Cover Left to right: A scene from ‘Bench: Body of Work’ documentary featuring Ben Chan; Lea Salonga at the special private luncheon hosted by the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF); Jericho Rosales accepting his MIFF Best Actor award (Photos: J Creative Entertainment; Instagram / @manilaintlfilmfest and @jerichorosalesofficial)
Left to right: A scene from ‘Bench: Body of Work’ documentary featuring Ben Chan; Lea Salonga at the special private luncheon hosted by the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF); Jericho Rosales accepting his MIFF Best Actor award (Photos: J Creative Entertainment; Instagram / @manilaintlfilmfest and @jerichorosalesofficial)
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The highly anticipated 2026 Manila International Film Festival concluded yesterday, bringing an end to a four-day celebration of Philippine and diaspora cinema in Hollywood that featured the world premiere of the BENCH documentary alongside a star-studded awards gala
The third annual Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) ran from September 3 to 6 in Los Angeles, California. MIFF 2026 featured film screenings, filmmaker Q&As and industry panels at the TCL Chinese Theatre, followed by the Closing Night Awards Gala at The Beverly Hilton.
On Saturday, September 5, the festival hosted the world premiere of Bench: Body of Work. The new documentary chronicles the legacy of the homegrown Filipino brand and the return of the Bench Body fashion show after an eight-year hiatus. Produced by J Creative Entertainment and directed by Tom Lowry, the 86-minute film offers an expansive look at the people behind the cultural institution, centring on the vision of its founder, Ben Chan.
Read more: Filipino pride takes centre stage in Hollywood as MIFF announces its 2026 lineup
Above Official trailer of the ‘Bench: Body of Work’ documentary film
“Nearly 40 years of building, learning, creating and, most importantly, doing it alongside people who believed in the same vision. Bench: Body of Work is a reflection on where we've been, the people who brought us here, and the work that continues. Grateful for every chapter. Proud to share Bench: Body of Work with audiences for the first time at its World Premiere at the Manila International Film Festival,” Chan reflected on his journey as an entrepreneur and the significance of showcasing the film to a global audience.
“Making this film has been an absolute dream. To witness such a brilliant collective of people build something so massive, and so meaningful to so many people, has been incredible,” Lowry expressed his admiration for the creative community captured in the film.
Above A scene from ‘Bench: Body of Work’ documentary featuring Ben Chan, Richard and Lucy Gomez, which was screened at MIFF 2026 (Photo: J Creative Entertainment)
A scene from ‘Bench: Body of Work’ documentary featuring Ben Chan, Richard and Lucy Gomez, which was screened at MIFF 2026 (Photo: J Creative Entertainment)
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“This process of making this film has been a true labour of love and a testament to the creative renaissance we have embarked on to bring relatable yet aspirational Filipino-forward stories to the world,” executive producer JP Reyes-Mallo said, discussing the company’s mission to develop global stories from an Asian perspective. “There are so many globally resonant themes within this story, but at its heart, it is truly Filipino. It is only fitting that we premiere the film at the Manila International Film Festival, in a place dedicated to bringing Filipino stories to the world,” executive producer Justyn Mallo-Reyes adds.
MIFF’s Lisa Lew further highlighted the importance of the brand’s participation in this year’s programme. “This year marks an extraordinary chapter in our community’s history as we celebrate several defining cultural milestones that will forever shape the legacy of Filipinos in Hollywood and on the world stage. We are honoured to have Bench join us for these landmark occasions.”
Beyond the documentary, MIFF 2026 presented a diverse slate of features and short films. The second wave lineup included the world premiere of East of Western, a contemporary thriller directed by Francis dela Torre starring Dante Basco, Darion Basco and Dionysio Basco.
The festival also spotlighted five short films presented in partnership with FilAm Creative: Jamie & Lina Write the Greatest Song Ever, In the Morning, You Could Have Been a Nurse, Naughty Maids and Silim. Additionally, a two-film retrospective celebrating Lea Salonga featured Sana Maulit Muli and The Vale: Origins.
In addition to the screenings, attendees participated in interactive industry panels and workshops. The sessions included discussions on crafting contemporary animated storytelling with creatives behind Forgotten Island, The Simpsons Movie, Float and Inside Out, as well as a returning workshop matching filmmakers with Filipino American industry figures in a speed-dating format.
The festivities culminated on September 6 with the Closing Night Awards Gala. Hosted by E! News reporter Erin Lim Rhodes, actor Mark Dacascos and fashion designer R’Bonney Gabriel, the event honoured significant contributions to the arts. The late Nora Aunor, National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, and the late Pilita Corrales, known as “Asia’s Queen of Songs”, were honoured posthumously with the MIFF Lifetime Achievement Award. Janine Gutierrez, actor and descendant of both, accepted the honours on behalf of their families. Additionally, Jericho Rosales won Best Actor for his titular role in Quezon.
The gala also celebrated contemporary trailblazers. Joel Crawford and Januel P Mercado, the writers and directors of DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, received the MIFF Trailblazer Award alongside their voice cast. Additional Trailblazer Award recipients included pioneering actress BarBara Luna and entrepreneur Priscilla Hunt. The Briones family, comprising Jon Jon, Megan, Isa and Teo, received the inaugural Generations Award emblematic of their multidisciplinary work across stage and screen. Lea Salonga, as previously announced, was presented with the MIFF Icon Award during the ceremony.
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Franz writes about the local cultural scene and rediscovering the country’s storied past and rich heritage. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Art Studies at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Besides working on this luxury lifestyle magazine, Franz is an avid book reader, local traveller, museum-goer, chorister, and community theatre playwright. But above all this, this Aether main spends more time in Teyvat than anywhere else.
