Discoveries from Philippines World Cinema

Dressed for a sunbathing session, a woman’s conversation with her boyfriend leads to dissatisfaction with his hesitation to commit to their relationship.

Directed by: G.A. Villafuerte Starring: Christoff Ken, Ace Toledo, Topher Barretto, Hazel Mae Acuemo, Emil Bertolano, Francis Cariaso, Jec Dee J.A. De Guzman, Troy Filler, Renee Gozon, Mia Henarez, Arriane Lope, Elona Mendoza, Johnly Metrio Princess Jolens, Kael Reyes, Marco Ronquillo, Khal Lloyd Santos, Denver Tiu, Kahlel Urdaneta, Kurth Vallejo

A biopic about general Gregorio Del Pilar.

A very personal and atmospheric film. The filmmaker plays a moody writer herself in images that are as moody. The writer is haunted and disturbed, but anyway writes a strong poem for a film that has dark images that are as strong. A movie by a woman with many talents. A loud inner voice.

The story revolves around a hermit named Tokhang. People ridicule her because of her eerie look and scary demeanor. As a bearer of bad tidings, she manages to expose and criticize the foolishness and corruption of the people around her and the society in which they lived in.

A deaf child who dreams of attending school faces a series of rejections from his mother because of an unprecedented past.

You may look at it like “It is about a woman in a jeepney who keeps on babbling – sharing her ideals and personal issues – as if you are listening to a live commentary and an audio diary at the same time” or “The passenger(s), the driver, the 10 Commandments, the window, the high tech lifestyle and the high tech love life, the rumors, the government, the reality TV shows, Death, the family…”

A man shares a bed with a woman.

Tumatawa, Umiiyak is an animated short about a man's recollections of a bygone afternoon involving him and his grandfather as they traverse their old neighborhood into other parts of the city in order to pick flowers for school. Along the way, they play games with each other to pass time and bear the afternoon heat. From the narrow streets of the baranggay, they arrive at the nearby business district where high-rise buildings stood and the seemingly out-of-place cemetery lies. It is a cemetery for the rich – with vast greenery and a peaceful atmosphere in contrast to the bustle of the streets outside. The film is a meditation on the first blossoming of class consciousness on a young mind and the pivotal effects these memories have on shaping who we are now.

The story follows Candy and Dave who fall in love with each other amidst their search for freedom.

A cinema lover finds his so-called sacred place get defiled by commercialism.

The story follows a neighborhood hero who champions the helpless children in a predominantly adult world.

Ikigai follows a dying father who travels across oceans to search for and to make amends with his long-lost daughter. Along the way, he develops unlikely friendships and finds a new purpose in life.

A student and a police officer finds themselves on the same stick but on different ends, as they try to survive the unjust system of their country.

We can always run away from our pasts, but we can never hide from who we truly are. Red is a contemporary dancer who is still trying to escape the real him. The trauma his father left him holds him back from facing the truth. But through dance, Red tries to heal from the past and accept who he truly is.

Visual interpretation of original Filipino music in 5 parts.

Despite the unfamiliarity, comfort stood between the two students as they embark on a journey at the first day of school.

I am the drowning sea. Waxing, waning, vanishing, surrendering, yearning, drunk, helpless against your indifference, with no way out. You are the shore that never saves. I will wait for you to turn into a wave. And we will waltz. Drown together.

Real estate agent Mike clashes with local residents over land development.

A female escort's fiance rejects her when her profession is revealed.

The Probe Team traces the roots of two Muslim youths who are currently studying in the U.S.: Khalid Dimaporo and Romina Bernardo. More than another war story, this is a tale of two individuals who are out to discover what it means to be a Muslim of their generation. Both come from prominent political clans in Mindanao, but consider themselves “modern Muslims,” having been raised and exposed to different cultures in other countries.

Ang Joker at ang Pistolero is a 1998 Tagalog-language Action Western film featuring Chuck Perez, Daniel Pasia, Mike Gayoso, Michelle Ortega, Melissa Mendez, Jude Estrada and Ace Vergel.

A love story between a closeted gay man in his 60s living with HIV and a lonely widower in his 50s. Amidst grief, the two form an unlikely bond through their shared love of music.

Bateng, a boy who triggered a series of life-changing events when he stole an old woman's purse.

The film tells of Hannah, a Chinese-Filipino girl who discovers that she has a half-brother and meets him for the first time on the last day of her father’s wake.

A teen-aged Clara is forced to spend a weekend at her Lola Lucing's house and the only way Lucing can communicate with her granddaughter is through what she knows and does best: her cooking.

A 27-year-old doctor in her junior residency tests positive for COVID-19. She stays in a quarantine facility, regularly calling her father to ease his worries. Alone, she is haunted by visions of her patients. Following her recovery, she immediately returns to the hospital and once again faces the realities that her patients endure. The physical and mental burden takes a toll on her. Will she survive?

An OFW working as a bioforensic trauma cleaner is haunted by a series of unfortunate events after she finds the diary of Mrs. Winters, who died of suicide.

A documentary about Lourdes, Angelita, and Vangie, three diehard fans of Nora Aunor.

A story about a young woman who always cries due to the wrongdoings of her parents. And due to her mother's great love and long-suffering, she wanted to die.

Filipino romantic horror movie from 1969.

A woman fears she'll consume her lover, haunted by her mother's cannibalistic legacy and love's dark hunger.

Fidel Jimenez: Magkasubukan tayo: Directed by Tata Esteban. With Lito Lapid, Ana Capri, Jaime Fabregas, Tonton Gutierrez.

In Kani’s journey of self-discovery, she encounters someone who mirrors her own desires Ismo. Both yearn for love, yet all paths ultimately lead them back to their true selves.

A two-minute experimental film visualizing my daily encounters with OCD — rhythmic and dissonant ones alike.

A messenger delivers heartfelt and haunting letters to sites where victims of extrajudicial killings died or were last seen at, each message a brief foray into the tail-end of lives abruptly cut short and the anguish of those left behind.

RAMPAGE! (or the parade)

Fresh off their new-found online fame, a local band faces a life-altering dilemma hours before their first solo concert.

Filmed in a village of the indigenous Mandaya people, located in a mountainous area of southeastern Mindanao, the country's second largest island, the documentary portrays the struggle of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army, for the rights of indigenous Filipino peoples and the environment, which are constantly under threat from landowners, large logging companies and agribusiness.

Does reincarnation exist? Amanda (Pilar Pilapil) is a real icon--a tribal goddess and a sexy lass turned popular rich designer. On the other hand, Reden/Delyo (Christopher de Leon) is a tribesman, a young romantic lover, and a charismatic singer. Delyo's past life goes after his present while Amanda clings to her past. The two meet and try to build a bridge and heal the wounds of their past but they fail--but they're unstoppable. Life continues even after death in a different world where their infinite love will find its way.

A 1971 Filipino film starring Sajid Khan and directed by Joey Gosiengfiao.

When a documentary crew covers the Philippine Giant Monster Defense Institute's MIGHTY ROBO V Program, they learn that maybe the wrong people were hired for the job.

After a nuclear explosion levels Manila, mining companies hire survivors to mine the ruins for radioactive materials. We follow two of those survivors, Amy and Janis, as they go about their day with humor and positivity despite the fact that the job is practically a death sentence.

Piyo refuses to accept the responsibilities that comes with being the only son of a Datu from the Talaandig Tribe. He defies his destiny and runs away from home to pursue his dreams of freedom only to find himself behind bars when he is mistaken as a rebel.

After refusing a ritual circumcision intended to usher him into manhood, Rene-boy (10), tries alternate methods to remove this mark of cowardice.

The creatures are out for a feast.

A short documentary.

A bank teller and avid detective-story reader lives out her sleuthing fantasies when she meets real-life bank robbers.

The "prequel" to "Three Days Of Darkness" aka "Tatlong Araw Ng Kadiliman" starring Katya Santos, Gwen Garci, and Precious Adona. Khavn draws on the Book of Revelation for one of the most frightening phenomenon prophesied to happen. Three girls are trapped in their home as the Three Days of Darkness descend on the Earth and they must cope and try to fend off the demons that have come to take them. A chilling vision of God's Wrath or of people imposing God's Wrath on one another, the film frightens with its questions as much as it does with its visuals.

Set in 2022 in an urban city, Totoy is the grandchild of a cobbler in a place where no one has shoes; his curiosity begins when his grandfather tells him about the lore of a fairy who continuously robs shoes and controls the economic stability of the barangay. Totoy is driven to know the answers. Through the story of his grandfather, Totoy notices that his grandfather was rewarded to become a cobbler with the expectation of improving the standard of living, only to find out that the place is under the curse of the fairy and realize only Totoy could break the curse.

Avi, a cheerful young plant, was curious about the old robot Rusty but never approached. Later, as a violent storm struck, Avi was rescued by Eon, a kind modern robot who offered care and companionship. Through hardship, Avi discovered the friendship it has longed for--not with the distant Rusty, but with the compassionate and steadfast Eon.

When two popular content creators face conflicts in their respective romantic relationships, they decide to form an unlikely collaboration.

Out of our glorious historical past comes this story of a Chinese General who unselfishly gave everything to help the Philippine Revolution.

Growing up with 11 siblings and OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) parents, the filmmaker rediscovers her huge, unconventional family through her camera lens.

Filipino horror movie from 1974.