13 Cebuano Feature Films Available to Stream Online for Free

Sep 7

13 Cebuano Feature Films Available to Stream Online for Free

Linus Masandag September 07, 2023, 6:00 PM

The Cebuano film scene has been creating and producing its own cinematic gems for a very long time now—from melodramas to experimental narratives—but they still haven't received much-deserved widespread exposure or attention from the general public. Admittedly, we’re so used to the mainstream, Tagalog-speaking, and Manila-centric selection of films from our local cinema that we forgot to take notice of the other films from the region and what they have to offer—in this case, the Cebuano cinema.

If you’re looking to expand your taste and knowledge when it comes to this particular region of local cinema, then look no further, for we have compiled a list of some Cebuano feature films that are currently available to stream on any local streaming platform (as of September 2023).

Aberya (Problem)

Four interconnected stories revolving around four interesting characters—Lourd, a popular egomaniac boxer; Angel, an abused nun-turned-prostitute seeking revenge; Mike, an eccentric drug dealer fascinated with time travel; and Eve, a woman caught up in an infamous sex scandal—collide in this visually trippy tale of sex, violence, and drugs.

Christian Linaban’s film may seem alienating at first with its chaotic mesh of cinematic styles and occasionally bewildering narrative, but its scope and ideas are definitely ambitious enough that you can’t help but feel invested in these characters and the events surrounding them.

Available to stream on iWantTFC.

Confessional

Before he made the biggest historical Filipino epics like Heneral Luna and Goyo, Jerrold Tarog once created a satirical indie mockumentary that examines our Filipino culture and the concept of subjectivity in the media.

Set in Cebu City, the film follows Ryan Pastor (played by Jerrold Tarog himself) as he documents the Sinulog Festival. But eventually, he meets a retired, corrupt politician who is ready to confess on camera of all of the crimes he committed while in office. The narrative quickly turns from lighthearted fun to intense and darkly ominous while still maintaining its deadpan humor. The fast-paced storytelling is entertaining but never exhausting. Confessional feels like a home movie in its presentation, but this only adds more to the film’s unique quality.

Available to stream on iWantTFC.

*Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria (2010) dir. Remton Siega Zuasola*

Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria (Eleuteria’s Dream)

Remton Siega Zuasola’s feature-film debut follows the story of a young island girl who is forced to marry a foreigner. We see her reluctantly travel to their island’s boat port together with her family and friends while they try to constantly convince and reassure her that this is all for the betterment of their family’s future and for herself as well.

What makes this all the more interesting is that the entirety of the film is shot in a genuine, no-interruption single take during the middle of a scorching day. Is it successful? It sure is. The single-take approach here doesn’t feel gimmicky at all; instead, it actually feels appropriate to the film’s context since it conveys the claustrophobic pressure of time that Eleuteria feels at that given moment, which results in us empathizing with her depressing plight throughout the film. It’s as hard-hitting as a drama can be, highlighting the socio-economic issues that have always plagued our country.

Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria was awarded the Pinakamahusay na Pelikula (Best Picture) in 2011 by the Gawad Urian, and later the Natatanging Pelikula ng Dekada (Best Film of the Decade 2010–2019), which tells us how much of a cinematic feat this is for Cebuano cinema.

Available to stream on iWantTFC and JuanFlix.

*Di Ingon Nato (2020) dir. Brandon Relucio & Ivan Zaldarriaga*

Di Ingon Nato (Not Like Us)

We hardly ever see local zombie movies, and the most famous one is Mikhail Red's Block Z. But have you considered checking out Di Ingon Nato (Not Like Us)?

I get that the zombie subgenre has become kind of boring because it's just the same thing over and over again. However, this one's in Bisaya, so at least try this one out because it still offers something new to the genre. Moreover, the film’s slow-burn pace, small village setting, and how it focuses more on the characters' interactions during the outbreak instead of the usual zombie violence make it stand out among the rest.

The production is admittedly low-budget, but that's basically part of the charm, as it gives you the impression that you're just watching a docu-drama about these regular folks attempting to understand what's happening in their barrio since they have no clue what's really going on for the majority of the runtime. It's a zombie film executed with a commitment to realism and is undoubtedly one of the best in the genre.

Available to stream on iWantTFC.

*Huwebes Huwebes (2019) dir. Don Gerardo Frasco, Kristoffer Villarino, Januar Yap*

Huwebes Huwebes (Thursday Thursday)

Three stories about drug-related issues: a fisherman who suspects his friend might be involved in drug dealing; a drug criminal who forms a connection with a blind young woman while infiltrating her home; and a young man dealing with his own aspirations in the middle of a drug war.

This crime drama fearlessly confronts its themes with real emotional depth. The initial segment is brief and follows a predictable path, acting as an appetizer for what’s to come. The highlight of the film lies in the second part, which adds tension, humor, and depth through its characters and plot. The third segment, a socially and politically charged drama, addresses Duterte's war on drugs policy and its impact on the youth. Through an empathetic lens, the film portrays these characters engaged in their own battles in a society that often lets them down.

Available to stream on JuanFlix.

Lily

Keith Deligro’s take on the folklore horror genre is wildly chaotic but profoundly tragic. Lily follows the titular character (Shaina Magdayao), who is rumored to be an aswang, as she goes to Manila in search of her former lover who betrayed her.

This is not your ordinary aswang movie; what Deligro crafted here is an exploration of trauma and abuse, especially as a woman living in a man’s world. The film doesn’t exactly follow the conventional narrative format; instead, it looked disorienting throughout with its assaulting punk-rock aesthetic, tumultuous narrative, and experimental take on its visuals and sounds, but somehow it still worked. You just have to see it for yourself.

Available to stream on iWantTFC.

*Magbuwag Ta Kay… (2021) dir. Reuben Joseph Aquino & Janice Y. Perez*

Magbuwag Ta Kay… (Let’s Breakup Because…)

Rowell Ucat, also known online as “Medyo Maldito”, once starred in a Cebuano romantic comedy centered around a couple on the verge of breaking up, while trying to cherish their last moments together. He was paired with Akiko Solon, the one who heavily carried the entirety of the movie.

Its production quality is quite admirable and competent despite its limited budget. The movie offers an easy breeze of light entertainment. It effectively blends humor and sorrow, capturing the joys of love and the tough choice of parting ways with someone you're still deeply attached to but have to part ways because it is the only necessary thing to do.

Oh, and keep an eye out for Snake Princess’ multiple cameos throughout the movie.

Available to stream on Viva Films’ YouTube Channel

Miss Bulalacao

Miss Bulalacao is a Cebuano sci-fi story that follows a queer young boy who suddenly becomes pregnant. Yes, you’ve read that right. What’s even crazier is that it is implied that the pregnancy is caused by... an extraterrestrial. Yes, you’ve read that right too. This particular event sets off a chain of rumors in their small, conservative rural town that includes Immaculate Conception or demonic possession.

If a premise this absurd will not make you feel even a little bit of intrigue, then I don’t know what will. Director Ara Chawdhury is able to create a bizarre but thought-provoking allegory on embracing queerness while also exploring the themes of womanhood, religion, and machismo.

Available to stream on iWantTFC and JuanFlix

My Paranormal Romance

Before he directed Patay na si Hesus (another Cebuano comedy), Victor Villanueva once made a weird but quirky comedy-fantasy about a college applicant who possessed the power of the third eye. My Paranormal Romance is a consistent laugh-out-loud riot, in which the humor is mostly characterized by its exceedingly outlandish, peculiar, and cartoonish quality that involves wacky ghosts, a teleportation card, and a talking bra.

Phoebe Kaye Fernandez is a force that holds this comedy together. Her delivery and timing are always perfectly delightful; every scene with her is an abundant source of comedic brilliance. The supporting cast equally contributes to the hilarity, wholeheartedly embracing the film's eccentric comedic style.

If you’re seeking for a weird but amusing experience that’s sure to tickle your funny bone, this underrated Cebuano comedy might be up your alley.

Available to stream on IWantTFC.

*Patay na si Hesus (2016) dir. Victor Villanueva*

Patay na si Hesus (Jesus is Dead)

Probably the most well-known Cebuano film on this list, Victor Villanueva’s Patay na si Hesus (Jesus is Dead) is basically Little Miss Sunshine in its setup—a dysfunctional family takes a cross-country trip in their small van—but infused with dark Cebuano humor.

The film follows this family on a hilarious adventure from Cebu to Dumaguete so that they can attend their estranged patriarch’s funeral. The road trip is led by the matriarch Iyay (Jaclyn Jose) with her three children on board—the eldest, who has Down Syndrome; the middle, who is a transman; and the youngest, who is too directionless to care. Of course, the road trip is not without its bumps and giggles, and this film has plenty of those. Its Cebuano humor can be dark, absurd, and even blasphemous at times, but it will never fail to make you laugh, especially if you know or understand the Cebuano language. In fact, most of the film’s humor will probably get lost in the translation of its English subtitles. That’s the beauty of this, because it’s distinctly Cebuano.

Available to stream on Netflix

A Short History of a Few Bad Things

We’ve only had a few dark Filipino detective stories in our contemporary cinema—Raya Martin’s Smaller and Smaller Circles first comes to mind—but you can now add Keith Deligero’s overlooked A Short History of a Few Bad Things to your watchlist.

The film follows a stoic police detective who tries to solve the puzzling serial killings happening around Cebu. The film’s neo-noir elements are a breath of fresh air as it explores the main character’s morality and guilt against the dark but offbeat underbelly of Cebu. The narrative is slow in its buildup but eventually engaging and rewarding as the mystery starts to unravel itself piece by piece. The film’s mysteriously threatening tone is equally fascinating and terrifying, with some dash of humor sprinkled in. Deligro has a knack for unorthodox storytelling, and this film is no exception—an eclectic choice of music and arresting, quirky visuals, just to name a few.

Available to stream on IWantTFC.

Soap Opera

We love a good Filipino soap opera. We have watched them and always thought they were so corny, but we’ve never realized that some parts of them could influence us, to the point that it could draw parallels into our lives. This is the premise of this odd romantic drama from Remton Siega Zuasola.

Soap Opera revolves around a young couple (with a sickly child) who welcome a foreigner (who is the woman's rich boyfriend) into their family. The dynamic among the three is bizarre, as the young couple takes advantage of their rich guest by portraying themselves as brother and sister. Their absurd but harsh reality is juxtaposed with the melodramatic soap operas they enjoy watching every day—one is a romantic drama starring Lovi Poe and Rocco Nacino and the other is a superhero show starring Bugoy Carino. It's a depressingly dramatic thrill ride as they play this sick, twisted game of deception, and you'll wonder how these events will unfold till the end.

Available to stream on IWantTFC.

Swap

Another Remton Siega Zuasola film on this list, Swap tells the story of a young father who is forced to meet the demands of the kidnappers after they abduct his only child. The demand? He has to steal another child in payment for his son's life. Besides him are the police, who are secretly helping him solve the crime.

Oh, and just like Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria, the entire film was shot in a single take too. This one felt more gimmicky in its approach, but that doesn’t mean it’s not interesting. It was filmed like a stage play—composite sets were built and the camera would casually move away from one set to another, often jumping back in time with the use of lighting design—and the brilliance of its execution will astound you.

Available to stream on JuanFlix

FINAL THOUGHTS

While the cultivation of regional cinema in the Philippines is slow and long, progress is still noticeably present. It is important to finally highlight the diverse and rich stories from other regions. With that being said, you know what to do next: go watch and support them!