Sine Kabataan 9 Entry ‘KURITA’ Is a Young Ilocano Filmmaker’s Love Letter to His Ina
SINEGANG.ph published this press release by KURITA. No staff writer participated in writing this article.
Reflecting reality from a grandchild’s point of view, KURITA (Octopus), a Sine Kabataan 9 Film Lab and Festival 2026 entry, is an Ilokano social magic realist drama, written and directed by Zechri Jacob Alvarez, that explores the bond between a grandchild and her Ina (grandmother) and serves as a love letter from the director to the woman he calls Ina, and to every Filipino who quietly stretches themselves trying to hold everything together.
At the heart of the story is Donna, portrayed by Ma. Danika Quime, who spends the day navigating a series of requirements and obstacles in her attempt to secure financial assistance, while simultaneously preparing a small birthday celebration for her Ina, played by Ligaya Rabago.
The film also features the small traditions that make an Ilokano birthday feel like home, including Putungan, popularly known as Padapadakam—a song passed through generations and interlaced into every birthday celebration.
Through Donna’s journey, KURITA reflects on the social realities surrounding bureaucratic systems and the people who depend on them. The film highlights how the means of providing support can, at times, be a complicated process, exhausting the people’s time, energy, and dignity along the way.
Blending absurdist realism, social satire, and magical realist imagery, KURITA is the result of a collaborative effort between Kwentong Tanglaw and Rough Road Productions, with Carlo Obispo serving as producer. The film’s visual world was shaped through the creative leadership of Production Designer Jess Nazarene M. Tamani, while Director of Photography Marvin Reyes brought its visual language to life. Blackburst Incorporated handled the film’s visual effects.
At its center, however, KURITA remains a deeply personal story.
The film emerged and drew inspiration from Alvarez’s relationship with his own Ina and his experiences with family, caregiving, and the quiet ways people learn to carry one another. The story grew from an intimate observation during a difficult period in his life, eventually becoming a film about reaching, holding on, and the things we do for the people we love.
Through its Ilokano setting, language, traditions, and perspective, KURITA hopes to contribute to the growing visibility of regional cinema and bring a story from Ilocos to a national audience.
For Alvarez, this journey is especially meaningful. After years of producing and directing films within Ilocos Norte’s film community, KURITA marks his first official entry in a national film festival, A step toward bringing a story rooted in the North beyond its own borders and onto a larger screen.
Kurita is not just a film; it's a message.
A statement.
A gift.
A love letter. For Ina, and to every Filipino quietly stretching themselves just to hold everything together.
KURITA will screen nationally from September 18 to 20, 2026, at Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong, followed by screenings at Cinematheque Centres in Manila, Iloilo, Davao, and Negros from September 20 to 26, 2026
