The Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Cinemalaya Foundation Inc renewed its partnership with Ayala Malls Cinemas to bring this year’s edition of Cinemalaya Philippines Independent Film Festival closer to film enthusiasts and reach wider audiences.

Now in its 19th year, the Cinemalaya films in competitions – 10 full-length films and two sets of short films – will be screened from August 5 to 13, 2023, at Glorietta, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, UP Town Center, and Trinoma.

Following the theme ilumiNasyon, the 10 competing full-length films are: ANG DUYAN NG MAGITING (THE CRADLE OF THE BRAVE) by Dustin Celestino; AS IF IT’S TRUE by John Rogers; BULAWAN NGA USA (GOLDEN DEER) by Kenneth De la Cruz; GITLING by Jopy Arnaldo; HULING PALABAS (FIN) by Ryan Espinosa Machado; ITI MAPUKPUKAW (THE MISSING) by Carl Joseph E. Papa; MARIA by She Andes; ROOKIE by Samantha Lee and Natts Jadaone; TETHER by Gian Arre; and WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER by Kevin Mayuga.

Short films in competition include: ANG KINING BINALAYBAY KAG AMBAHANON KO PARA SA IMO (THESE RHYMES AND RHYTHMS MEANT FOR YOU) By Kent John D. Desamparado; GOLDEN BELLS By Kurt Soberano; HINAKDAL (CONDEMNED) By Arvin Belarmino; HM HM MHM By Sam Villa-Real And Kim Timan; KOKURYO: THE UNTOLD STORY OF BB. UNDAS 2019 By Diokko Manuel Dionisio; MAKOKO SA BAYBAY (I AM GOING TO THE BEACH) By Mike Cabarles; MAUDI NGA ARAPAAP (LAST DREAM) By Daniel Magayon; SIBUYAS NI PERFECTO (PERFECTO’S ONION) By Januar Yap; SOTA (HORSE CARETAKER) by Mae Tanagon; and TONG ADLAW NGA NAG-SNOW SA PINAS (THE DAY IT SNOWED IN THE PHILIPPINES) by Joshua Caesar Medroso.

There will be an opening gala program on August 5, Saturday, at 4pm, at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, followed by the film screening of Iti Mapukpukaw. Cinemalaya festival director Chris Millado, Cinemalaya Competition and Monitoring Committee chair direk Jose Javier Reyes, with film director Carl Joseph Papa and actress Dolly de Leon, are expected to grace the event.

Catch the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival from August 4 to 13, 2023 at PICC, Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez, and selected Ayala Malls.

For more information, visit CCP and Cinemalaya websites. Follow the official CCP and Cinemalaya social media accounts in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok for latest updates. For tickets, you can purchase festival passes and tickets at the CCP Box Office located at the Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez (CCP Blackbox Theater) and TicketWorld.