Cover Marian Rivera as Teacher Emmy in Kip Oebanda’s ‘Balota’, a previous full-length entry for Cinemalaya (Photo: Kip Oebanda)
Marian Rivera as Teacher Emmy in Kip Oebanda’s ‘Balota’, a previous full-length entry for Cinemalaya (Photo: Kip Oebanda)
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Calling all film buffs and filmmakers! The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is now accepting submissions for its Full-Length Film category
The year is shaping up to be a promising one for filmmakers in the Philippines as Cinemalaya Philippines Independent Film Festival once again opens its call for full-length entries for its 21st year.
The festival, known for championing bold and original storytelling, has long served as a platform for socially relevant narratives, experimental techniques and boundary-pushing cinema, and this upcoming edition is no exception.
In 2026, Cinemalaya continues to highlight the diverse voices and creative visions of both emerging and established artists and invites filmmakers to be part of its next wave of compelling storytelling.
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Above Cinemalaya 2024 awards night (Photo: Cultural Center of the Philippines)
Cinemalaya 2024 awards night (Photo: Cultural Center of the Philippines)
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Interested participants may submit up to three entries, but only one entry per proponent will be considered as a finalist. Projects that have already entered principal photography or post-production before July 2025 are not eligible except for documentaries, which are exempt from this rule.
Submissions that are affiliated with film, television or local streaming platforms will still be accepted, provided they are not commissioned projects and originate directly from the filmmaker as the sole proponent. Commissioned works from commercial platforms are not eligible for consideration.
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Mechanics
Interested participants must submit online through a link provided by Cinemalaya. The requirements are as follows:
- Concept paper of the project. It may contain the premise(s) of the film you want to make, the genre, the tagline, the key characters and their descriptions. The concept paper should provide the Competition Committee with a clear idea of the movie you want to make.
- Concept paper should be in Filipino or English (1 page, Courier 12 points font size).
- Storyline: a two-page synopsis of the film project being presented (2 pages with Courier typeface and 12 points for font size).
- Resume of the proponent.
- Two (2) recent photos of the proponent (2inx2in).
- Sample of a short film between 5–20 minutes in MP4 format, directed by the proponent.
The sheets containing the concept paper must not bear the name of the proponent. Full scripts will not be accepted.
Above Actors Dolly de Leon and Enzo Osorio pose for a photo at the Cinemalaya awards night last year (Photo: Cultural Center of the Philippines)
Actors Dolly de Leon and Enzo Osorio pose for a photo at the Cinemalaya awards night last year (Photo: Cultural Center of the Philippines)
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On July 11, the Cinemalaya Competition Committee will select 30 promising entries, whose proponents will be invited to a pitching session on July 26, 2025. From this group, 20 projects will be chosen to join the Cinemalaya Film Lab—a film development and mentorship program under the Cinemalaya Institute, which will run from this August to November.
From the film lab and mentorship program of the Cinemalaya Institute, the Competition Committee will choose the 10 finalists for the 2026 Cinemalaya Main Competition.
The 10 film finalists will be screened during the festival period from August 7 to 16 of next year at various festival venues.
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Jove holds a degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She has flair for in-depth, interview-driven stories that explore politics and culture, shaped by her background in national broadsheets.
When she’s not on assignment, Jove spends her days painting, sipping lemonade, and walking her dog, Jupiter. She can often be seen in Escolta with a film camera in hand, browsing novelty shops in search of rare memorabilia. For leads, reach her at Jove@tatlerphilippines.com.
