Filipino short ‘HITO’ competes at Berlin International Film Fest this February

ANIMA Short Film Lab entry “HITO” joins the youth-focused category of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) happening on February 16 to 26, 2023. Together with other international entries, “HITO” enters the Generation14 programme that caters to audiences under 18. “HITO,” directed by Stephen Lopez, is one of the products of the ANIMA Short Film …

Diverse Portraits of the LGBTQ Experience in QCinema’s RainbowQC Shorts

LGBTQ short films from previous festival editions portray varying diversity and representation in this year’s special QCinema compilation that deserves a second look.  From its premiere last year with QCinema, How to Die Young in Manila by Petersen Vargas is about a surreal meet-up amidst a violent setting.  The film, which has been exhibited in Busan, LA …

Six short films explore diverse cinematic approaches in QCinema’s Asian Shorts Program

Now a regular feature in QCinema, this specially-curated program showcases the most interesting new short films from the region, including two from the Philippines.  In exploring diverse cinematic approaches, the line-up of six shorts range from the fiction narrative to social critique and to experimental styles of filmmaking.  This section, curated by filmmaker Carlo Manatad, …

Young filmmaker from Iloilo wins Best Pitch at Globe and ANIMA’s pitching contest

Globe Prepaid and production company ANIMA gave aspiring Filipino filmmakers a rare proposition —a shot at making their dream short films come true through a learning program that concluded in an exciting pitch to directors Mihk Vergara and Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, actor Paulo Avelino and Kroma Entertainment’s Office-in-Charge for ANIMA, Eileen Borromeo. Last May, Globe Prepaid …

QCinema International Film Festival Announces This Year’s #QCShorts Grantees

A refreshingly diverse program of themes and styles are in store for all viewers in QCinema’s 10th year, which will blaze the big screens in November. This year’s winning short films examine cinema and interrogate space created, recreated, and destroyed through it. Its roster covers a range of concerns — from a reflexive attempt to save …

Short film about ophthalmologist-turned-health advocate Dra. Minguita Padilla shares plight of healthworkers during pandemic

Looks like the pandemic response of the government was the last straw for ophthalmologist-turned health advocate Dra. Miguita Padilla as she decides to run for senator this coming May 2022 elections. But who is Dra. Minguita Padilla? Know the inspiring story of Dr. Ma. Dominga “Minguita” Padilla via a 45-minute short film entitled “Liwanag” starring …

‘i get so sad sometimes’ gets top award in this year’s QCinema

Trishtan Perez’ short film, i get so sad sometimes wins #QCShorts Best Picture in this year’s edition of QCinema International Film Festival.  i get so sad sometimes is about a high school teenager who secretly spends his time on the internet with a mature man whose face he still hasn’t seen yet.  The film is cited for its keen observation …

QCinema Announces Asian Shorts Program for 2021 edition

With a month to go before its 2021 edition, QCinema International Film Festival launches new titles under its new Asian Shorts program for its hybrid festival. Showcasing fresh new voices from Southeast Asia, the Asian Shorts line-up features recent titles that have competed in major festivals abroad. It shines a spotlight on emerging Asian names in the festival …

Seashorts Film Festival Returns with an Online Run for 2021

Bringing Southeast Asian cinema to the fore, the annual Seashorts Film Festival is returning online this August 25 to September 2 with cinematic and cultural programs, exclusively on seashorts.org. Seashorts aims to showcase Southeast Asia’s stories and culture through the lens of emerging filmmaking talents and cinema from the region. This year’s festival goers can …

TBA Studios brings 5 hard-to-find Filipino shorts, docus to stream online this August

In case you missed their limited theatrical and festival runs, five award-winning short films and documentaries will be available for on-demand viewing this month on major streaming platforms. Shorts Bundle Premiering on Aug. 20 on the platforms are Goyo prequel Angelito, QCinema Film Festival 2019 Best Short Film Judy Free, Australia Independent Film Festival 2018 …