Star Powerhouse

  As the Philippines hosts the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) brings the region’s creative communities together through Seas Unbroken , a cinematic music video commissioned to tell a collective story of Southeast Asia through the eyes of its people. Produced by Voyage Film Studios, the project celebrates the region’s diversity and shared experiences through the perspectives of local filmmakers. Rather than focusing on national landmarks and tourist destinations, Seas Unbroken turns its lens toward everyday life: livelihoods sustained by the sea, families gathering around meals, bustling urban communities, and children carrying traditions into the future. The film highlights how arts and culture can deepen understanding among nations, allowing artists to represent their own communities while contributing to a broader regional narrative. By bringing together filmmakers, creatives, and production teams from all 11 A...

FEU alumna filmmaker Zarrina Fernandez at ACFM in Busan   A recent graduate from the Far Eastern University Department of Communication represented the Philippines as one of the delegates for the Platform Busan in South Korea from October 10 to 13. Zarrina Fernandez also earned recognition as a scholar of the Film Development Council of the Philippines under its International Film Festival Assistance Program. Organized as part of the Asian Contents & Film Market during the 31st Busan International Film Festival, Platform Busan serves as a global networking space for emerging filmmakers to collaborate, pitch projects, and learn together with their peers from other parts of the world. Fernandez’s path to Busan was built on persistence and a deep commitment to storytelling. Coming from a household where choosing a creative field carries unique risks and uncertainty, earning a spot on a major international platform served as a significant personal milestone. “Platform Busan made me...

The Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc., a nonprofit organization representing film and television directors in the country, has officially announced the Top 10 selected film projects from the Philippines for its DGPI Pitch X-Pand program. Powered by the Quezon City Film Development Commission, QCinema International Film Festival, and the Film Academy of the Philippines, DGPI Pitch X-Pand serves as a platform to elevate, refine, and connect promising Filipino feature film projects with potential co-producers, investors, and international collaborators. The 10 selected projects and their respective filmmakers are “Again, Again, Again, Again” by Natts Jadaone; “Apple” by JR Reyes; “Bato Bato sa Langit, Ang Tamaan Magagalit” by Eve Baswel; “Bukod Kang Pinagpala” by Eric Cabahug; “Dance of the Pigeons” by Arjanmar Rebeta; “Divine Cannot Decide” by Benjar V. Ramos; “Dreamland” by Joseph Vitali; “Luzonensis at Floresiensis” by Karl Glenn Barit; “Maria’s Loft” by Donnie Sacueza; and “My...

  The 2026 Migrant Workers Film Festival has opened conversations about what it means to leave the country, during its Philippine leg screenings across university auditoriums, cultural centers, and film labs. Following its run in Hong Kong, the festival has turned its lenses toward the complex web of labor, displacement, family sacrifice, and resilience that defines the Filipino diaspora. The event, organized as a cultural and educational initiative by the Concerned Artists of the Philippines with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, featured a curated lineup spanning nearly four decades of migration cinema. The program included “Migrante” (AsiaVisions, 1987), “Modern Heroes, Modern Slaves” (Marie Boti and Michelle Smith, 1997), “Rhose” (Nawruz Paguidopon, 2008), “Rhose, Where Do Your Dreams Go?” (Paguidopon, 2012), “Ang Walang Kapagurang Paglalakbay ng Pulang Maleta” (Richard Soriano Legaspi, 2014), and “Gusto Nang Umuwi ni Joy” (Jan Tristan Pandy, 201...

  A student film from Alaminos, Pangasinan has put together a string of victories across both local and international film festivals.   “Under the Table,” co-directed by student filmmakers Branden Josh Domingo and Gian Carlo Ducusin, recently bagged the Best Short Film award at the International Student Film & Screenwriting Festival 2026, presented in association with WILDsound Festival TV.   The project, produced through the Hundred Islands Film Festival (HIFF) FILMLAB, took home Best International LGBTQIA+ Film at the Urbanite Arts and Film Festival in New York, USA last August. The film was also screened at the Duemila30 International Film Festival in Milan, Italy.   On the local front, “Under the Table” dominated the Senior High School Category of the CineMapúa Film Festival, clinching Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Actor for lead actor Christopher “Cj” Cerezo, Jr. It also got the Jury Prize at the Prim...

Gloc-9 celebrates his 29th anniversary in the music industry with the release of “Mga Ani ni Gloc-9,” his first-ever vinyl record featuring 11 of his greatest hits from different record labels throughout his music career. Produced by Universal Records, this limited-edition vinyl collection highlights his remarkable contribution to Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and the Philippine hip-hop scene. Recognized for his powerful storytelling, meaningful lyrics, and socially relevant music, Gloc-9 has become one of the Philippines' most respected rap artists. Throughout his 29-year career, he has released songs that tackle social issues, personal struggles, and the realities of Filipino life, connecting with audiences across different generations. “Mga Ani ni Gloc-9” features 11 memorable tracks from his extensive music catalog, including “Sirena” featuring Ebe Dancel, “Magda” featuring Rico Blanco, and “Upuan” featuring Jeazell Grutas. These iconic collaborations showcase Gloc-9's un...