‘Nakabinbin’ to be screened in Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026
‘Nakabinbin’ to be screened in Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026
SINEGANG.ph published this press release by Nakabinbin. No staff writer participated in writing this article.
For a grieving family, securing documents can become another burden. A reality explored in the narrative short film titled Nakabinbin, where a widowed father must secure a death certificate to bury his daughter.
Produced in 2026 under Young Vision Room, Nakabinbin, written and directed by Carlo M. Gula is a 20-minute Filipino-language film with English subtitles starring Soliman V. Cruz as Victor, who struggles to secure a death certificate for his daughter, Nora, who died without a birth certificate. Gula shared that the story draws from his mother’s personal experiences who grew up without a birth certificate, where he recalled accompanying his mother to process the death certificate of his late grandmother.
“For thirty-four years, kailangan na lagi niyang patunayan ang pagkatao niya sa lahat ng mga papeles na inasikaso niya. Kasama rito yung sakit at hirap na nakita ko nung inasikaso niya ang death certificate ng lola ko; lumaki kasi siyang walang birth certificate,” Gula shared.
The film mirrors this experience through Victor as he enters a crowded municipal hall carrying incomplete documents and the hope that someone will help him proceed with his daughter’s burial, only to learn that without proof she was ever born, the law leaves him no choice but to break it.
Nakabinbin marks Gula’s first narrative short film at the national competition level that highlights how bureaucratic processes can make the grieving more difficult for families without the complete civil records.
He has previously written and directed five short films that has been locally screened in different festivals, with his recent work being finalist for Gawad Alternatibo - Experimental titled Batib/t, that has been screened and recognized as well in different local film bodies, having a recent recognition from CineKasimanwa - FDCP.
Through Victor’s struggle, the film Nakabinbin sheds light on how the lack of civil documents can add to the burden of grieving families, highlighting that the film is for people whose rights are denied even after death.
“Mahirap mamatayan ng magulang, paano pa kaya kung pipila ka habang nagluluksa? Ito ay para sa mga taong pinagkaitan ng karapatan kahit na sa kabilang-buhay.” he added.
Catch Nakabinbin among the short films set to be screened for Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival on Sept. 23 to Oct. 3 at Gateway Cineplex 18 and selected Ayala Malls Cinemas across Metro Manila.
