Itim

Itim (Filipino for "black"), released overseas as The Rites of May, is a 1976 Filipino supernatural horror drama film and the feature directorial debut of Mike de Leon, with a screenplay by Clodualdo del Mundo Jr. and Gil Quito. The film, that has been described as "one of the most remarkable debuts in cinema history", stars Tommy Abuel as a young photographer visiting his father (played by Mario Montenegro) in his provincial town during the Lenten season. There he encounters a mysterious woman, Teresa, played by Charo Santos in her acting debut. Itim adresses various topics, including occultism and religion, in a "foray into gothic horror, exploring the spiritual nature of life and people in the quiet little town of San Ildefonso".

The Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (Filipino Film Critics) included the film on their list of the Ten Best Films of the Decade. In 2022, the film was digitally restored, with a subsequent theatrical premiere as part of the Cannes Classics section at the 75th Cannes Film Festival.