Groundbreaking independent film festival, Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival continues to deliver top-tier visual storytelling that inspires creativity while amplifying diverse cinematic voices and elevating the Philippine film industry to the next level.
On its 20th year, branded as Cinemalaya Bente: Loob, Lalim, Lakas, the country’s pioneering film festival revisits the past winning films through the Retrospective section, and celebrate the stories from other local film festivals that have made a lasting impact in the Festival’s Best section.
Featured films in the Retrospective Section are:
ITI MAPUKPUKAW (THE MISSING) by Carl Joseph E. Papa. This story of a young animator dealing with an “alien” and the death of his uncle won the following awards in Cinemalaya 2023: Best Film (Full-length Feature Category), NETPAC Award, and Best Supporting Actress for Dolly De Leon. It also won in the Gawad Urian 2024 in the following categories: Best Picture, Best Sound and Best Animation, and was the Philippines official entry to the Oscars 2024. Catch this film on August 9, 2:30pm, at Ayala Malls by the Bay Cinema 9.
SIBUYAS NI PERFECTO (PERFECTO’S ONION) by Januar Yap. Perfecto or “Piktoy” gets a call from Eddie, asking him to deliver spices and vegetables, his own harvest, for the latter’s supposed birthday party. On the long road to his friend’s house, Piktoy cheerfully shares his excitement to people he meets, but only to realize at the end of the day that he missed doing one very important thing. This film has earned Best Short Film in Cinemalaya 2023. Experience this film also on August 9, 2:30 pm, at Ayala Malls by the Bay Cinema 9.
The Festival’s Best featured films are as follows:
UNDER A PIAYA MOON by Kurt Soberano. A story set in the 1980s in Bacolod City, follows a young man that aspires to continue the family legacy by winning an inter-city pastry competition with the help of his feuding grandfather and grandmother won the following awards at the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival: Best-Full Length Film, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, MOWELFUND Special Citation, MTRCB Responsable Paglikha (Responsible Creative Work), Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Production Design. Come see this film on August 8, 5:30pm at Ayala Malls by the Bay Cinema 9.
FIREFLY by Zig Dulay. To fulfill a promise to his mother, a young boy searches for the mythical island described in her bedtime stories, a place where one can make any wish upon seeing the light of a thousand fireflies. This film has been awarded as the winner of the following awards at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival: Best Picture, Best Screenplay for Angeli Atienza, Best Child Performer for Euwenn Mikaell. Watch this film on August 9, 5:30pm, at Ayala Malls by the Bay Cinema 9.
Relive, revisit, and experience award-winning films in this year’s Cinemalaya, slated on August 2 to 11 at Ayala Malls by the Bay.
For more information, visit the website at www.culturalcenter.gov.ph and the Cinemalaya’s website at www.cinemalaya.org.
Stay updated on the latest Cinemalaya screenings in the official CCP page, Cinemalaya social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube.
