Kidlat Tahimik: Premiere and Protest

On March 23, 2015, during the Asian Premiere of his thirty-five-years-in-the-making-film “Balikbayan #1“ at the UP Cine Adarna, UP Film Center, the father of Philippine Independent Cinema Kidlat Tahimik uses his opening remarks to protest against the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Festival’s decision to remove its “New Breed“ category. As a further act of protest, Kidlat turns over his Cinemalaya Gawad Balanghai trophy to the UP Film Center officials for “safekeeping“ until the Cinemalaya festival organizers decide to reinstate the New Breed Category. The trophy was awarded to Kidlat for “Outstanding Contribution to Philippine Independent Cinema“ at the tenth edition of the festival last August 10, 2014.