MANILA, Philippines - Rebecca Zlotowski, a member of the Selection Committee of the Directors? Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival, was only able to watch the first 10 minutes of Sherad Anthony Sanchez?s ?Imburnal? last Wednesday because, she explained, ?it was X?d by the censors.?

On Wednesday, the Cinema One production was rated ?X? by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board on its first screening.

As a result, its premiere at the 10th Cinemanila International Film Festival at the Gateway mall was scrapped that night. ?Imburnal,? which won the Grand Prize in Cinemanila?s Digital Lokal competition, had a second review with the board on Friday and was rated R-13.

In an exclusive interview with Inquirer Entertainment, Zlotowski expressed concern over the state of Philippine cinema.

No audience in RP

?I can now understand how difficult it is for Filipino independent filmmakers to make movies,? said Zlotowski.

She noted that she finds it ?shocking that these wonderful movies are not released commercially.?

It?s appalling, she asserted, that ?these films are received well in Cannes and other international festivals, but they can?t seem to find an audience in their own country.?

Making matters worse is censorship, she said. ?The ?X? rating seems too harsh. It?s nuts that these films can?t be shown in commercial theaters.?

In light of this problem, Zlotowski said it?s all the more imperative for programmers like her to ?talk with local filmmakers to find out the real situation.?

?I feel it?s our responsibility to bring them to the world?s attention,? she said.

After her week-long stay, she said she now has a ?clue? as to why Philippine cinema is the current darling of international festivals.

?There are two things I find interesting: The filmmakers? youth and the maturity of their works.?

She called it a curious combination/contrast of freshness and skill.

?Young people are very committed, very courageous in waging their battles,? she said. ?There?s a cerebral aspect to their works in spite of their young age.?

That is precisely what Directors? Fortnight artistic director Olivier Père is looking for, she said. ?We want to be moved by a movie. We hope Filipino filmmakers will not give up their radical edge.?

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