Discoveries from Philippines World Cinema

In the urban streets of Cebu, a man patiently waits for a jeepney to ride on the way to his destination. As he embarks on the jeepney, he sees the pursuits of other passengers and the people outside of his serene view which unexpectedly transports him into realities he is yet to venture.

The Spanish colonization of the Philippines is in its infancy. Somewhere in a small village in the province of Cagayan, the townsfolk believe a young lady named Pinang was being possessed by an evil spirit. Pinang's parents have unwavering faith that Father Vacion's rituals and mumblings would cure their daughter of her supposed affliction. Soleng, Pinang's dear friend, thought otherwise.

A short film trilogy of pubescent love: Slow Motion, Swerte Ni Maxin and Luv U Tol.

A modern-day fairytale that depicts the quaint journey of two prisoners in and out of a provincial jail.

Chuck Perez stars in this action film.

A young woman who has experienced a deep and painful loss seeks comfort from her past while challenging the notion of space, movement, and sound.

A boy helps his friend take revenge on the his rich classmate who used to bully him.

A talented girl realizes that her talents comes to waste

The filmmaker went back to his hometown to make a touching portrait of his sick grandmother. 94-year-old Concepcion has been suffering from nervous breakdown for the past 50 years. She chooses to live alone and is haunted by random memories of the past: a memory of a nation and other life’s mysteries. Now, she faces a new period in her life as she slowly loses the capacity to remember.

Marcos then, Marcos now. Filipino workers unite and lead the struggle for economic and political rights, determined to shape the course of history. In between, a janitor painstakingly rewinds videotapes featuring these struggles, unknowingly aiding in the preservation of history.​

A comedic film that explores the trials, tribulations and triumphs of Filipino-American couple on a universal love trip, one that does not discriminate against color, stature or culture. It is a celebration of the Filipino experience from a foreigner's perspective, and simultaneously, the realization of the American dream through a Filipino's eyes.

A three-hour "near" animated triptych film made entirely with RPG Maker MV engine, divided into three segments with different film formats in reverse chronological order. Each segments depicted with "emptiness like a ghost town", shifting every scenes into unusual, surrealistic imagery.

Joel Lamangan's debut.

The first local adaption of the life and passion of Jesus Christ.

A minute of a life. Bored to death. What is life? A series of moving stills. "Buryong" captures sixty-seconds-in-a-life, Philippine-time. From mundane chores, to work, to scenes of domesticity, to killing time, we are asked to observe and meditate on these moments. A lot can happen in the span of a minute. An entire lifetime even. Buryong is an epistle to time and to boredom. This could be your minute; this could be your life. How are you spending it?

While haunted by memories of a tragic event, a stubborn writer unwittingly unleashes a familiar presence that will stop at nothing to fulfill what it was summoned to do.

Official entry to the first Metro Manila Film Festival in 1986 directed by Augusto Buenaventura and starred Jinggoy Estrada, Rio Locsin, ER Ejercito, Robin Padilla, Christopher Ad. Castillo.

Cris discovers that his five years relationships is about to end when his live-in boyfriend Michael leaves him supposedly for an out of the country business trip. He then embarks on a long journey to catch his lover and the third party, passing by his boyfriend's maternal home, his boyfriend's best friend, his own best friend and a mysterious acquaintance. Will Cris catch his boyfriend and will he be able to prevent their relationship from its inevitable ending? Not until someone dies so another can move on. Hinala is not only about fidelity but more about that long journey we take when a relationship bitterly ends and we are broken. How many times must we die so we can be free from the baggage?

Part-stylised performance film, part-interview feature, this film dives into the “tropical futurist” creation story premised on Filipino pre-colonial identities, myths and artefacts and speculative decolonial fantasies. At the heart of this story lies a “swamp” - a primordial black hole, a portal to nothing and everything - which gives birth to a nonbinary deity. VOID is a divine response to the pain and trauma of the present apocalyptic era, a futuristic body that is also a composite of historical-ancestral imaginaries.

Chris has been avoiding the truth for almost a year already. By the time he celebrates a very special day with his live-in partner, that truth finally hits him which likewise sparked hope within himself.

Being a Mengal is a great responsibility that is given only to powerful men in the community. Leaders in the community's daily life, it's economy, peace and safety. The people of Camarag were blessed with such a leader, Kapitan Tercero, all was well in their town until greedy invaders wanted to enjoy the riches and take control of the land. Kapitan made the wisest and bravest decision to save Camarag which is now the present Echague, Isabela in the Philippines.

A solider joins the guerilla and is tasked to woe the daughter of a man who has ties with Japanese forces and and gather intel but he falls in love with her. They both get married but the woman and her father gets into an accident, so the man leaves for Manila and falls in love with doctor. Fate lead the doctor and the woman to meet.

In the lives embedded within the fields and mountains of the Cordilleras, lies stories untold to the rest of the World. With its distinct wonders to the mouth-watering foods, Apayao remains a place full of culture and traditions that contribute to the place’s successful sustainable development. But these aren’t just mere traditions, but the experiences that the lives of the Yapayaos experienced. As they live in a place where diversity is integrated not just as a whole province, but also diversity takes place in their Tribe—‘Ya Tribu daya Isnag.

THE SERPENT-HAIRED VIXEN SOWS FEAR AND TERROR AMONG THE TOWNSPEOPLE AND CITE DWELLERS ALIKE.

George brings her girlfriend to their private island to propose. He takes a photo of her girlfriend but to his surprise, she's headless. Shrugging off superstitious beliefs, they find themselves haunted by a headless spirit.

For a cash prize and a new home, three displaced Filipino creatures join a reality competition show where they must scare their way to the top for a chance for a new lease on life.

A very short animation to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Missing Halloween.

‘Gelo’ is an intimate portrait of Angelo Aurelio’s body of work as a visual, film, performance, and theater worker. He is the quintessential struggling artist who hails from Baguio City. It is the story and portrayal of how passion in one’s art translates into a vivid and sometimes painful and grim peek into the artists’ struggle with his own personal demons and cancer.

Faith grew up bearing a unique ability: seeing people’s soulmates through the red strings tied around their pinky fingers. While others are happy with their relationships, she prevents herself from falling in love. The reason? Her string is severed. Will Faith's perspective about love change when she finally meets Seb — the guy with a severed string too?

When Jomar, a 15-year old shy boy, bumps into the famous girl at the school, he decides to become a superhero to catch her attention.

Delving into figures like the pseudohistorical Kalantiaw and President Bongbong Marcos, this documentary is a deep exploration of the post-truth era.

Heart Evangelista stars in the short film created by actor-director Albert Martinez for Inno Sotto’s 30th anniversary gala, "Thirty. Twenty. Ten" held at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Three decades of war have caused untold anguish to Bangsamoro women. But they have remained resolute and strong. Now they face a dilemma: war or peace? War is bloody and costly. And peace does not always right old wrongs. As they contemplate their situation, Bangsamoro women hold on to Islam. The veil is the symbol of their commitment to their people and their way of life. It is the mark of their faith.

Into the lives of these five sisters came one man, and the once happy home they shared become an inferno of jealousy and hatred.

A social media influencer with half a million followers is responsible for a widespread of misinformation online. What happens next?

A creative documentary film about the Agno River communities of Bayambang, Pangasinan.

A writer is approached by a strange man who claims to be a character in her story. The man tries to make sense of his situation as they walk along an empty street, but lurking underneath the words are their most violent, bodily, desire.

A lonely video editor falls victim to a curse whose messenger brings death through a Christmas carol.

Jao Mapa (Jao Mapa), once the Philippines It-Boy, has retired from his thriving career fr a real life, but his biggest fan has trouble letting him go. Alexa (Marnie Arcilla) goes to great lengths to keep him. A hilarious black comedy short.

An endless night with a couple enclosed in a room that divide their personal lives from their true characters.

'Katok' (Knock) was based on the true story of Taj Pacleb, a literature evangelist who works with his partner, Ian as they went to knock in every house to seek someone interested in their books. But as they suffer rejection after rejection, victory awaits.

Torn between bailing out her boyfriend and reaffirming her body, a trans woman chooses the world.

A woman obsessed with the color yellow bleaches her eyebrows.

A non-traditional family discovers the existence of the insidious creature on the night it merges its lair into their home.

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Jun is a farmer who lives near a pineapple field with his mother Dita and his brother Mako. His aunt from Manila who can’t bear a child offers to adopt Mako with a promise to give him a good life. Jun and Mako face their impending separation and think of ways they can spend every minute together.

Bryce, a 22-year-old college student, posted a photo of herself for a casting call at a modeling agency.