Star Powerhouse

  Misamis Occidental turns into a vibrant hub for independent cinema as the 6th Oroquieta Film Festival showcases 28 selected works from across the Visayas and Mindanao from October 12 to 15. Among the entries chosen for the Lumayagan Shorts Competition is “Those Little Things,” a sci-fi short film hailing from Negros Occidental. Produced under Kwentista Produksyon, the short film transports viewers to the year 2222 in a cyberpunk version of Bacolod. The plot follows a teenager (Ynez Arceo) navigating a seemingly routine day with her father (Bon Cerbo), completely unaware that a surprise awaits her. Beneath its futuristic exterior, the film balances speculative technology with deeply human warmth, exploring the quiet bonds between parent and child against a high-tech backdrop. John Arceo plays different characters as a supporting actor. Co-directors and co-producers Poli Gonzales, who also supervised the visual effects team, and Massah Gonzales-Gamboa, who also wrote the screenplay...

Film enthusiasts in Manila are set for a cinematic celebration as the Italian Film Festival 2026 returns to the city from June 26 to July 1, 2026 , bringing six acclaimed contemporary Italian films to the big screen at Shangri-La Red Carpet Cinema in Mandaluyong City . Organized by the Embassy of Italy in Manila in partnership with Elephant Pictures, Cineforum Robert Bresson, the Philippine-Italian Association, and Shangri-La Plaza’s Red Carpet Cinemas, the festival aims to showcase the diversity of contemporary Italian cinema while strengthening cultural ties between Italy and the Philippines. A major highlight of the Italian Film Festival Manila 2026 is its lineup of recent films from some of Italy’s notable filmmakers, including Academy Award-winning director Paolo Sorrentino , known for The Great Beauty and Youth , and acclaimed filmmaker Paolo Genovese , director of Perfect Strangers . The festival opens with La Grazia (The Pardon) by Paolo Sorrentino, a political drama cente...

Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership with the Freedom Flame Award The Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership has been recognized as one of the recipients of the 2026 Freedom Flame Awards, highlighting its continued efforts to promote good governance, ethical leadership, and meaningful youth participation in Philippine public life. The recognition was given by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Philippines (FNF) during its 40th anniversary celebration and the 15th year of the Freedom Flame Awards, held under the theme “Kalayaan Noon, Ngayon at Bukas – 40 Years of Freedom in Action.” The ceremony gathered advocates, policymakers, leaders, and artists at Decagon Events Place in Pasig City. Former Nagcarlan, Laguna Vice Mayor Amie Hernandez and fellow Kaya Natin! core member Marian Pastor Roces accepted the award on behalf of the movement. FNF recognized Kaya Natin! for inspiring future leaders to lead with integrity, serve with...

 Regional cinema continues to gain recognition as filmmakers from Negros Occidental bring compelling local stories to audiences beyond their home communities. At the upcoming 6th Oroquieta Film Festival , happening from October 12 to 15 in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental, 28 independent films from across Visayas and Mindanao will be showcased, including three notable Negrense entries in the Lumayagan Shorts Competition : Manami Guid Man Mag **** sa Mansion , Sa Duta sang Kabuhi (In the Soil of Life), and Those Little Things . Co-directed by Seb Valdez and Trini Garcia, Manami Guid Man Mag **** sa Mansion previously competed in the Sagaynon Shorts Competition at the 7th Margaha Film Festival in Sagay City, where it earned awards for Best Production Design and Best Original Song. Meanwhile, Steve Villasor’s Sa Duta sang Kabuhi presents a timely look at the environmental and social challenges affecting Negros, widely known as the “sugar bowl of the Philippines.” Produced by 23 T...

  The journey of an actor is often defined by the moments they choose to step completely outside their comfort zone. For Filipina actress Zar Donato, that leap has not only taken her across geographical borders but has also placed her at the forefront of a new chapter in her professional life. From her early days in local independent cinema to her current strides on the international stage, Donato is establishing herself as a remarkable talent to watch. Donato was recently selected one of the 20 finalists for The Master Series: Film Development Council of the Philippines’ Acting Workshop for Filipino Talents 2026. The program offers an opportunity for growth, placing her under the mentorship of acclaimed directors Jose Javier Reyes, Laurice Guillen, and Joel Lamangan. For Donato, a film graduate from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, this training marks a refining of her craft. It is a transition from the raw talent first discovered in the 2018 QCinema entry “Billie and Emma” t...

For Serena Magiliw, the camera and the stage are both platforms for performance and battlegrounds for visibility. The Manila-based independent actor, director, and cultural worker recently completed the highly competitive program The Master Series: Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Acting Workshop for Filipino Talents 2026.  While the selection marks a significant milestone in her career, it also underscores Magiliw’s evolution into a multidisciplinary force disrupting traditional power structures through raw, queer, and trans-centered storytelling. Her artistic foundation is deeply rooted in academic and cultural exploration. She studied Filipinology at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and has blended transmedia narrative techniques with institutional critique. Magiliw’s portfolio features critical performance research, including her piece “Rampa” for the Asian Performing Arts Camp 2021 and a directorial stint for the Tokyo Festival Farm 2022 Farm-La...

Producer, production manager, film festival coordinator, and educator Kristin Bactad-Jor recently shared her industry experience with University of the East-Caloocan Visual Communication senior students during a talk at the Chua King Ha Gallery. Drawing from nearly two decades of practice, Bactad-Jor shared her knowledge and tips on producing films, production management, and the complexities of film festival operations. Since joining Red Room Media Productions in 2006, Bactad-Jor has established herself as an integral part of several film productions. Her career is defined by a commitment to advocacy-driven storytelling, spanning short films, documentaries, and high-impact video projects. Bactad-Jor has worked on numerous projects, including collaborations with institutions such as the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, GMA News TV, Techtales Asia-Pacific, and the Bacolod City Government Center. She has served as line producer and production manager for award-winning films ...

Grab’s wide-ranging programs, from financial aid to wellness and family support, transform the livelihoods  of partners like Ronni and Mary Joy; and fuel shared prosperity across communities. Now in its second year, “Itatawid, Ihahatid” continues to spotlight the often-overlooked dedication of Grab’s driver- and delivery-partners — everyday heroes who go the extra mile not just for passengers and customers, but for the families who rely on them. This year’s campaign features two viral short films inspired by real stories—those of a senior GrabCar driver and a determined female GrabFood cyclist. More than just testimonials of grit, these stories reveal a shared reality among drivers and riders: behind every booking is a mission, one that transforms individual journeys into opportunities for entire families. In the heat of a Manila afternoon, 63-year-old Ronald “Ronni” Petterson grips the steering wheel of his GrabCar with precision. He is simply a dedicated transport professional ...

  The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute has moved the deadline of submission of entries to the 9th Indie-Siyensya Filmmaking Competition to June 29, 2025.  DOST-SEI established Indie-Siyensya, one of the pioneering science filmmaking competitions in the Philippines, to promote science and technology culture through film. This year’s competition theme is “Halik sa Lupa” (Kiss the Earth), which explores the multifaceted significance of soil.  Indie-Siyensya features two categories: the Open Category for college students, teachers, and science and technology professionals (at least 19 years old on the last day of submission), and the Youth Category for other students and out-of-school youth (aged 13-18 on the last day of submission). Winners in both will receive substantial prizes, with 200,000 pesos awarded to the Best Film, 150,000 pesos to the second placer, and 100,000 pesos for the third prize. Participants in the Open Category can create ...

  The Film Development Council of the Philippines recently screened five student documentaries on arts and the community during the Dokyumentado film festival held across its cinematheque centres nationwide. The FDCP also organized a talkback session with the documentary filmmakers in Manila. Richard Soriano Legaspi, award-winning filmmaker and faculty of the University of the East College of Fine Arts, Architecture, and Design, moderated the panel discussion with Josh Mutia, director of “Balde at Brotsa,” De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde; Trisha See, producer of “Guhit Recto,” Far Eastern University; Elvin Jay Macanlalay, one of the filmmakers of “How the Beasts Got Hyped,” UE CFAD; Jasper Tan, producer of “A Bad Name,” FEU; and Christina Alyssa “Aysie” Damaso, director of “Pinta,” Mapúa University. The discussion provided an engaging platform for the audience, exploring the transformative power of the arts in shaping communities and emphasizing its ability to reflect and chal...

  Student filmmakers focus on childhood experiences, both good and bad, in Set B of the documentaries lined up for Dokyumentado, the inaugural documentary film festival of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, which runs from November 23 to December 7 in FDCP cinematheques nationwide. FDCP Chair and CEO Jose Javier “Direk Joey” Reyes stressed the importance of documentary filmmaking “most especially at a time of information overload and alternative truths. The Film Development Council of the Philippines emphasizes the significance of this genre especially among the young in order to bring about a generation rich with thought, courage and dedication to the value of truth.” In “Ate Si Bunso,” filmmaker Raphaela “Rapha” Dominguez sums up the daily life, struggles, and joys of her family as they raise Andre, her eldest brother who has autism. As the younger sister, Rapha recounts her thoughts, feelings, and musings about her brother and the relationship she has with him now ...

Director-producer Mike de Leon has a stellar ensemble cast for his newest movie Citizen Jake, which opens in Philippine cinemas nationwide last May 23. Citizen Jake is about Jake Herrera, journalist and estranged son of a powerful Philippine Senator. Driven by disdain for his father, Jake moves to Baguio City where he attempts to build a new life. But circumstances force him to try to solve the brutal killing of a young, female student in the university where he teaches in. Jake conducts an investigation—a move that leads him to face corruption and his personal demons.  The screenplay is written by Mike de Leon, Atom Araullo and Noel Pascual. The film is produced by Cinema Artists Philippines and distributed by Solar Pictures.

Finalist of 2018 Sinag Maynila Film Festival 2018 Finalists for Sinag Maynila’s Film Festival Full Length, Short Film, and Documentary categories were announced last 21st of February at The Block, SM City North EDSA. With its theme on their 4th season this year, “Sine Lokal, Pang-Internasyonal” truly defines how good award winning Filipino Movie Makers are when it comes to film, bringing it into the next level and showing them what we’ve got in international film festivals.

I think I just had a Classic Pare Titos and Titas of Manila moment while watching this movie since I couldn’t help myself from twitterpating (kilig lang yan, inartehan ko) over such a cute couple. Nope, not talking about JoshLia (even if Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto were also really charming here).