One of Philippine cinema’s most acclaimed films is returning to the big screen.
Beginning June 3, the digitally restored and remastered version of Muro-Ami, the 1999 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Best Picture winner, will screen in select SM Cinemas nationwide, introducing the landmark film to a new generation of moviegoers.
Directed by the late Marilou Diaz-Abaya and written by National Artist for Film Ricky Lee alongside acclaimed filmmaker Jun Robles Lana, Muro-Ami remains one of the country’s most powerful and socially relevant dramas. The film starred Cesar Montano, Pen Medina, Jhong Hilario, Amy Austria, and Rebecca Lusterio. It was originally produced in 1999 by Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., now President and CEO of GMA Network, together with Menardo “Butch” Jimenez Jr.
To celebrate the release of the restored version, a special screening was held on May 19 and attended by Montano, Medina, Hilario, and Austria, along with Lana, Lee, and acclaimed composer Nonong Buencamino, who created the film’s musical score.
“I’m very excited about the restoration. Nung marinig ko na magkakaroon, nakita ko pa lang ‘yung trailer, tuwang-tuwa na ako. So ngayon, I was jumping up and down,” Montano shared during the event.
“Masaya ako dahil nabuhay ulit siya sa pelikula. And nakakatuwa na walang AI ito. Ladies and gentlemen, digitally remastered only,” he added.
According to Central Digital Lab CEO Manet Dayrit, the restoration of Muro-Ami required over 1,200 hours of meticulous work from the company’s restoration artists. The process involved addressing numerous film impairments, including scratches, optical dirt, molds, fingerprints, splice marks, flicker, and film bumps.
“Some issues were only partially corrected or minimized due to the condition of the original source materials. Deep scratches present in several underwater scenes posed significant limitations during the restoration process,” Dayrit explained in the official restoration notes.
Central Digital Lab also handled the restoration of Jose Rizal, another iconic GMA Pictures film restored in 2024.
The restoration of Muro-Ami is part of GMA Pictures’ ongoing commitment to preserving and celebrating Filipino cinematic heritage.
Last year, the digitally restored and remastered version of Jose Rizal — the 1998 MMFF Best Picture also directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya and starring Cesar Montano — held a gala screening at the historic Manila Metropolitan Theatre as part of the 20th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. The restored version is currently streaming on Netflix.
Moviegoers can now secure tickets for the restored and remastered screening of Muro-Ami through the SM Cinema app and official website.
