# Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival

The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, more commonly known as Cinemalaya, is a film festival in the Philippines held annually during the month of August, traditionally at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, but in recent years the Festival screenings also extend to various cinemas. Its aim is the development and promotion of Filipino independent films. The film festival is organized by the Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc. with the support of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Econolink Investments, Inc.
Each year, the festival provides "seed investments" to the independent filmmakers who become the finalists of the festival's full-length category. In the beginning, the seed grant amounted to ₱500,000 (US$10,000~) per film. In 2019, it was increased to ₱1,000,000 (US$20,000~). In 2023, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) matched this amount, bringing the total to ₱2,000,000 (US$40,000~). The finalists of the short film category received a total of ₱100,000 (US$1,785~) each for their finished films. These finalists are chosen from hundreds of submissions from all over the Philippines. Their films debut at the festival along with various out-of-competition works.
The organizing committee, headed by veteran Filipino director and actress Laurice Guillen, oversees the production of the films and the festival.
In 2023, the festival was held from August 4 to August 13, at the Philippine International Convention Center and in select mall cinemas.

## The Festival

The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is a film competition and festival that supports Filipino filmmakers. Each year, ten new filmmakers are given a seed grant in order to create their film. These films, along with ten short films under the Short Feature Category, are then featured in the film festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) every August and compete for the Balanghai Award. An array of exhibition films are also shown at the CCP.
In addition to the screenings, the festival includes a variety of other film-related events such as book launches, talkbacks with filmmakers, and "Cinemalaya Conversations", where students and aspiring filmmakers talk to special guests about filmmaking and production. Also an integral part of the festival is the Cinemalaya Campus, a conference that looks at all aspects of independent filmmaking and distribution.
In 2010, the festival separated the full-length entries to two separate competitions: The Directors' Showcase and the New Breed section. The five feature-film entries competed under the Directors' Showcase which are presented by veteran film directors of the country. The other ten feature-film entries competed under the New Breed section, and are presented by first-time or young filmmakers. The Short Film section also had ten competing entries.
During the 2015 awards ceremony, The Cinemalaya Foundation announced that for its 12th edition there would two competitions: the main competition (Full Length Feature) and the short film features.

### New Breed

| Year | Best Film | Best Direction | Special Jury Prize | Best Actress | Best Actor |
| 2005 | Pepot Artista by Clodualdo del Mundo Jr. | Rica Arevalo (ICU Bed #7) | Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros by Auraeus Solito | Meryll Soriano (Room Boy) | Eddie Garcia (ICU Bed #7) |
| 2006 | Tulad ng Dati by Mike Sandejas | Ron Bryant (Rotonda) | Batad: Sa Paang Palay by Benji Garcia and Vic Acedillo Jr. | Angel Aquino (Donsol) | Alchris Galura (Batad) |
| 2007 | Tribu by Jim Libiran | Auraeus Solito (Pisay) | Endo by Jade Castro | Ina Feleo (Endo) | The ensemble of (Tribu) |
| 2008 | Jay by Francis Xavier Pasion | Chris Martinez (100) | Brutus by Tara Illenberger | Mylene Dizon (100) | Baron Geisler (Jay) |
| 2009 | Last Supper No. 3 by Veronica Velasco | GB Sampedro (Squalor) | Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe by Alvin Yapan Colorum by Jobin Ballesteros | Ina Feleo (Sanglaan) | Lou Veloso (Colorum) |
| 2010 | Halaw by Sheron Dayoc | Sheron Dayoc (Halaw) | Sampaguita, National Flower by Francis Xavier Pasion | Lovi Poe (Mayohan) | John Arcilla (Halaw) |
| 2011 | Ang Babae sa Septic Tank by Marlon Rivera | Marlon Rivera (Ang Babae sa Septic Tank) | Niño by Loy Arcenas | Eugene Domingo (Ang Babae sa Septic Tank) | Edgar Allan Guzman (Ligo na Ü, Lapit na Me) |
| 2012 | Diablo by Mes de Guzman | Mes de Guzman (Diablo) | Requieme by Loy Arcenas | Ama Quiambao (Diablo) | Kristoffer King (Oros) |
| 2013 | Transit by Hannah Espia | Hannah Espia (Transit) | Quick Change by Eduardo Roy Jr. | Irma Adlawan (Transit) | Mimi Juareza (Quick Change) |
| 2014 | Bwaya by Francis Xavier Pasion | Giancarlo Abrahan V (Dagitab) | K'na The Dreamweaver by Ida Anita Del Mundo | Eula Valdez (Dagitab) | Dante Rivero (1st ko si 3rd) |

### Directors' Showcase

| Year | Best Film | Best Direction | Special Jury Prize | Best Actress | Best Actor |
| 2010 | Donor by Mark Meily | Gil Portes (Two Funerals) | Two Funerals by Gil Portes | Meryll Soriano (Donor) | Baron Geisler (Donor) |
| 2011 | Bisperas by Jeffrey Jeturian | Auraeus Solito (Busong) | *no winner | Raquel Villavicencio (Bisperas) | Bembol Roco (Isda) |
| 2012 | Posas by Lawrence Fajardo | Raymond Red (Kamera Obskura) | Kamera Obskura by Raymond Red | Judy Ann Santos, Iza Calzado, Agot Isidro, and Janice de Belen (Mga Mumunting Lihim) | Eddie Garcia (Bwakaw) |
| 2013 | Sana Dati by Jerrold Tarog | Jerrold Tarog (Sana Dati) | Ekstra by Jeffrey Jeturian | Vilma Santos (Ekstra) | *no winner |
| 2014 | Kasal by Joselito Altarejos | Mike Tuviera (The Janitor) | Hari ng Tondo by Carlos Siguion-Reyna | Nora Aunor (Hustisya) | Robert Arevalo (Hari ng Tondo) |

### Main Competition (Full-Length Features)

| Year | Best Film | Best Direction | Special Jury Prize | Best Actress | Best Actor |
| 2016 | Pamilya Ordinaryo by Eduardo Roy Jr. | Eduardo Roy Jr. (Pamilya Ordinaryo) | Mercury is Mine by Jason Paul Laxamana | Hasmine Killip (Pamilya Ordinaryo) | Tommy Abuel (Dagsin) |
| 2017 | Respeto by Treb Monteras | Joseph Israel Laban (Baconaua) | Baconaua by Joseph Israel Laban | Angeli Bayani (Bagahe) | Noel Comia Jr. (Kiko Boksingero) |
| 2018 | Kung Paano Hinihintay ang Dapithapon by Carlo Enciso Catu | Che Espiritu (Pan de Salawal) | Pan de Salawal by Che Espiritu | Ai-Ai Delas Alas (School Service ) | Eddie Garcia (ML) |
| 2019 | John Denver Trending by Arden Rod Condez | Eduardo Roy Jr. (Fuccbois) | Edward by Thop Nazareno | Ruby Ruiz (Iska) | Jansen Magpusao (John Denver Trending) |
| 2022 | The Baseball Player by Carlo Obispo | Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan (Blue Room) | Blue Room by Ma-an Asuncion Dagñalan | Max Eigenmann (12 Weeks) | Tommy Alejandrino (The Baseball Player) |
| 2023 | Iti Mapukpukaw by Carl Joseph E. Papa | Ryan Espinosa Machado (Huling Palabas) | Ang Duyan ng Magiting by Dustin Celestino | Pat Tingjuy (Rookie) | Mikoy Morales (Tether) |
| 2024 | Tumandok by Richard Jeroui Salvadico and Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay | Jaime Pacena II (Kono Basho) | Alipato at Muog by JL Burgos | Marian Rivera (Balota) & Gabby Padilla (Kono Basho) | Enzo Osorio (The Hearing) |

### Short films

| Year | Best Film | Special Jury Prize | Best Direction | Best Screenplay | Audience Choice Award |
| 2005 | Mansyon by Joel Ruiz | Kultado by Lawrence Fajardo | Sigrid Andrea Bernardo (Babae) | Pam Miras (Blood Bank) | *not awarded |
| 2006 | Orasyon by Rommel Tolentino | Kwarto by Jose Maria Emmanuel Taylo | Jeck Cogama (Putot) | Hubert Tibi (Parang Pelikula) | *not awarded |
| 2007 | Rolyo by Alvin Yapan | Nineball by Enrico Aragon | Emmanuel Dela Cruz (Gabon) | Vic Acedillo (To Ni) | Doble Vista by Nisha Alicer and Nix Lañas |
| 2008 | Andong by Rommel Tolentino | My Pet by Anna Bigornia | Mark Reyes (God Only Knows) | Rommel Tolentino (Andong) | God Only Knows by Mark Reyes |
| 2009 | Bonsai by Borgy Torre | Blogog by Rommel Tolentino | Dexter Cayanes (Musa) | Mark Phillip Espina (Behind Close Doors) | Tatang by Jean Paolo Hernandez |
| 2010 | Wag Kang Titingin by Pam Miras | P by Rommel Tolentino | Rommel Tolentino (P) | Mikhail Red (The Barriers) | P by Rommel Tolentino |
| 2011 | Walang Katapusang Kwarto by Emerson Reyes | Hanapbuhay by Henry Frejas | Rommel Tolentino (Niño Bonito) | Emerson Reyes (Walang Katapusang Kwarto) | Walang Katapusang Kwarto by Emerson Reyes |
| 2012 | Victor by Jarell Serencio | Manenaya by Richard Legaspi | Sheron Dayoc (Mientras su Durmida) | Sigrid Andrea Bernardo (Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong) | Ruweda by Hannah Espia |
| 2013 | The Houseband's Wife by Paulo O'Hara | Taya by Adi Bontuyan | JE Tiglao(Onang) | Paulo O'Hara(The Houseband's Wife) | Taya by Adi Bontuyan |
| 2014 | Asan si Lolo Me? by Sari Estrada | The Ordinary Things We Do by David R. Corpuz | Kevin Ang (Lola) | Kevin Ang (Lola) | Lola by Kevin Ang |
| 2015 | Pusong Bato by Martika Ramirez Escobar | Wawa by Anj Macalanda | Petersen Vargas (Lisyun qng Geografia) | Darwin Novicio (Papetir) | Sanctissima by Kenneth Dagatan |
| 2016 | Pektus by Isabel Quesada | Fish Out of Water by Mon A.L. Garilao | Mon A.L. Garilao (Fish Out of Water) | Isabel Quesada (Pektus) | Forever Natin by Cyrus Valdez |
| 2017 | Hilom by P.R. Patindol | Fatima Marie Torres and the Invasion of Space Shuttle Pinas 25 by Carlo Francisco Manatad | E. del Mundo (Manong ng Pa-Aling) | Joseph Israel Laban (Bawod) | Nakauwi Na by Marvin Cabangunay and Jaynus Olaivar |
| 2018 | Jodilerks dela Cruz by Carlo Manatad | Astri Maki Si Tambulah by Xeph Suarez | Xeph Suarez (Astri Maki Si Tambulah) | Christian Candelaria (Sa Saiyang Isla) | Kiko by Jojo Driz |
| 2019 | Wag Mo Kong Kausapin by Josef Dielle Gacutan | Tembong by Shaira Advincula | Don Senoc (Sa Among Agwat) | Gilb Baldoza (Kontrolado ni Girly Ang Buhay Niya) | Heist School Julius Renomeron Jr. |
| 2020 | Tokwifi by Carla Pulido Ocampo | Ang Pagpakalma sa Unos by Joanna Vasquez Arong | Martika Ramirez Escobar (Living Things) | Hubert Tibi (Pabasa Kan Pasyon) | Quing Lalam Ning Aldo by Reeden Fajardo |
| 2021 | Beauty Queen by Myra Aquino | An Sadit na Planeta by Arjanmar H. Rebeta | Kyle Nieva (Kids of Fire) | Kyle Nieva (Kids of Fire) | An Sadit na Planeta by Arjanmar H. Rebeta |
| 2022 | Black Rainbow by Zig Dulay | Dikit by Gabriela Serrano | Gabriela Serrano (Dikit) | Zig Dulay (Black Rainbow) | Mga Handum Nga Nasulat sa Baras by Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay & Richard Jeroui Salvadico |
| 2023 | Sibuyas ni Perfecto by Januar Yap | Hm Hm MhM by Sam Villa-real and Kim Timan | Mike Cabarles (Makoko Sa Baybay) | Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Romero (Hinakdal) | Hinakdal by Arvin Belarmino |
| 2024 | Cross My Heart and Hope to Die by Sam Manacsa | Pamalandong sa Danow by Breech Asher Harani | Sam Manacsa (Cross My Heart and Hope to Die) | Sonny Calvento (Primetime Mother) | Primetime Mother by Sonny Calvento |