The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
by Boy Villasanta
Tis the season of international film festivals to be held in Manila.
The 2025 Sinag Maynila Film Festival will kick off on Sunday, August 24, 2025 in Gateway, Robinsons Manila, Robinsons Antipolo, SM Mall of Asia and SM Fairview.
Meanwhile, the annual Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, one of the precursors of film fests in the country, which was originally scheduled in the past, either the month of July or August, will see action this year in October at the Shangrila Mall and Ayala cinemas.
The Quezon City International Film Festival is also just around the corner mostly held in November while the fiesta of Filipino films through the Metro Manila Film Festival is traditionally celebrated in December.
The Sinag Maynila which was established in 2015 but missed its harvests during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic but was revived last year.
It’s now on its seventh year.
Solar Entertainment President Wilson Tieng and Cannes International Film Festival Best Director Brillante Ma. Mendoza jointly founded Sinag Maynila to ventilate the voices and take pride in the world-class character of Filipino filmmakers.
With its recurring logline “Sineng Lokal, Pang-internasyunal,” the 2025 Sinag Maynila will once again fete the movie-going public with unique, versatile and innovative local films in the Full-Length Feature Category, Documentary Section and Short Film Division.
There are five official entries in the Full-Length component of the fest, namely, “Candie,” a coming of age drama directed by Kevin Pison Piamonte and stars Gian Pomperada, JC Santos and Sunshine Teodoro; “Jeongbu,” a suspense thriller directed by Topel Lee and features Aljur Abrenica, Ritz Azul and Empress Shuck; “Madawag ang Landas Patungong Pag-asa,” a drama directed by Joel Lamangan and topbills Rita Daniela, Jak Roberto and Albie Casino; “Selda Tres,” an action drama directed by GM Dampedro and presents Carla Abellana, JM de Guzman and Cesar Montano; and “Altar Boy,” a mystery drama directed by Serville Poblete and showcases Mark Bacolcol, Shai Barcia and Pablo S.J. Quiogue.
Several select doc movies from students and open call participants are lined up as well as engaging short films from students and open call from established and emerging filmmakers.