The Sinag Maynila Film Festival is back for its seventh edition, showcasing a record-breaking lineup of independent films that highlight diverse Filipino stories. A collaboration between Solar Entertainment Corporation president Wilson Tieng and internationally acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza, the film festival aims to support local independent cinema and will run in selected cinemas in Metro Manila.
The festival received over 300 submissions this year, a record since its inception in 2015. These submissions have been narrowed down to 5 full-length features, 15 documentaries, 41 short films, and 36 student films, all highlighting stories rooted in regional culture and pressing social issues.
Festival co-founder Wilson Tieng shared that they were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the local filmmaking community. “We had a difficult time choosing because of the number of participants. We got over 300 entries this year, while last year we received over 200,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN.
Co-founder and director Brillante Mendoza added that Sinag Maynila remains committed to its advocacy of “Sine Lokal, Pang-International”, providing a space where talent can be shared with a wider audience.
The feature-length entries this year are Titser by Joel Lamangan, Candé by Kevin Pison Piamonte, Altar Boy by Serville Poblete, Jeongbu by Topek Lee, and Selda Tres by G.B. Sampedro. In addition to competition entries, the festival will highlight the restored works of National Artists such as Jaguar by Lino Brocka and Atsay by Eddie Garcia to honor the country’s cinematic heritage and push filmmakers to pursue their dreams.
Screenings will be held at SM Mall of Asia, SM Fairview, Robinsons Manila, Robinsons Antipolo, Trinoma, Market! Market!, and Gateway Cineplex from September 24 to 30, with tickets priced at 250 PHP.
By combining seeds of budding filmmakers with the pursuit of classic cinema restoration, Sinag Maynila 2025 aims to become a vital platform for independent cinema in the Philippines. Visit facebook.com/SinagMaynila for the full lineup of films and for more updates about the event.