Discoveries from Philippines World Cinema

A compilation of unrelated spare shots and b-rolls edited together to tell a story.

After burying their deceased parent beneath the farmland, they used to call home, a devoted loving sister saves the ultimate dream of her suffering sister in a disease who suffers from ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) that is about to take over her life.

Kints and Charles have been together for almost a decade. One day, Kints wakes up and discovers that her lover has changed, literally. Although troubled at first, she eventually understands that what happened is a natural phenomenon. Through this, she is reminded that people change all the time and love can change people.

A mute girl is being hunted by rotting creatures while her brother comes home from the city to fetch her.

In a lifeless morgue, an embalmer is consumed by a strange desire to secretly taste corpses he prepares, searching for something beyond the ordinary. His morbid obsession spirals when he’s sent to retrieve a body—only to discover that the corpse is his own.

An uncircumcised man's struggle against an oppressive society.

In a small bar illuminated by neon lights and pulsing with loud music, a queer guy, his face etched with melancholy, is lured to the dance floor by a daring stranger. They dance freely while drinking and share a moment of fondling, charged with sexual desires. Overcome by the thrill, the queer guy feels dizzy as everything starts to slow and blur.

Based on a poem by Florentino Collantes.

A lost film from Ishmael Bernal, originally released in 1976.

Tough, rugged, reckless, daring yet he's got a heart as gentle as a lamb.

Two cops on opposite sides of the law and each other. A short film serves as homage to the 80s and 90s Pinoy action flicks.

Ranchero unfolds in a small provincial jail in Rizal. It's about Ricardo whose last day in jail is today. He and his close friend Miyong work in the jail's kitchen. The two spent the whole morning talking about Ricardo's plans when he gets out of jail. After lunch, one of the kitchen knives went missing and this was brought to the attention of jail officials. Not only will this event affect food preparation in the jail's kitchen but also the lives of both of them.

Yuta is an undocumented Filipino immigrant eking out an existence on the fringes of Japanese society. When his mother dies, he seeks to settle accounts with his estranged family and recover unpaid wages from his employer, Daido – only to learn that Daido leads a Yakuza operation that regards undocumented workers as expendable. Betrayed and with no recourse through legal channels, Yuta is plunged into a single harrowing night fighting through layers of organized crime to free his teenage sister from a trafficking network.

A young woman emerges from the river and asks people around where she can find Dungan. Unfortunately, no one seems interested to answer her question.

Weaving recollections and letters from various migrant workers around the story of a Philippine man searching for his missing wife in a Middle Eastern city. Christopher Gozum creates an intimate, evocative and hypnotic mixture of documentary, poetry and fiction.

A blind boy desperately aspires to have a presence of his dead mother through his dreams. His aspiration to experience a “dream” arises from his father who’s subsequently been having nightmares of his mother.

Richard, an architecture student, is suffering from the traumas of his past experiences. This creates a cognitive complication that affects him and allows him to meet his own selves for the first time.

Three periods interconnect the life experiences and teachings of Anastacia Giron-Tupas while transposing her story into the lives of her contemporary counterparts. Anna Formantes strives to uphold the personal and professional values of Anastacia Giron Tupas, sacrificing her happiness for education, better degrees and experiences, community advocacy, and advancing nursing standards.

A millennial society's search for post-limerence in the digital landscape.

​When a famous movie star is brutally murdered, two determined investigators are tasked with cutting through the glamour to uncover the truth. But as they hunt for answers, the glitz fades to reveal a web of high-profile connections and dark, dangerous secrets they were never meant to find—putting their own lives on the line for the sake of justice.

This documentary begins in 1878 until the final days of Don Antonio Santos Bautista. He is a Bulakenyo, agriculturist, philanthropist, keeper of memories, and a true hero. The story tackles the Philippine revolution against the Spaniards and the road to the First Republic. In times of war or peace, Don Antonio continued the good fight for the welfare of his countrymen. Being rich or poor, it does not matter when it comes to patriotism. Our hearts are one with nationalism. Whatever your status in life let us all emulate Don Antonio Santos Bautista and dedicate our lives to noble goals for our beloved country the Philippines. Let us commemorate the legacy of Don Antonio Santos Bautista in our hearts and mind. El Heroe Verdadero.

After receiving a mandatory implant designed to erase romantic attachment, a young man falls in love and must confront whether he is broken—or the world that programmed him is.

After being forced out of school, Kokoy, 20, finally finds hope after landing a job interview. Little does he know that he is living a real-life loop of badluck.

To chase her dream of becoming a singer, Lyric earns her place in the prestigious PNCM and joins the underdog show choir Werpa with her friend, Beat. Soon, a member of Werpa's rival team asks to become part of the group, much to everyone's surprise.

The news of Patricia’s sudden death disrupts the lives of her friends. After several years apart, they have to meet back together to pay their last respects to their dearly departed.

An elderly man tries to repair his relationship with his estranged son, but a mysterious black figure gets in the way.

Two half sisters meet for the first time and find themselves fighting over an unusual inheritance from their father.

A mother is a superhero in the eyes of her daughter, Adana. She is kept from leaving the country to work by the many villains created by Adana.

"Holy Week, probably the most sacred time of the year, a time where Christ’s sufferings are retold- relieved. Kapampangans are among the ones that manifest their faith by re-enacting the suffering of Christ. However, in the midst of this Holiness, evil still works its way to the people. But in the end, forgiveness and salvation is offered by our redeemer - Jesus Christ."

The story of David and Eli trying to survive the 7 year itch challenge but fate was not on their side.

“Bugsay” is a creative documentary that paddles through the life of one of Iloilo’s most iconic figures: Honorato "Tatoy" Espinosa. From coconut trees to open seas. From a humble manokan to a legendary Ilonggo institution. From family stories to a legacy that helped shape Iloilo as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy — this is the journey that shaped generations of Ilonggos. “Bugsay” is not just a film. It’s a family's journey. It’s about paddling through life’s rough seas—with faith, with hard work, and with heart. Through food, stories, and the mystic powers of the ocean, we invite you to discover where Tatoy and his family came from—and why they keep moving forward.

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Through poignant poetry and profound connections, "Apuhap" explores themes of self-acceptance, love, and the power of communication beyond sight.

A well-trained jungle fighter battles corrupt and self-serving authorities while waging war against a group of terrorists protected by and protecting authorities.

The exciting story of the PRFTOK fighting battalion in the Korean War.

A short film about how politicians can twist the truth by their power.

A slice-of-life workplace comedy following the lives of technical support call center agents in the span of six months. Speaking with a fake American accent is a prerequisite for the job. This ensemble comedy is an inside look into the maddening, sleep-deprived, caffeine-fuelled lives of those who ply their trade in the call center industry.

Niño, a high-school graduate from Northern Mindanao, dreams of leaving his small farming town after receiving a scholarship. Inspired by the freedom of birds, or “langgam” in Tandaganon, and despite his mother’s refusal, he leaves for Metro Manila. He learns that in the city, "langgam" holds a different meaning.

Gemma's birthday takes an unexpected turn when abandoned by her boyfriend Larry. She finds solace in an evening with Claire, a newfound friend. Over dinner and drinks, their conversation delves into deep personal stories, unveiling past traumas and potential new beginnings.

A man tries to run away from his past but continues to be haunted by his burdens. He must find a way to deal with his baggage, or he will collapse.

Marlon, a socially inept and reserved office worker, stumbles upon a mysterious beeper number. Intrigued by curiosity, he reaches out to this mysterious contact, leading to an unexpected bond that intertwines love, longing, and disconnection.

A young man retreats into his own sanctuary—a life defined by solitude, and the soothing notes of his instrument. Yet, the beauty of his solitude is overwhelmed by the noise of his mother's driven expectations. Escapes to the shore, hoping the waves will drown out the noise.

Burdened by a tragic demise in their condo unit, two friends grapple with grief by turning to pills and alcohol abuse, dancing along the delicate line between life and death.

Hangaway follows the harrowing journey of a dedicated bantay bukid, a loving husband whose life unravels after being scarred by a traumatic experience. Unable to escape the haunting memory, he turns to a powerful, hallucinogenic plant for relief, but soon finds himself trapped in a maddening spiral between reality and illusion, fighting to hold on to the man he once was.

Two high school best friends dream of their soon-to-be lives in Manila. But is it all they wished for?

A wealthy Japanese family settled in Manila, hired a tubero (plumber) because of a clogged toilet, the tubero was shocked as he discovered the smelliest luck doing his job.

Guima and Aras are star-crossed lovers in this sardonic tale of fruit and global genocide. One day, a black mango suddenly appears in Guima and Aras's tree. To eat or not to eat: that was their question. Toxic Mango is a silent, black-and-white film that ruminates on a dystopian future where the effects of the oil spill tragedy have reached nightmarish proportions.

An insecure girl goes on a twisted journey to look for perfection – even if it means losing herself in the process.

Muyak, an innocent child, is unaware of the abuse that she is experiencing through her mother. One day, she encounters a mysterious woman and as the day passes this encounter continues until she decides to ask the mysterious woman. Muyak noticed that she was holding a pot of gold and was mesmerized by it. She tried to touch the pot of gold but her hands continued to pass through it until she discovered the true identity of the mysterious woman.

A diverse group of individuals boards a mysterious bus as they navigate their way to their final stop, Sitio Sala. As they draw near to Sitio Sala, the approaching uncertainty diminishes the thin lines betwixt each persona and their undisclosed enigmas. These passengers toil to confront their inability to move on, but there is no stopping the notion of paying one's dues in the final reckoning. The real question is, if they have reached their destination, would that be enough to satiate their hunger for redemption?

Boca is the story of Charlemagne Alejandro who has an oral fixation. He lost his mother when he was only three months old. Now a grown man, he compensates the lack of motherly love with chain smoking. He doesn’t think much of his job and spends most of his free time in his favorite spot in front of a convenience store, smoking. Out of the monotony of the life he leads, he eventually finds something better to do with his lips than to smoke.

A Special Education Teacher Leah Surot has dedicated her life to teaching deaf students for 25 years, which include the 10 years at West Central Elementary School in Dagupan City.Despite having no prior teaching experience and having graduated from a computer degree, Teacher Leah was destined to become a sign language teacher for deaf students. She also has a foster child who is deaf.The very passionate deaf teacher fights immovably for her students' right to have decent lives free from inhumane treatment and wants them to achieve their goals despite having special needs. She also commits her entire life to the school's transition program, which will assist its students in finding work opportunities.Despite the heartfelt efforts of SPED teachers like her to to give hope to these children, most of the businesses still do not employ persons with disabilities.

His heartbeat feels like a dull thud against his unyielding rib cage. He begins to breathe deeply. Then, his heart races so wildly that he gently strokes his pounding chest. His stomach churns with unease. A numbing sensation spreads through his body, interrupted by frantic tremors that rattle his flesh and bones. He tries to calm himself, but the terror only intensifies. It feels like he’s dying.

An experimental short film by Luis Camas.

A film based on Hagibis, which was created in 1947, was one of the longest-running komiks serials in Philippine comics history. Inspired by Kulafu of Francisco Reyes and Tarzan of Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Ji, a nine-year-old girl, is pressured to participate in her classmate's cheating practices at school. When her brother finds out about it, she gets to learn the value of integrity and true act of kindness. This learning comes with an unforgettable event not only for Ji but also for everyone in her town.