Cinemalaya 21: ‘Layag sa Alon, Hangin, at Unos’ Charts Bold New Horizons in Philippine Cinema
Cinemalaya 2025 Sails Onward with Grit and Grace
True to its spirit of fearless storytelling, the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is back—and it’s more daring, dynamic, and defiant than ever.
Happening from October 3 to 12, this year’s 21st edition bears the theme: “Cinemalaya 21: Layag sa Alon, Hangin, at Unos”—a poetic call to navigate not just the waves of cinema, but the crosscurrents of social change and creative risk-taking. Once again, Cinemalaya proves it remains a powerful vessel for Filipino filmmakers ready to brave artistic storms and rise above the tides.
A Fierce Lineup: 10 Full-Length Films in Competition
Anchored in imagination and artistic integrity, Cinemalaya 21 unveils 10 full-length feature films vying for the coveted Best Film Balanghai Trophy:
Bloom Where You Are Planted – Nonilon Abao
The Cagayan Valley Region in the Philippines serves as the dedicated workplace of Agnes (a development worker), the chosen home of Amanda (a jailed mother-artist-activist), and the birthplace of Randy (a slain peace consultant). Yet, they find themselves unable to return home: one is relentlessly pursued by the government, another is imprisoned, and the third is killed on his journey home. The paths taken by these three activists will be explored including the pit stops, obstacles, detours, and the long road ahead in the journey towards rebuilding a home with the people of Cagayan – a place that they work together to shape, and also shape who they are. Amid all these, the film explores their disrupted connections to home and celebrates their enduring resilience in the face of adversity.
Child No. 82 – Tim Rone Villanueva
Maximo “Boy Kana” Maniego Sr., the biggest action-fantasy movie star of Philippine Cinema, has passed away. Max, a 17-year-old student rumored to be an illegitimate son of the late icon, has to prove that he is the 82nd child before the end of the public viewing hours. When proven, it can help Max claim his identity, inheritance, and showbiz dream to support his pregnant teenage girlfriend and their baby. Will Max reach the casket before the clock strikes if he needs to stand in line with hundreds of fans and villains who also claim their places in Boy Kana’s life?
A young filmmaker sets out to recreate forgotten massacres from Philippine history. But when she is challenged by the committee that is belittling her skills, she agrees to go to the present-day war-torn locations where the atrocities occurred. Overcoming one obstacle after another with her small crew, they begin shooting at a site where a thousand men, women and children were slaughtered. But as soon as the camera starts rolling, the angry spirits are awakened, and the lives of her team and the villagers are put in peril. The brutal traumas of history echoing to the present day.
Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan – Dustin Celestino
Four Filipinos cope with life after a painful political defeat. Kiko, a political strategist, questions the purpose of his lifelong struggle. Bea, a history professor, attempts to teach a past her country would rather forget. David, a disillusioned speechwriter, becomes entrapped by the very lies he tries to challenge. Mela, an election lawyer, confronts family secrets she has long avoided. Each one searches for purpose as truths fade, histories blur, and memory itself becomes an act of defiance.
As the Naga community collectively recalls the 1972 Colgante Bridge tragedy through archives and memory, we see Doring — a devoted voyador — caught between faith, tradition, and the fractures within his own family. Every year, he joins thousands in Naga City’s fluvial procession for Our Lady of Peñafrancia, but this year feels different. His estranged son Ivan has just returned from Manila, restless and questioning, a presence both near and distant.
Paglilitis – Cheska Marfori & Raymund Barcelon
After years of trauma from pervasive sexual harassment at her workplace, Jonalyn Samuel quietly lives as a recluse. A passionate lawyer, however, finds and persuades Jonalyn to file a case against her former employer, the CEO of one of the biggest companies in the country. Initially reluctant, the lawyer explains that times have changed and the woke generation will greatly help in pursuing justice. Convinced, Jonalyn takes a risk and finds hope through the overwhelming support she receives through social media. But, the platform that initially gives her assurance soon becomes a toxic space that presents her as a heartless perpetrator instead of a victim.
Open Endings – Nigel Santos & Keavy Vicente
follows Hannah, Charlie, Kit, and Mihan, four queer women in their early 30s who share a deeply entangled history: first girl crush, first girlfriend, first kiss, first love, great love, heartbreaks, one-night stands, even ghosting. The romance may have ended, but the friendship held strong. When Hannah is pulled into deep grief, the others show up without hesitation. Through breakups, family drama, and personal struggles, they keep choosing one another. Just when life starts to feel stable, Hannah is faced with a decision that changes everything without warning. Can their friendship carry the weight of what’s next? Will old feelings resurface?
Republika ng Pipolipinas – Renei Dimla
Cora Vitug, a disillusioned farmer, protests against the government’s plan to take her land and home by renouncing her Filipino citizenship and building her own micronation she calls Republika ng Pipolipinas. Her solitary act of defiance divides people. She inspires some while gaining the unfair judgement of many who question her motives and her sanity. When a new government project hastens her displacement, Cora and the people who believe in her cause set out to reveal the webbed corruption that extends far beyond the confines of the small town. As they work against the clock and with looming threats against their freedom, Cora and the citizens of Republika ng Pipolipinas prove that what truly makes a great nation is not its land nor its history, but the courage of its people.
Set in the mid-90s in Sibuyan, Romblon, Philippines, Raging follows Eli, a young man in his late teens who was raped by one of his peers. After reporting the incident to the authorities and having it dismissed to be a playful prank between friends, he retreats into a world of silence and isolation, magnified when his father leaves him to work in a covert mining site in their small town. When he tries to return to normal life, his abuser continues to appear, casting a shadow over his every move and provoking at every opportunity. One night, when Eli witnesses a plane crash that vanishes without a trace, something sparks inside him, igniting a strong desire to break his silence. This strange event leads him to conduct a personal quest that parallels his quest for justice.
Young Kitkat is taken in by Joice, who leads a group of transgender women kidnapping foreigners to fund gender-affirming surgeries that they believe will finally allow them to live as their true selves. Kitkat, however, does not feel the need to change her body to be a real woman. The others in the gang, like Luningning and Barbie Ann, carry the heavy scars of rejection, deep gender dysphoria, and painful memories of cruelty they have endured, making the surgeries feel like a lifeline. For Kitkat, who has never known acceptance from a family, finding belonging with these women is both healing and complicated, as she must confront the harsh and destructive choices the group makes. Loosely based on a true story, this crime drama explores how women who long to stop being preyed upon transform into perpetrators, carving out power in the only space they feel is left to them.
Each title presents a distinct point of view—unfiltered, fearless, and fully Filipino.
Spotlight on Short Films: 10 Compact Cinematic Gems
Small in length but big in impact, the Short Feature Film competition lineup showcases:
- Ascension from the Office Cubicle – Hannah Silvestre
- FIGAT – Handiong Kapuno
- Hasang – Daniel de la Cruz
- I’m Best Left Inside My Head – Elian Idioma
- Kay Basta Angkarabo Yay Bagay Ibat ha Langit – Marie Estela Paiso
- Kung Tugnaw ang Kaidalman sang Lawod – Seth Andrew Blanca
- Please Keep This Copy – Miguel Lorenzo Peralta
- Radikals – Arvin Belarmino
- The Next 24 Hours – Carl Joseph Papa
- Water Sports – Whammy Alcazaren
These 10 shorts promise striking visuals, raw emotion, and groundbreaking perspectives—proof that brevity can still pack a punch.
More Screens, More Stories: Cinemalaya Goes Nationwide
The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc. are expanding horizons further by making this year’s festival more accessible than ever. In addition to Ayala Malls—Cinemalaya’s long-time partner—Red Carpet Cinemas by Shangri-La Plaza joins the list as a main venue. Gateway Cineplex is also onboard, ensuring more audiences can catch these independent gems on the big screen.
Alternatibo in Focus: Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula
Running alongside the festival is the 37th Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video—Southeast Asia’s longest-running competition for alternative film. It honors excellence in Narrative Shorts, Documentaries, Experimental Films, and Animation, reinforcing the commitment to diverse and innovative Filipino storytelling.
Two Decades of Impact: Cinemalaya’s Legacy
Since its inception in 2005, Cinemalaya has championed over 1,000 independent films, helping launch the careers of visionary filmmakers whose works have earned accolades both locally and globally. Now in its 21st year, the festival continues to chart new creative territories—unstoppable, unfiltered, and undeniably Filipino.
So whether you’re a cinephile, a curious viewer, or someone looking for honest stories with heart, Cinemalaya 21 welcomes you aboard. Let the stories stir you, the images move you, and the waves of truth carry you forward.
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