ALL FILM & TV FEATURES
In the Middle of Things: Lighting the Fires of Regional Cinema, One Grassroots Initiative at a Time
One thing I’ve learned is that initiatives like Keith Deligero’s In the Middle of Things do not have to be confined to one place. They can exist across islands, cities, and provinces throughout the archipelago. One initiative lights a small flame somewhere; another carries it somewhere else. Over time, these scattered flames begin to form something larger: a collective effort to nurture regional cinema, strengthen local filmmaking communities, and ultimately bring the stories of our islands to wider audiences.
The Birds Are Watching in Ilaya Ilaya Studios’ Upcoming Found-Footage Horror Film ‘Birdsong’
Newly launched production house Ilaya-Ilaya Studios taps into real and supernatural fears in the upcoming found-footage horror film ‘Birdsong’ from director Pam Miras, producers Antoinette Jadaone and Irene Emma Villamor, writer Glenn Barit, and Kaila Estrada in her first lead role
Body as commodity in CinePanalo short ‘Kanibal’
Through body horror and social commentary, ‘Kanibal’ tackles the plight of Iloilo public market vendors versus redevelopment.
‘Chungking Express’ or Other Ways of Seeing Dreams
If Wong Kar-wai’s films collectively share a grammar then ‘Chungking Express’ may be where that language speaks most freely. Like most of his titles, its logic is not governed by realism but by emotional proximity: pillow cases get renewed without explanation, strangers enter private spaces, and affection is expressed through invisible, almost imperceptible acts. In WKW's universe, longing rearranges reality just enough to make narrow spaces for connection.
From the Mountains to the Sea: Telling Authentic Stories with Seth Andrew Blanca and Handiong Kapuno
Filmmakers Seth Andrew Blanca and Handiong Kapuno share how personal histories inspired their Cinemalaya short films ‘Kung Tugnaw ang Kaidalman Sang Lawod’ and ‘Figat’ on the Pulutan podcast.
How Noni Abao’s Activism Imbued ‘Bloom Where You Are Planted’
Noni Abao talks about ‘Bloom Where You Are Planted,’ how his years-long experience as a human rights worker informed his film, and hope in the struggle for justice on the Pulutan podcast.
‘Agapito’ and a Duckpin Alley’s Journey From Bulacan to Beyond
From its humble beginnings in Bulacan to its journey to Cannes and now Toronto, ‘Agapito’ stands not necessarily as a banner for all Filipino stories, but as one story tied to a brother, a father, and a community that keeps a humble duckpin alley alive.
Up, Up and Away! (Again): The Enduring Power of Superman
As he makes his long-awaited comeback on the big screen this year, one has to wonder: Why has Superman endured for so long and what does he mean to us today?
Bold-hearted young filmmakers make waves in Sinepiyu 17
Sinepiyu 17, the premier film festival of Far Eastern University, showcased the bold storytelling hearts of this young generation’s up-and-coming filmmakers.
When The Climate Crisis Becomes Personal: An Earth Day Film Program
In this special Earth Day virtual film program, the climate crisis is presented not as a distant threat but as an immediate disruption to intimate spaces, identities, and personal discomfort through 11 Southeast Asian short films.
Remembering 'Aswang': An Archive of Voices That Never Were
No cell can redeem a tyrant, least of all when his victims never even saw one. It's a fitting time to know why through 'Aswang,' an essential archive of injustice and grief.
Whatever Happened to ‘Asog’?
In the flurry of discourse on Filipino film censorship over the past year, the case of ‘Asog’ was lost in the shuffle. But we must not forget; we must not let the violent displacement of Sicogon Island residents by Ayala Land Inc. be erased from our collective memories.
Hello, Incompatibility, Goodbye: Rerouting Ethan and Joy’s Conflict
Across two films and three countries, Ethan and Joy’s story explored the gendered turbulences of the OFW experience and its toll on relationships. ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye’ makes a smooth departure, but ‘Hello, Love, Again’ turns around and reverts to an old route.