Instituto Cervantes’ 24th PELÍCULA Spanish Film Festival returns to Makati
Instituto Cervantes’ 24th PELÍCULA Spanish Film Festival returns to Makati
SINEGANG.ph published this press release sponsored by Instituto Cervantes. No staff writer participated in writing this article.
The anticipated Spanish Film Festival, PELÍCULA>PELIKULA, is returning to Makati in Ayala Triangle Gardens and Powerplant Mall from October 10 to 16, 2025 for its 24th edition. Since its creation in 2002 by Instituto Cervantes, PELÍCULA has become a much-awaited annual event in Philippine theaters. This year’s Festival will showcase over 20 acclaimed films from Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines.
The Festival will open on October 10 at Ayala Triangle Gardens with the screening of El 47 (Marcel Barrena, 2024). Over the week, audiences will enjoy a variety of genres, including dramas such as Soy Nevenka (Icíar Bollaín, 2024) and Nosotros (Helena Taberna, 2024); documentaries such as Un hombre libre (Laura Hojman, 2024) and La guitarra flamenca de Yerai Cortés (C. Tangara, 2024); and animations such as Mariposas negras (David Baute, 2024) and Robotia (Diego Cagide and Diego Lucero, 2024).
In addition to Spanish productions, the Official Selection will feature films from Latin America, including the Argentinian drama Por tu bien (Axel Monsú, 2024), the Brazilian Até que a música pare (Cristiane Oliveira, 2023), Uruguay’s Becho (José Infantozzi, 2024), and the Peruvian Reinas (Klaudia Reynicke, 2024). Filipino cinema will also have its place through the program En corto: Short films from the Philippines, Latin America, and Spain, which will be screened on October 16.
Like in previous years, spectators will decide the Audience Choice Award. Since 2004, this recognition has been one of the Festival’s most beloved traditions. Viewers may vote for their favorite films after each screening. The winning title will be announced on October 16 and will be screened again that evening at Power Plant Cinema 6 during the Festival’s closing ceremony.
Special sections and activities
Marking its return to Makati, PELÍCULA will treat audiences to the extravaganza of Cine Maratón at Ayala Triangle Gardens on October 11, featuring a whole day of films such as Dalia y el libro rojo (David Bisbano, 2024), Tasio (Montxo Armendáriz, 1984), Solos en la noche (Guillermo Rojas, 2024), and Reinas (Klaudia Reynicke, 2024), from 11:45am to 11:00pm.
The Festival also includes parallel activities. On October 11, Instituto Cervantes will also offer an activity related to films for children, where the Spanish Cultural Center will invite young participants to join fun and creative activities such as crafts and games that spark their imagination and curiosity. On the following day, October 12, before the screening of Robotia at 2:00pm in Power Plant Cinema 6, kids will have the opportunity to win several football balls and an official t-shirt donated by Real Madrid C.F. through the Manila-based Peña Madridista Emilio Butragueño.
PELíCULA>PELIKULA 2025 is a project of Instituto Cervantes in Manila, presented in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, the AECID, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Intramuros Administration, the Embassy of Argentina in the Philippines, the Embassy of Brazil in the Philippines, the Embassy of Perú, the Embassy of Uruguay, QCinema, the Quezon City Film Commision, Make it Makati, Power Plant Cinema, De La Salle University--College of Saint Benilde, the Department of European Languages of the University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University, CIIT College of Arts and Technology, Mapúa University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Mint College, Ateneo de Manila University-Modern Languages, Peña Madridista de Manila Emilio Butragueño. Sponsored by Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Acciona, Emperador, and Boysen.
All screenings are free of charge with films presented in their original language and accompanied by English subtitles.
For more updates on the Festival, you may visit the website of Instituto Cervantes de Manila (https://manila.cervantes.es) or facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila.
