The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
What’s in store for Philippine cinema the rest of the year as many films are scheduled to be released in the next remaining few months?
Is it still right to say that the local movie industry is in doldrums?
And what happens to cynics who have been saying that Pinoy movies are dead?
Or the naysayers are doomed themselves?
Consider this:
The 2025 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is on.
The Cinemalaya Foundation (CMF) and Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) collaboration has kicked off last Friday at the Red Carpet Cinema of Shangri-La Mall in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City in a grand opening with ten (10) new full-length and ten (10) short films in competition.
How’s that for a fourth quarter serving of local screeners?
20 films in Cinemalaya 2025
The twenty films to be shown from October 3 to 12, 2026 at Gateway, Shangri-La Mall and Ayala Malls cinemas are the following:
Feature Films are “Bloom Where You Are Planted” by Nonilon Abao; “Child No. 82” by Tim Rone Villanueva; “Cinemartyrs” by Sari Dalena; “Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan” by Dustin Celestino; “Padamlagan” by Jenn Romano; “Paglilitis” by Cheska Marfori and Raymund Barcelon; “Open Endings” by Nigel Santos and Keavy Vicente; “Republika ng Pipolipinas” by Renei Dimla; “Raging” by Ryan Machado; and “Warla” by Kevin Alambra.
Short Feature Films in the running include: “Ascension from the Office Cubicle” Hannah Silvestre; “Figat” by Handiong Kapuno; “Hasang” by Daniel de la Cruz; “I’m Best Left Inside My Head” by Elian Idioma; “Kay Basta Angkarabo Yay Bagay Ibat Ha Langit” by Marie Estela Paiso; “Kung Tugnaw Ang Kaidalman Sang Lawod” by Seth Andrew Blanca; “Please Keep This Copy” by Miguel Lorenzo Peralta; “Radikals” by Arvin Belarmino; “The 24 Hours” by Carl Joseph Papa; and “Water Sports” by Whammy Alcazaren.
Which of these entries will be honored at the awards night and which will ring hits at the box-office?
To everyone’s curiosity, the Cinemalaya 21 opening film was “The Elysian Field,” a new title from India by NETPAC (Network in the Promotion of Asian Cinema) award-winning filmmaker Pradip Kurbah while the closing will be announced soon.
“The Elysian Field” made its Philippine debut at Cinemalaya.
Laurice Guillen as Cinemalaya 21 opener
Laurice Guillen, President of Cinemalaya Foundation, Chris Millado. Festival Director, and Carlos Siguion-Reyna, Chairman of the Competition and Monitoring Division of the festival led the opening ceremonies to the delight of filmmakers, cinephiles, critics, fans, industry leaders, movie press, film professionals and other multimedia personalities.
Laurice opened the event while Julia Clarete hosted the program.
Meanwhile, the 7th Sinag Maynila, a project co-venture between Solar Entertainment through producer Wilson Tieng and internationally acclaimed filmmaker Brillante Ma. Mendoza, has just wrapped up mid last week.
Out of the five (5) official entries to the fest, “Selda Tres” won the Audience Choice Award which signified the most watched film of the season.
New Sunrise Productions’ “Madawag ang Landas Patungong Pag-asa” bagged the Best Film Award while Topel Lee took home the Best Director plum for “Jeongbu.”
Rita Daniela, Best Actress
Rita Daniela brought home the Best Actress bacon for “Madawag ang Landas Patungong Pag-asa” while JM de Guzman snagged the Best Actor trophy for “Selda Tres.”
The other winners are: Feature Film Category are: Best Screenplay—Eric Ramos (“Madawag Ang Landas Patungong Pag-asa”); Best Cinematography–AB Garcia (“Jeongbu”); Best Editing—Crishel Desuasido, RIP (“Jeongbu”); Best Music—Von De Guzman (“Madawag Ang Landas Patungong Pag-asa”); Best Production Design—Jay Custodio (“Madawag Ang Landas Patungong Pag-asa”); Best Sound—Fatima Nerikka Salim and Immanuel Verona (“Jeongbu”); People’s Choice Award—”Selda Tres” by GB Sampedro.
Documentary Film Open Category: Best Film—Giovanni Piolo Rayle (“Oscar’s Recipe”); Jury Prize—Donnie Sacueza (“Mga Bayaning Ayta”).
Documentary Film Student Category: Best Documentary—Janno Pelias (“Sa Wakas, Kasama”); Second Best Documentary—Kyle Dexter Millave (“Pendiyente”); Third Best Documentary—Kyle Dexter Millave (“Romeo and Julie”); Special Citation—Karla Arvi Ariston (“Daungan ng mga Naghihintay”).
Short Film Open Category: Best Short Film—Daniel de la Cruz (“Ang Gadya Sang Suba (The Tale of the River Monster”); Jury Prize for Animation—JP Corton (“Nagahanaw Na Mga Aninipot (Vanishing Fireflies”).
Short Film Student Category: Best Film—Trinie Archie Garcia (“Taga-taga”); Jury Prize—Kristal Kaye Tagle (“Walahanon (Left)”). Special Citation for Best Performance—Phillip Altejos (“Boi”).
Tito Valiente, Baby Ruth Villarama, Zig Dulay, Jury member
The three jury members for full-length films at documentaries are Zig Dulay, Baby Ruth Villarama, and Tito Valiente while jury members for short films are Rica Arevalo, Dr. Kei Tan, at Juvy Ann Clarito. The Selection Committee was composed of Valiente, Ryanne Murcia and Juliet Cuizon Licaros.
Before the Year of the Snake ends, there are other film festivals and regular theaters to screen local movies.
Viva Entertainment has launched Cinesilip Film Festival which features selected entries to be screened during the last week of October.
In November, the Quezon City International Film Festival will hold its twelfth year with new releases.
One of the most anticipated local film fiestas is the annual Metro Manila Film Festival held during Christmastime from December 25 to first week of January the following year with new titles to feast on.
Vivamax, the streaming platform of Viva Entertainment, has been churning out new movies, particularly skin flicks, every week.
Who says Filipino movies are dead?
It’s alive and kicking.
They only need your patronage to keep it going.