The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
by Boy Villasanta
The 22nd Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is on.
At the press conference recently held at the Grand Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza, Cinemalaya Foundation President Laurice Guillen invited and welcomed everyone to embark on a journey with the 2026 film event.
Cinemalaya 22 an experience in diverse themes, thoughts and emotions bursting in images onscreen.
From the usual ten official entries to the Full-Length section, only nine were presented to the media together with the ten short features.
This year’s Cinemalaya is themed “Reel Reflections” as it, according to the CCP Corporate Communications, “explores cinema as a mirror that reflects the realities, aspirations, struggles and triumphs that shape the Filipino experience.”
Here are the nine full-length feature films:
“A.ni.mál” by Dustin Celestino, “2 Valid IDs” by Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan and Abet Pagdagdagan Raz, “Ganggang” by JL Burgos, “Hand of God” by Mark Duane Angos, “Mag-iina” by Giancarlo Abrahan and Guelan Luarca, “Kaka sa Yawan” by Alpha Habon, “Status: Rejected” by Vahn Leinard Pascual, “Tayo lang ang Nakakaalam” by David Corpuz and “Tirik” by May-i Guia Padilla.
Interestingly, all of these movies involve and revolve around a family, one of the origins of a society—the wellsprings of a film narrative.
While “A.ni.Mal” is about the evil in man, a bad governor disguised in sheep clothing, he is part of a family while the daughter of a mayor threatens to expose the scandals of his father’s political ally unless her pet dog is returned to her.
“2 Valid IDs” forays into the quagmire of poverty that eats up an ailing husband and a determined wife to produce two valid identification cards, however, she resorts to fixing her documents just to save his life.
“Ganggang” tackles the struggles of children on fighting ganggang(spiders) to determine who rules among them.
“Hand of God” talks about a child soldier, an offspring of a terrorist parent and a government soldier who happily interact with each but the realities of war may force them to learn a more devastating lesson.
“Tirik” explores religion and the conflicts that arise between a priest and parishioner, both sons of their parents, who come to terms with one another while eluding an assassination attempt.
“Kaka sa Yawan” delves into the bond between a city boy and a member of a Tadyawan-Mangyan who helps one another to heal old wounds of filial tensions.
“Status: Rejected” tells of an elderly woman who wants to go abroad to bond with her son, leaves her lonely life, hopes an old American to bring her to the US only to be rejected by the embassy.
“Tayo Lang ang Nakakaalam” keeps a family together until they are confronted with problems.
Cinemalaya 22 kicks off on August 6 at Red Carpet Cinemas in Shangri-La Mall and rolls in Ayala Malls cinemas and Gateway Cineplex until August 18, 2026.
Opening film is “Enjoy Your Stay,” a film by Honeylyn Joy Alipio and Dominik Locher which premiered at the Panorama section of the recently concluded Berlin International Film Festival in Germany and closing film is “Filipiniana,“ a movie by Rafael Manuel which was also shown at this year’s Berlin but won the Audience Choice at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.