Cinemalaya calls for entries for its 2026 edition

The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival continues to sail as it opens its doors for new entries for the Full-Length Film category of its 2026 edition. The deadline for submissions is on or before 6PM of JUNE 6, 2025 (Friday).

The country’s biggest independent film festival continues its pursuit of innovative and excellent filmmaking as it celebrates 21 years of nurturing independent Filipino filmmakers eager to make their marks in the film industry in 2026.  

Those who are interested in submitting their entries may submit it ONLINE through https://forms.gle/XFAaxKrwY34VDLjz8 with the following requirements: the concept paper of the project containing the premise(s) of the film, the genre, the tagline, the key characters, and their descriptions in Filipino or English; a two-page synopsis/storyline of the film project; resume of the proponent/s; two (2) recent photos of proponent/s; and a sample of the work directed by the proponent.

The sheets containing the concept paper must NOT bear the name of the proponent. Full scripts will not be accepted.

Interested participants may submit a maximum of three entries. However, only one entry per proponent may be considered as a finalist. Works already in principal photography or post-production phase before JULY 2025 are disqualified, except for documentaries.

Works that are attached to film and television productions, as well as those of local streaming platforms, are eligible for submission as long as said works are not commissioned projects but originated from the filmmaker as a proponent. Commissioned works from commercial platforms are disqualified for consideration.

By JULY 11, 2025 (Friday), the Cinemalaya Competition Committee shall select 30 promising submissions, whose proponents will be invited to a pitching session on JULY 26, 2025 (Saturday) for their respective projects. The initial selection would be narrowed down to 20 entries, whose proponents who will participate in the Cinemalaya Film Lab, a film laboratory and mentorship program under the Cinemalaya Institute from August to November 2025.

The Cinemalaya Film Lab is a program which brings together resource persons from different aspects of filmmaking, from scriptwriting, directing, cinematography, performance, editing, production design, sound, music, production management, and promotion strategies.

From the film lab and mentorship program of the Cinemalaya Institute, the Competition Committee will choose the 10 finalists for the 2026 Cinemalaya Main Competition.

The ten (10) film finalists will be screened during the festival period on AUGUST 7-16, 2026, at various festival venues.

Since 2005, Cinemalaya has been committed to the development and promotion of Philippine independent film. At its core, it provides an avenue for the production of cinematic works of Filipino independent filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity. With its call for submissions for the 2026 full-length film competition, Cinemalaya continues to invigorate the Philippine film industry by developing a new breed of Filipino filmmakers. 

For full mechanics, visit the Cinemalaya website (www.cinemalaya.org) and follow the official Cinemalaya social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Tiktok.