longer about a ghost but about the monsters of Philippine politics, monsters that, after a long wait in the subterranean caverns of hell, have returned to ravish and rape my country all over again. The crazy thing is that we invited them back," he continued.
"I am happy that my film is participating in this great festival, but I feel utterly humiliated to be a Filipino today," he ended.
