Shining Jaguars: The opening and closing of Sinag Maynila 2025
Shining Jaguars: The opening and closing of Sinag Maynila 2025
The filmmakers and talkback attendees pictured together at the opening ceremony of the 7th Sinag Maynila Film Festival. Photo by Thandie Aliño
Last September 24 to 30, the 7th edition of the Sinag Maynila Film Festival screened 5 feature films, 15 documentaries, and 41 short films in Gateway Cineplex, Trinoma, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Manila, Robinsons Antipolo, SM Fairview, and Market! Market! Every entry followed the theme “Sine Lokal, Pang-Internasyonal!,” which called for local films suitable not just for national, but also international screens. A record 300 submissions for the feature, short, and documentary film categories were reported by the festival co-founders Wilson Tieng and award-winning director Brillante Mendoza, explaining the record number of entries available to watch during the 2025 edition.
The five feature films — Topel Lee’s Jeongbu, GB Sampedro’s Selda Tres, Joel Lamangan’s Madawag ang landas patungong pag-asa, Serville Poblete’s Altar Boy, and Kevin Piamonte’s Candé — are joined by two 4K-restored Filipino classics. One is Eddie Garcia’s 1978 film Atsay, a dramatic vehicle for Nora Aunor, about a provincial woman who works as a maid in the city and experiences harsh treatment under her employers. The other served as the opening film of the festival last September 23 at Gateway Cinema 5: Lino Brocka’s 1979 neo-noir crime classic Jaguar.
Jump like a Jaguar!
The screening of the restored version of Jaguar during the opening ceremony of the 7th Sinag Maynila Film Festival marked its Asian premiere following its international premiere at the 16th Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, France, last October 2024. The 4K-restored print of the film serves as the love child of the Philippine Film Archive (PFA) and Cité de Mémoire.
Starring Phillip Salvador and Amy Austria, the film follows a security guard named Poldo, who is pulled into a dark and dangerous world by his employer, whom he strives to impress. It was notable for being the first Filipino film to ever be in contention for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes International Film Festival in 1980.
‘Jaguar’ co-writers Pete Lacaba and National Artist Ricky Lee pictured together outside the screening venue | Photo by Thandie Aliño
Following its screening at the Sinag Maynila Film Festival opening, a talkback moderated by the Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA) senior members Rose Roque and Ronald Rios occurred. Among those in attendance were writers Jose “Pete” Lacaba and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee; loved ones of cinematographer Conrado Baltazar, Cynthia Baltazar Fernandez, Kirk Baltazar, and Stephanie Baltazar; descendant of Lino Brocka, Gabby Brocka; supporting actors Deborah Sun and Joel Lamangan; Solar Entertainment General Manager Butch Ibañez; and Don Arawan, head of the PFA.
The most cited aspect of the film in the talkback was its timeliness and relevance, even in today’s age, with its depiction of the working man’s struggle and class differences. “Even with the state of our country right now, I feel like we can learn from a lot of his movies apart from Jaguar,” Gabby Brocka said. “I feel like we could use a lot more Lino Brockas in our generation…I feel that [his art] really gave people a voice, especially with Jaguar.”
It was also revealed that Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) actors, including director and actor Joel Lamangan, were cast as background characters within the film for their acting expertise and ability to make the world of the film a lived-in one.
The restoration process, which took over a year to complete, is described by PFA head Don Arawan through e-mail as “[representing] the most intricate and demanding part of film preservation,” wherein many variables, most out of the restoration facility’s control, must be overcome. “In the Philippines, documentation is often lacking, which can lead to confusion or misuse,” says Arawan about the collective effort to get the restoration of Jaguar to the big screen involving producers, archives, and rights holders. “Despite this, our unwavering commitment to preserving our audiovisual heritage keeps us going.” Arawan also thanked the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) for their strong support and provision of resources towards their restoration facilities.
Who Shone the Brightest?
As for the rest of Sinag Maynila, the Grand Awards Night took place last September 28 at the Gateway Cineplex in Cubao. The winners for the full-length features and documentaries were overseen by a jury composed of Zig Dulay, Baby Ruth Villarama, and Tito Valiente, while the winners of the short film category were overseen by a jury comprising Rica Arevalo, Dr. Kei Tan, and Juvy Ann Clarito.
List of Winners at the 7th Sinag Maynila Film Festival
Here is the full list of winners from the 2025 Sinag Maynila Film Festival:
Feature Film Category
Best Film — MADAWAG ANG LANDAS PATUNGONG PAG-ASA by Joel Lamangan
Best Director — Topel Lee (JEONGBU)
Best Actor — JM de Guzman (SELDA TRES)
Best Actress — Rita Daniela (MADAWAG ANG LANDAS PATUNGONG PAG-ASA)
Best Screenplay — Eric Ramos (MADAWAG ANG LANDAS PATUNGONG PAG-ASA)
Best Cinematography — AB Garcia (JEONGBU)
Best Editing — Crishel Desuasido (JEONGBU)
Best Music — Von de Guzman (MADAWAG ANG LANDAS PATUNGONG PAG-ASA)
Best Production Design — Crishel Desuasido (MADAWAG ANG LANDAS PATUNGONG PAG-ASA)
Best Sound — Fatima Nerikka Salim, Immanuel Verona (JEONGBU)
People’s Choice Award — SELDA TRES by GB Sampedro
Documentary - Open Category
Best Documentary — OSCAR’S RECIPE by Giovanni Piolo Rayla
Jury Prize — MGA BAYANING AYTA by Donnie Sacueza
Documentary - Student Category
Best Documentary — SA WAKAS, KASAMA by Janno Pelias
2nd Best Documentary — PENDIYENTE by Zyra Mae Plegaria
3rd Best Documentary — ROMEO AND JULIE by Ysamae Yrrah Carelo and Edward John Louis Factes
Jury Prize — DAUNGAN NG MGA NAGHIHINTAY by Kaila Arvi Ariston
Short Films - Open Category
Best Short Film — ANG GADYA SANG SUBA by Daniel Dela Cruz
Jury Prize — NAGHAHANAW NG MGA ANINIPOT by JP Corton
Special Citation for Best Performance — Precious Paula Nicole (LIP SYNC ASSASSIN)
Short Films - Student Category
Best Short Film — TAGA-TAGA by Trinie Archie Garcia
Jury Prize — WALAHANON by Kristal Kaye Tagle
Special Citation for Best Performance — Phillip Altejos (BOI)
The 7th edition of Sinag Maynila was held from September 24 to 30 in select cinemas around Metro Manila.
