The 2026 Sinag Maynila Film Festival has ended last Sunday, March 29, 2026 on a happy, successful note.
All six full-length entries were screened with enthusiastic audiences from all walks of life at the Gateway, Eastwood, Lucky Chinatown and Bonifacio Global City cinemas.
Festival Director Brillante Ma. Mendoza was riding high because of the enormous support of the public.
Sinag Maynila, an annual film fest organized by Mendoza and one of Solar Entertainment big bosses Wilson Tieng, aims to promote independent filmmaking in the country.
One of its highlights is to show the internationally qualified features of local films that are rarely shown.
It's the provincial moviemaking that has redefined the meaning of high quality films.
By doing so, regional filmmaking has found its niche in the festival.
The Visayan filmmaking community was again focused in the film event when "Pinikas," a feature project was underscored as one of the outstanding films during the one-week celebration of the Mendoza-Tieng entertainment partnership.
"Pinikas” which means halved, is about a teen breadwinner from a Philippine fishing village in the southern part of Leyte who finds hope in the internet cafes.
It stars Angela Villarin and Jade Makawili with other regional actors like Kevin Reams, Michael Bacalso, Randolph Valmoria, Dion Seco Cecilio, Jolaica Amiana, Ellah Mae Cuaton and Arvin Cabajes.
"Pinikas" is directed by Cris Fuego from Sunny Toys Entertainment.
In the Short Film Category, the Visayan entries were also celebrated like “Kaon” by Miguel Dimaiwat; “Magindara” by Ryand Angelo Ugalde; “Pagbalik Sa Lawod” by Lee Joshua Sardoma & Elaiza Marie Empat; “Paon” by Seb Valdez and “Tanan Nga Makita Kag Indi Makita” by Glydel Beatisula.
There was also the Short Film Studeny Category and Visayan movies were standouts as well like “Isa ka Higayon” by Chelsea Tasic; “Mag Unsa Na Lang Ta Ani?” by Keith Nemenzo and “Re: Living Kalipay” by Mariel Joanachim Rovero.
In the Documentary Film Student Category, one Region 8 entry was exceptional, namely, “Asa ang mga Salida sa Leyte?” by Lebron Ponce and Linus Masandag.
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