The 22nd Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is on.
This is the announcement of actress and director Laurice Guillen during the opening of one of the most awaited film events in the Philippines last week at the Grabc Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza in Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City.
Guillen, the President of Cinemalaya Foundation, the collaborator of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in mounting the annual film fiesta, said that Filipinos, particularly filmmakers and audiences alike should cautiously welcone technological breakthroughs in the 21st century like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the newest machine to invade filmmaking.
"We should welcome wonders but we should also be cautious of them. AI can make movies but it has no emotion unlike real human filmmakers who have the heart to feel other people's feelings being translated into the screen. Surely, we depend on machines but we must also cling to the human person," said Laurice during the stormy night launch of the 2026 Cinemalaya where a total of nineteen new releases (ten short films and nine full-length features) were presented to the public for viewing from August 6 to 18, 2026 at various theater houses like Red Carpet cinemas in Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Gateway cinemas and select Ayala Malls movie houses.
Amidst a blast of typhoon Maymay, international name Kujira, the 2026 Cinemalaya has opened.
The following are the official entries to the main competition of the fest: "Elenita Elena Elaine" by Gabriela Serrano; “Honey, my Love, so Sweet” by JT Trinidad; “Hoy, Hoy, Ingat!” by Norvin de los Santos; “kung paano kakalas.” by Joseph Vitali; “Para-Paraan” by Mae Chan Li; “Runo!” by Lysa Catolico and Jazmine Gin Pateña; “Silkscreen” by Rey Anthony Villaverde; “Sorbetes” by Jennissie Gilbuena; “The Keeper” by Nolan Rae Fabular and TRNZ and “The River Flows in Different Places” by Lot-lot Hermosura for the short film section.
"A.ni.mal" by Dustin Celestino, "2 Valid IDs" by Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan and Abet Pagdagdagan Raz, "Ganggang" by JL Burgos, "Hand of God" by Mark Duane Angos, "Mag-iina" by Giancarlo Abraham and Guelan Luarca, "Kaka sa Yawan" by Alpha Habon, "Tayo Lang ang Nakakaalam" by David Corpuz and "Tirik" by May-I Guia Padilla.
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