OPENING NIGHT
MANILA'S FINEST (2025)
Los Angeles Premiere
Directed by Raymond Red
Genre: Thriller | Crime | Action
Starring: Piolo Pascual, Enrique Gil, and Ashtine Olviga
Synopsis: A police thriller set against the tumultuous “First Quarter Storm” in 1970 Manila, this award-winning and controversial period piece from Raymond Red, the first Filipino filmmaker to win the Cannes Short Film Palme d’Or, has earned praise for its subject matter, storytelling, performances, and lush, striking cinematography and art direction. Starring Piolo Pascual, Enrique Gil, and Cedrick Juan.
Director Raymond Red and cast are scheduled to appear in post-screening Q&A.
FILAM CREATIVE SHORT FILM Program
thursday, September 3rd | 9:00pm
In parternship with FilAm Creative, a collection of short films highlighting Filipino American stories and creatives.
Followed by a special post-screening Q&A.
IN THE MORNING SUN (2026)
Directed by Serville Poblette
Genre: Comedy | Documentary | Drama | short
Starring: Edric Bansil, Juby Bansil, Adyson Castro
Synopsis: A Filipino mother in Toronto clings to her Alexa device as a bridge to her homeland. Through daily rituals and technology, she navigates aging and memories, while her grandchildren’s choices mirror her own immigrant journey decades ago.
jamie and lina write the greatest song ever (2026)
Directed by Ralph Torrefranca
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Short
Starring: Sam Morelos, Ella Jay Basco, Ichi Tanabe
Logline: Jamie and Lina need to write the greatest song ever… no seriously, a big time manager wants to sign their band but he wants to hear a hit single, how hard can it be?
YOU COULD'VE BEEN A NURSE
Directed by Meg Mateo
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Short
Stars: Melanie Anne Padernal, Rosita Almario Francis Lansang
Synopsis: YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A NURSE begins with a family crisis: 76-year old Cely learns she has only days to live. This is not altogether surprising for Cely nor her daughter Gwen, who’s been caring for her for nearly four months while she’s in hospice. What becomes the true crisis is the mis match of expectations between Cely and Gwen in these final days.
SiLIM (2025)
Directed by Alex Cruz
Genre: Drama
Starring: Jordan Mahr, Jay Gonzoga, Marilyn Marahan
Synopsis: A brand deal sends a grieving young social media personality to the Philippines, where he searches for personal connection at Christmas time.
Note: This short film, Silim, screening contains mature content intended for adult audiences. Please be aware that some films may contain sensitive or distressing material. Viewer discretion is advised.
Content Warning: graphic violence, recreational marijuana use, drug and alcohol use, slurs, blood, murder, emotional abuse
NAUGHTY MAIDS
Directed by San-San Onglatco
Genre: Comedy | Mystery
Starring: Rommel Rojas, Julio Vega, Tom Warner
Synopsis: The queer owner of a failing sexy maid service must convince his straight cop wannabe frenemy that their last and only client is innocent of murder.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
FORGOTTEN ISLAND (2026)
Exclusive Preview Screening
Directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado
Genre: Animation | Comedy | Adventure
Starring: H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Manny Jacinto, Jo Koy
Synopsis: From the filmmaking team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, the DreamWorks Animation original follows lifelong best friends Jo, voiced by H.E.R., and Raissa, voiced by Liza Soberano, who stumble upon a portal that transports them to the island of Nakalimutan and the magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing about from their Filipino families. But when Jo and Raissa discover that their memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, they will race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever.
Followed by a special post-screening Q&A with stars from the film.
Lea salonga: A mini retrospective
friday, September 4th | 1:00pm
Honoring the globally renowned 2026 Manila International Film Festival Icon, Lea Salonga.
Followed by a special post-screening Q&A.
SANA MAULIT MULI (2025)
PART OF LEA SALONGA: A MINI RETROSPECTIVE PROGRAM
Directed by Olivia M. Lamasan
Genre: Romance | Drama
Starring: Aga Muhlach, Lea Salonga, and William Martinez
Synopsis: Lea Salonga and Aga Muhlach star in Olivia Lamasan‘s 1995 romantic drama as a Manila couple separated when Agnes leaves for San Francisco on her mother’s petition and Jerry follows her to America.
THE VALE - ORIGINS (2026)
PART OF LEA SALONGA: A MINI RETROSPECTIVE PROGRAM
Directed by John Aoshima and Abigails Hing Wen
Genre: Animation | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Short
Starring: Lea Salonga, Robert Palmer Watkins, and Egan Xander
Synopsis: A grieving, inventor family finds new life in their collective creativity when they build an AI-generated, virtual reality world around their young son’s imaginations. A hybrid live-action and animated short film starring Lea Salonga that marked Abigail Hing Wen’s directorial debut and serves as a prequel to her middle-grade novel, The Vale.
Filipino cinema history PROGRAM
friday, September 4th | 9:00pm
Two films celebrating the achievement of Filipino and Filipino-Americans in cinema.
Followed by a special post-screening Q&A.
VETERANO (2026)
PART OF FILIPINO CINEMA HISTORY PROGRAM
Hollywood Premiere
Directed by Patrick Epino
Genre: Short | Thriller
Starring: Jon Jon Briones, Derrick Aguis, Elmor Garlitos
Synopsis: In 1981 San Francisco, Valentino is an aging Filipino World War II veteran. Beaten down by an oppressive system that stripped him of promised citizenship and benefits, he grabs his old pistol and army jacket for a tense, high-stakes final mission inside a bank.
EDDIE ROMERO REMASTERED: A CENTURY OF FILIPINO CINEMA (2026)
PART OF FILIPINO CINEMA HISTORY PROGRAM
World Premiere
Directed by Baby Ruth Villarma
Genre: Documentary | Biographical
Starring: Baby Ruth Villarma
Synopsis: From the filmmaking team behind Sunday Beauty Queen and Food Delivery, the documentary presents a portrait of National Artist and major Quentin Tarantino influence, Eddie Romero, whose career ranged from English-language genre pictures filmed in the Philippines to the landmark Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?.
friday, September 4th | 9:00pm
MUSIC on screen program
saturday, September 5th | 2:30pm
From the Grammy’s to the Billboard charts, this collection of short films showcase the story behind ground-breaking Filipino Americans musicians.
Followed by a special post-screening Q&A.
pinay (2026)
PART OF MUSIC on screen program
World Premiere
Directed by Keesa Ocampo
Genre: Music Documentary
Starring: Angelica Abiog, Maylene Briones, Irma Laxamana, Loredie Lugos
Synopsis: In the 1990s, four Filipina women stepped onto the American music scene as PINAY, an all-female vocal group, that broke into the industry and onto the Billboard music charts. Set against a pivotal moment in Filipino American history when a generation was staking its claim, building its own institutions, and defining its identity, PINAY explores more than a groundbreaking era in music. It is a coming-into-womanhood story about what Pinays can become, dare to imagine, and carry the best of an ancestral culture forward while making a place for themselves in a new world.
ALONG COMES LARRY, THE LARRY RAMOS STORY (2025)
PART OF MUSIC on screen program
Hollywood Premiere
Directed by Rick Quan
Genre: Biography | Documentary | Educational | History
Starring: Tracy Ramos, Stacy Ramos, Jules Alexander, Del Ramos, Paul Holland
Synopsis: A chronicle of Larry Ramos, a child ukulele prodigy from Kauai, Hawaii, who became the first Asian American to win a Grammy Award.
saturday, September 5th | 2:30pm
BEBOT “GENERATION 1” (4K REMASTERED) (2006)
PART OF MUSIC on screen program
Los Angeles Premiere
Directed by Patricio Ginelsa
Genre: Music Video
Starring: A newly remastered edition of Bebot: Generation One, the Black Eyed Peas music video directed by Patricio Ginelsa (Lumpia with a Vengeance), presented for its 20th anniversary.
saturday, September 5th | 2:30pm
FEATURE FILMS
NO ROOM FOR LOVE (2026)
Hollywood Premiere
Directed by Randal Kamradt and Malou Kamradt
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Dramedy
Starring: Rey “Jaya” Aclao, Bong Cabrera, Garth Garcia
Synopsis: From the filmmakers behind The Monsters Without, a comedy about a Filipino American family of seven sharing one Los Angeles apartment, with each family member chasing a career in entertainment.
Followed by a special post-screening Q&A with stars from the film.
THE ROAD TO SYDNEY (2025)
Los Angeles Premiere
Directed by Benito Bautista
Genre: Biographical Documentary | LGBTQ+
Starring: Sydney Loyola
Synopsis: From the Emmy-winning director of Harana, the documentary follows Philippine dance master and choreographer Sydney Loyola from Palawan to the San Francisco Bay Area as she transitions, loses her job and housing, and returns home to reclaim her art and reconcile with her father.
Followed by a special post-screening Q&A with director Benito Bautista and Sydney Loyola scheduled to attend.
58TH (2026)
North American Premiere
Directed by Carl Joseph Papa
Genre: Biographical Drama | Animation
Starring: Glaiza De Castro, Ricky Davao, Mikoy Moralez
Synopsis: An animated documentary about the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, told through the family of Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay, the photojournalist whose remains were never recovered and whose death the courts left unacknowledged. From the director of Iti Mapukpukaw (The Missing), the film premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and competed at Annecy earlier this year.
QUEZON (2025)
Hollywood Premiere
Directed by Jerrold Tarog
Genre: Historical Drama | Political Satire | Dark Comedy
Starring: Jericho Rosales, Benjamin Alves, and Mon Confiado
Synopsis: Quezon chronicles the political rise and complex legacy of Manuel L. Quezon, the first president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. When his fight for Philippine independence from the United States is put to the test, Manuel L. Quezon finds himself playing the brutal game of politics, ambition, and the moral costs of leadership.
Followed by a special post-screening Q&A with star Jericho Rosales scheduled to attend.
bench: BODY OF WORK
World Premiere
Directed by Tom Lowry
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: Bench: Body of Work is the captivating behind the scenes countdown to the epic come back fashion show of the iconic Filipino brand, BENCH, after an 8-year hiatus. Creative visionary and founder, Ben Chan gives inside access to behind the scenes, one-on-one interviews and testimonials with renowned actors, global social media celebrities, Olympic gold medalists, Miss Philippines Universe winners and many more, to showcase the new era of Bench fashion and its cultural impact on the Filipino culture. It is story of fashion and dreams the story of Ben and his legacy as an entrepreneur and as a person who takes great care of his community.
EAST OF WESTERN (2026)
World Premiere
Directed by Francis dela Torre
Genre: Thriller | Fantasy | Action | Drama
Starring: Dante Basco, Darion Basco, Dionysio Basco
Synopsis: When JC’s ill-fated plan to own land with the help of a violent crime lord goes wrong, his brother Nick is faced with the ultimate life-or-death choice: in order to save the lives of his wife and daughter, he has to kill his brother.
KAPPAN-TIRAN (2026)
World Premiere
Directed by Neal “Buboy” Tan
Genre: Thriller
Starring: Ejay Falcon, Sheryl Cruz, Aljur Abrenica, Patricia Javier, Bembol Roco
Synopsis: A controversial thriller set within the shadowy, insular and institutionally shielded world of fraternities and sororities and its banned tradition of hazing, Kappa-Tiran features a multi-generational cast including Ejay Falcon, Sheryl Cruz, Aljur Abrenica, Patricia Javier, Bembol Roco and a host of the Philippines’ top young acting talent.