‘Filipiñana’ plays with the element of space wisely. The concept of big spaces being only for the rich and the privileged is expanded into various scenes that portray how inequality will always prevail in simple forms of sport and leisure.

JL Burgos’ 'Ganggang' is a striking coming-of-age story that captures what it means to grow up amid political violence, told from the innocent eyes of children who are still trying to make sense of the world around them.

One thing is certain: Giancarlo Abrahan and Guelan Varela Luarca’s ‘Mag-iina’ is not your usual Cinemalaya watch, and I hope Cinemalaya brings out more films like this in their future iterations.

David R. Corpuz’s ‘Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam’ looks beyond HIV as a diagnosis and examines the conditions that can make seeking help difficult in the first place.

Dustin Celestino’s ‘A.ni.mál’ may fall in line with his previous Cinemalaya entries’ direct tappings into the modern political zeitgeist, but it sets itself apart through its commitment to pure comedy for comedy’s sake, consistently reaching for the lowest-brow jokes and payoffs that work remarkably well throughout its triptych structure.

‘2 Valid IDs’ finds its strength in something far more ordinary in our daily lives: the horror of inequality stems from a policy that not everyone can afford — not just financially, but through time, accessibility, opportunity, and dignity.

‘Status: Rejected’ is an impressive first feature from filmmaker Vahn Pascual that is as much about what makes human connections human as it is about the outside forces and the nature of time that alienate us from each other.