Cinema One, SM Mall of Asia
29 September 2012

President Benigno S. Aquino III graced the formal repatriation and screening of the newly restored digital print of the once-thought-lost 1950 “Genghis Khan” of Manuel Conde during a turnover ceremony held at the SM Mall of Asia’s Cinema One.

In a joint effort spearheaded by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Venice International Film Festiva Archivio Storico delle Arti Contemporanee (ASAC) Retrospective, together with the L’lmmagine Ritrovata, Manuel Conde’s 1950 “Genghis Khan” was restored back to its pristine condition after undergoing six months of intensive study and restoration process in Italy. The digitized film print restored in DCP (Digital Cinema Package) and HD (High Definition) format was turned over to the National Film Archive of the Philippines (NFAP) for the film’s preservation.

FDCP Chairman Briccio Santos also thanked President Aquino for the enactment of Administrative Order (AO) No. 26 directing all government agencies including Government Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) to turn over existing original or copies of films and other audio-visual negatives, print, or digital files to the NFAP to manage its preservation and reconstruction.

“We hope that both government and private entities, following this A.O. will support us and help us build our country’s collection. And we look forward to the day that we have a permanent facility for the NFAP, hopefully through the support of our President, and our partners and key stakeholders, we will achieve this goal in the next two years because Philippine cinema deserves a permanent home,” Santos said.

Jun Urbano a.k.a Mr. Shooli, son of Manuel Conde, shared interesting facts on how the “Genghis Khan,” despite its meager production budget, was highly-acclaimed in the Cannes for its scenic realism especially in utilizing ‘karitela’ horses which were believed by the film critics to be the authentic Mongolian breed.

Manuel Urbano, a.k.a. Manuel Conde, was posthumously proclaimed as the 2009 National Artist for Film. He was frequently joined by National Artist for Painting Carlos “Botong” Francisco who manned the production design in all of his films. Conde also produced, directed and appeared in several of his works such as Juan Tamad series (1947), Vende Cristo (1948), Prinsipe Paris (1949), Krus na Kawayan (1956), Siete Infantes de Lara (1950), Molave (1961) and Genghis Khan (1950).

 

*  *  *