Limelight

by Boy Villasanta If there’s one distinctive if not peculiar feature of this year’s Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, it’s the ubiquitous presence of kids in the number of official entries, both in the Full-Length Features and Short Films. They aren’t simply kids but highly exceptional children who can act before the movie cameras. It was Cinemalaya Foundation President Laurice …

Comedienne Pokwang should be emulated for her taking risks in experimenting on role playing, particularly in the movies. We take off our hats to her when she accepted the challenging role of Sylvia, a wife who braved the bureaucratic red tape to secure an ID just to claim a remittance money to pay for her husband’s hospitalization in the socially …

How’s idol Diether Ocampo these days? After he starred in Darryl Yap’s “Martyr or Murderer” as Sebastian Duterte in 2023, nothing has been heard of the good-looking actor. How’s his love life? A juicy item has just cropped up from the grapevine, though. Our spy from General Trias, Cavite said that Diether and Dasmarinas City Mayor Jenny Barzaga are seen …

From being a film actor in Lino Brocka’s “Hellow Soldier,” a segment in the trilogy “Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa” (1974) to a publicist of Sharon Cuneta, Rey Valera, Freddie Aguilar, Imelda Papin etc. in Vicor Recording Company and Blackgold Records to a print and TVC ad model for GE Refrigerator and Diners Card, the virile Edgar Santiago is very much on …

“In This Moment,” a feature directorial debut from queer Filipino American filmmaker Mike Talplacido recently made its world premiere at the iconic Roxie Theater as an official selection of the San Francisco Queer Film Festival 2026. Set in North Carolina, “In This Moment” follows a Fil-Am writer and his husband as they grapple with infidelity, caregiving, loss and the possibility …

2TinCans Philippines, Inc. presents “Stay a Little Longer,” a full-length drama written by Sarah Mae Enclona-Henderson and directed by Shifrah Bouchikhi-Enclona on August 29 and 30 at The Kabilin Center. “Stay a Little Longer” follows a woman whose memory moves fluidly across the many stages of her life. One moment, she is a child grieving the loss of her brother. …

by Boy Villasanta Photo Caption: Ruby Ruiz and Pokwang (Photo Credit: Mell T. Navarro/Facebook)  Social media posts on the stalemate win of actresses Pokwang and Ruby Ruiz came true last night at the 22nd Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival awards night at the Grand Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza. Presenter John Arcilla readily announced “It’s a tie” and the audience applauded …

By Boy Villasanta If rains signify manna from heaven, then the 2026 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival has all the graces coming from above making box-office hits after hits of the fest’s entries in its entire run. The opening of the 22nd Cinemalaya last Thursday at the Grand Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Shaw Boulevard was marked by …

For its 22nd edition, the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival has once again assembled a distinguished panel of filmmakers, curators, critics, producers, and cultural practitioners from the Philippines and across the globe to serve as jurors who will decide who will take home the coveted Balanghai trophy.  For the main competition, the jury members are Sari Lluch Dalena, Marian Pastor …

When a colleague in show business dies, particularly a movie writer, there is as if a part of me which also departs. Or any tinseltown players and denizens for that matter that somehow snatch a memory from my mind. It is the ability to see logic and purpose of life. Why is there such a thing as mortality and absurdity …