Discoveries from Philippines World Cinema

Against the backdrop of a dying Tacloban, an underqualified teenager struggles to secure employment in a ruthless city that has no place for him. Worse still, he discovers that a rising artificial intelligence program threatens to steal all the work reserved for man. In his search for meaning for himself and for the city he calls home, he finds out a cosmic entity has been quietly watching him.

Filipino film directed by Jose N. Carreon. Starring Lito Lapid and Ara Mina.

The story revolves around Maxi dela Cerna, a young, aspiring New York-based fashion designer who returns to the Philippines shortly after her mother’s death to find her father. She had been swindled by her ex-boyfriend and hopes to pay off her debts by selling the piece of provincial land that her parents co-owned. But this means spending time with her father whom she hates for walking out on her and her mother 15 years ago. As the uptight and guarded Maxi struggles to immerse herself in farm life and deal with a father she despises, she crosses paths again with Tommy, her childhood friend, now an architect who is trying to heal from his own mistakes in the past with his 7-year-old son.

With the help of a historian eager to write his first book, a Japanese vlogger travels to the Cordillera region to discover the truth about her great grandfather—a soldier who deserted the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II and lived the next half-century among the Igorot people.

The eco-horror film centers on a fierce battle between two mothers, Audrey (Iza Calzado) and Lydia (Dimples Romana), over the ownership of a piece of land. Audrey, who hails from the city, arrives to claim the land her husband’s family owns, while Lydia, the caretaker, fiercely protects the land her family has occupied for years.

A 1994 Filipino romantic drama starring Claudine Barretto and Isko Moreno.

A 1993 Filipino drama anthology film by Joey Gosiengfiao.

Catch Kalyeserye's Lola Nidora, Lola Tinidora, and Lola Tidora in this hilarious movie as they, along with their little niece Charmaine, attempt to survive a zombie outbreak!

Chronicling the life of Ferdinand Marcos. the film highlights his colorful years growing up in a political family in northern Luzon made dramatic from allegations of murdering his father's political rival. His rise to political power crosses with his romance with the woman named Imelda Romualdez.

Intoy has had the hots for Doray since they were kids in Kalye Marino, Cavite City, formerly the American Naval Base in Sangley Point. Both marginalized as the long-lasting effect of American abandonment of the said base, Intoy has become Kalye Marino’s best “tahong” caretaker-with-no-angst-about-poverty, while Doray a cheap prostitute-with-no-guilt, tending to her siblings’ needs. Intoy strives to have his own cages of “tahong” so he can have Doray, not for just a night of quickie sex, but forever. But what will he do to when she offers to drop by his hovel-on-stilts to quench his passion, but before it happens Nature has chosen to play a joke on his tahong cage? Will it be goodbye to his tahong business or to his damsel-in-distress and ultimately to Kalye Marino? From Eros S. Atalia’s 2001 Palanca Grand Prize-winning Short Story, Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino is a love tale minus the obligatory romantic sentiments.

Fernando Poe, Jr. and Megastar Sharon Cuneta reunite In the sequel of the blockbuster hit Kahit Konting Pagtingin. A spoiled heiress visits the home of her former bodyguard only to find him imprisoned. Will they finally release the love they held back for so long?

Helen, Dina and Daria are friends trying to live normal lives. While struggling to find new ways to earn a living, the three friends find themselves framed for the murder of their former boss. Failing to prove their innocence, they are arrested and sent to Bilibid prison where they become caught up in a war between two gangs of rowdy prisoners. After a series of misadventures Helen, Dina and Daria spend their jail time as peacemakers between two gangs. Will the three gay friends ever get rid of trouble when it seems to love their company?

In 1985, jeepney driver Ulysses "Boboy" Alega loses his vehicle just as he needed money to pay his rent and buy medications for his child. After he accidentally shoots and kills a person during a fight, Boboy is then imprisoned and tortured by the police. With his release from prison, Boboy eventually joins a group involved in arms smuggling, and after some time its members come to consider him as their leader.

Mercenaries are hired to rescue a few American soldiers held captive in a P.O.W camp whose plane was shot down over the Vietnam jungles, and of which, carried documents of plans for dropping an H-bomb on Hanoi.

a film by Luciano B. Carlos.

A decent man becomes a psychotic killer as he avenges the murder of his loved ones.

Beginning at the break of dawn and ending the next morning, the story, set around a rugged city intersection, follows the path of a marked one-thousand-peso bill as it transfers from one character to another, returning to its originator in the end, blood-tainted. The money leads us to each of the five offbeat characters, all in desperate need of their soul's redemption: a disillusioned tabloid reporter planning to commit suicide in a motel, a nightclub dancer con prostitute who has avowed to give her kid sister a better life, a fallen henchman resurfacing to score big time, a chronic runaway teenage girl held captive as sex slave by a cop, and a long-suffering son bearing a sadomasochistic relationship with his brutish, half-paralyzed father who behaves like a mad dictator in his wheelchair.

Two male buddies are reunited amidst the pandemic lockdown.

A story about a group of impoverished people struggling to make ends meet while searching for happiness.

This love triangle story is about love, music, and drugs. Jessica was an upcoming singer who met Gary, a lead singer of a band, and Karlo, Gary's older brother who was an ex-convict.

Miguel is an abusive husband to Teresa, a former town-beauty queen. They have an eight-year old son, JR. Their small family lives with Miguel’s parents. The family is shattered by the vicious cycle of domestic abuse. After a night of beating, Teresa, goaded by a friend, seeks TPO (Temporary Protection Order) from the court. TPO is a legal remedy that a woman can avail of under Republic Act 9262 (Violence Against Women and Children Law) to protect her and her child against anyone harming them. Teresa is granted the TPO against Miguel. But in this legal tug-of-war of familial rights, their son ,JR, is ignored. Until, he shows aggression in school.But Miguel’s parents coax Miguel to file for Child Custody.

A movie about Loretta and her struggles as a woman.

A young man suffering from face blindness and a young woman with a troubled past fall in love.

A political family tries to hold on to their integrity and reputation as they face a difficult crisis.

Charles, an engineering student with an eye for beauty, just returned from school to a dormitory owned by Aling Linda, a strict, lonesome widow. Other occupants of the dorm include Max–now on his 7th year in college, Sheen–his reluctant partner, Steven–a social entrepreneur, Ramon–his cop lover, Alex–a call center agent, and Jenny–his attentive girlfriend. They all spend the evening tucked away in solitary rooms, talking about collective experiences, sharing a similar fate. And rent is due.

Lorna is sixty year old woman who is constantly searching for the right man, having failed at so many relationships. Having lived close to a lifetime alone, she decides to take another stab at moving on and more importantly, love.

The story evolves around Benjie (Coco Martin), a young security guard who, having lost her girlfriend from another man, has also lost his sense of being. Without a family to lean on, he requests to the building administration to let him stay in guard's quarters of the new condo he was assigned at. The building and the whole new universe of strangers who don't really care about him has become Benjie's refuge. He only cares about his job even if it's only the same old tiring routine. But the perfect and lonely world for him turned out as a contrary when a mysterious intruder and a phone call from an empty unit begin taunting him.

A story about a criminal, a police officer, and a group of survivors of a plane crash on an island trying to survive until help arrives.

An ex-convict is forced to go back to a life of crime by a syndicate big boss but gets involved with the latter's girlfriend, thereby incurring his ire.

Bruce a martial arts expert is hired by his friend, on behalf of the village to fight off Lui and Fedal, who with their highly trained army of martial arts experts are terrorizing the villagers and taking over their land, crops and raping their women. Lui and Fedal send several of their elite soldiers to eliminate Bruce, but Bruce's immense fighting skills prove to be too powerful for their evil forces. Not succeeding in their efforts to eliminate Bruce, they massacre one of Bruce's closest friends and frame Bruce with the murder.

After his expulsion from college Juni Locsin (Gabby Concepcion) is forced to continue studies at Eastern College Of The Republic, an ordinary university. This is a contrary environment to the young man accustomed to luxury.

One day on his way to work, Anton encounters and bumps into a female cosplayer. Since then, Anton would see her every morning, dolled up as a different character, waiting for her train on the other side of the platform. With each passing day, Anton slowly develops curiosity and attraction towards her which soon might become something more.

The documentary serves as a tribute to National Artist for Cinema Gerardo de Leon in celebration of his Centennial Year. “Salamat sa Alaala.” is inspired by the music composed by the late film director when he was a teenager playing background music for silent movies in Manila theatres. The video opens up with a capsulated history of the birth of the Filipino movies followed by a series of shots of veteran actresses, the academe and the young generation of filmmakers affirming his unique qualities as a world-class film figure. Then we unravel his private life as a family man. The documentary is one way of thanking him for his lasting legacy in the art form he left behind.

A woman runs her criminal syndicate all the while taking care of her family.

A wife finally realizes that there is life after her separation from her husband and devotes her time and attention instead to their daughter who gives birth to a child out of wedlock.

Based on the play Corridors. A woman returns to her family’s ancestral home to mourn her estranged father, reuniting three generations of women who uncover that the grief, the madness, and the evil within the decaying mansion are thicker than blood.

Shaun makes a trip to Binondo to navigate through the process of grieving and faces the hard truth of being alone.

Rosemary Sonora plays a deceased woman and another living, both caught between lovers.

The greatest adventure story of our time. Filmed for the first time in the Philippines in thrilling sepia tone and exciting natural color.

A common man in a world where everyone is controlled, limited and fearful, Julio encounters "a voice" whose instruction will go above and beyond that which the world had limited him to be. Julio now faces the dialectic of pursuing his newfound purpose, or remaining in the bleak acceptance of the constructed norm.

A 1982 Filipino marriage comedy starring Fernando Poe Jr and Susan Roces.

A spunky teenage girl from Mindoro, moves to Manila to live with her estranged father and study in a prestigious school. She clashes with basketball varsity captain, unaware that their one-upmanship will blossom into something beautiful.

A story about a mischievous youth group.

Leo is engaged to Anita out of convenience since her father and her parents are long time friends. It was never an issue until Leo meets Gigi during his stay in the family farm. Leo loves Anita but he cannot get enough of Gigi's seduction. He later finds himself craving for more. Little does he know that Gigi's tempting invitations are more than that Gigi has other selfish plans and she is adamant to get him not afraid to cause havoc over Leo and Anita's solid relationship.

Doctor Zorba and his followers plan to bring Dracula back to life using electronic means, using blood from victims. Batman saves Marita Banzon and defeats Dracula's creators.

A beautiful girl from the province has dreams of showbiz and answers an ad to become a carnival performer. When seduced by her playboy coworker, her parents force them to marry. Starring comedy legend Leo Martinez and sexy actress Amanda Page.

Mario and his brother Alonso become committed to fishing in a coral-reef in the southern Philippines. With many other children of different origin they work for starvation wages on the ship of unscrupulous captain Murène. Together they drive shoals of fish into a big fish trap having to use the dangerous muro-ami technique in the coral-reefs. Fastened to a stone, the little divers jump into the water to reach the depth faster. Without any equipment they dive down 30 meters. The brutal captain treats the exhausted children like slaves

The title "Binyag" translates to 'loss of innocence,' and this little-known film from the Philippenes shows, very effectively, the process in which one young person loses his own innocence. A boy living a quiet, picturesque life in the Filipino province, spending his days swimming in the sea, is offered a job as a "film star" when a shady "talent scout" visits his small village. He promises the naive Leo that he can "make him a star." Leo, excited at the idea of escaping his seemingly mundane life, accepts the offer, thus beginning his journey to the city of Manila, where he will learn some hard facts about the world he lives in.

The story is simple, yet gripping in its telling by master director Cesar 'Chat' Gallardo. It is essentially about the brutalization of a man by his environment. In a run-in with the ruling hoodlums of the place Nanding (Fernando Poe, Jr.) kills one them and is sent to jail. While he is in prison, his sister and mother suffer indignities from the criminal kingpin of Isla Putting Bato and Nanding bolts jail on a mission of revenge. While on his quest for vendetta he meets another victim of Putting Bato's brutal society, Charito Solis, and they find in each other the tenderness and solace each was denied before.—BGP

A WARM-BLOODED LOTHARIO SUFFERS A DILEMMA WHEN HE IS MADE TO CHOOSE ONE FROM AMONG THREE WOMEN HE LOVES.

About a childless couple for 20 years, Don Ramon and Carmen. Carmen often goes to church praying hoping that they would have a child. After 20 years, Carmen had not only one but twins Lita and Nita. Lita grew up to be liberated while Nita was the conservative type.