Schedule, Prices + More: Everything You Need to Know About Cinemalaya 2023

(SPOT.ph) Unlike the glitz and glamour of many international film festivals, Cinemalaya stays true to its roots. It’s arguably the only time Philippine cinema can focus on quality over commercial appeal, giving filmmakers the space to push boundaries. Now on its 19th edition, the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival runs from August 4 to 13.

With the usual venue of CCP Main Building undergoing rehabilitation, Cinemalaya films will be screened at the Philippine International Convention Center's (PICC) three meeting rooms: Cinema Rizal (Meeting Room 1), Cinema Bonifacio (Meeting Room 2 and 3), and Cinema Felipe (Meeting Room 4). There will also be screenings at the following Ayala Malls Cinemas: Trinoma, UP Town Center, Glorietta, and Manila Bay. 

Cinemalaya has two categories—full-length and short films—with 10 entries each. Regular tickets cost P300, while student tickets cost P200 per screening. Tickets are available for purchase at TicketWorld and the CCP Box Office.

Thinking of watching everything? You can also opt to buy a Cinemalaya 19 Festival Pass for P2,880, which is equivalent to 12 tickets (10 full-length films and two sets of five short films). Of course, this is non-transferable.

Also read: Cinemalaya’s First Full-Length Animated Film Explores Trauma Through a Mouthless Protagonist

Here's the official Cinemalaya 2023 film line-up:

Ang Duyan ng Magiting (The Cradle of the Brave) by Dustin Celestino

An anthology film of life and violence in the Philippines following a college professor, a university chancellor, a social worker, a police chief, two students, two mothers, and a lawyer as affected by war, terrorism and politics in the country.

• Sunday, August 6 at 3:30 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Sunday, August 6 at 8:00 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Monday, August 7 at 12:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Tuesday, August 8 at 3:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Wednesday, August 9 at 12:45 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Wednesday, August 9 at 8:00 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Friday, August 11 at 8:00 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Friday, August 11 at 9:00 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Saturday, August 12 at 5:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Saturday, August 12 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)

As If It’s True by John Rogers

A burnt-out content creator and a depressed, struggling musician get into a relationship with mutual intentions of capitalizing on one another; however, a blur forms between exploitation and real love.

• Saturday, August 5 at 12:45 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Saturday, August 5 at 8:00 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Sunday, August 6 at 10:00 a.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Monday, August 7 at 5:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Tuesday, August 8 at 9:00 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Wednesday, August 9 at 3:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Thursday, August 10 at 3:30 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Friday, August 11 at 3:30 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Saturday, August 12 at 3:30 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Saturday, August 12 at 3:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Sunday, August 13 at 5:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)

Bulawan nga Usa (Golden Deer) by Kenneth De la Cruz

A young man goes up a mountain to escape reality and faces events that draw a thin line between mystery and self-discovery.

• Saturday, August 5 at 10:00 a.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Saturday, August 5 at 12:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Sunday, August 6 at 12:45 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Sunday, August 6 at 5:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Monday, August 7 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Tuesday, August 8 at 8:00 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Wednesday, August 9 at 9:00 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Thursday, August 10 at 8:00 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Friday, August 11 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Saturday, August 12 at 3:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Saturday, August 12 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Sunday, August 13 at 5:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)

Gitling by Jopy Arnaldo

A woman who called off an engagement and a man who escaped his cheating wife cross paths in Bacolod to work on the latter's film, finding solace in a friendship they never knew they needed.

• Saturday, August 5 at 3:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Saturday, August 5 at 9:00 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Sunday, August 6 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Sunday, August 6 at 8:00 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Monday, August 7 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Tuesday, August 8 at 12:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Thursday, August 10 at 12:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Thursday, August 10 at 12:45 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Friday, August 11 at 12:45 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Friday, August 11 at 3:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Saturday, August 12 at 10:00 a.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Sunday, August 13 at 8:00 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)

Huling Palabas (Fin) by Ryan Espinosa Machado          

A teenager looks for his long-lost father on VHS tapes when suddenly two movie-like characters appear in his small hometown.

• Saturday, August 5 at 12:45 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Saturday, August 5 at 3:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Sunday, August 6 at 3:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Sunday, August 6 at 9:00 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Tuesday, August 8 at 5:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Tuesday, August 8 at 9:00 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Wednesday, August 9 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Friday, August 11 at 3:30 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Friday, August 11 at 8:00 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Saturday, August 12 at 3:30 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Saturday, August 12 at 8:00 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)

Iti Mapukpukaw (The Missing) by Carl Joseph E. Papa

Cinemalaya's first animated full-length entry follows the twists and turns of a mouthless young man's life as his memories untangle when an alien enters the picture.

• Saturday, August 5 at 5:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Saturday, August 5 at 9:00 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Sunday, August 6 at 12:45 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Monday, August 7 at 3:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Wednesday, August 9 at 5:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Wednesday, August 9 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Thursday, August 10 at 3:30 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Thursday, August 10 at 3:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Friday, August 11 at 12:45 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Friday, August 11 at 5:30 p.m. (UP Town Center)
• Saturday, August 12 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Sunday, August 13 at 12:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)

Maria by She Andes

Cinemalaya's first documentary in the full-length competition follows three women named Maria on a journey to seek truth and fight for justice as the Philippines becomes a shrinking civic and democratic space that fosters a culture of impunity.

• Sunday, August 6 at 10:00 a.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Sunday, August 6 at 3:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Monday, August 7 at 12:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Monday, August 7 at 3:30 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Tuesday, August 8 at 5:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Tuesday, August 8 at 9:00 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Thursday, August 10 at 5:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Friday, August 11 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Saturday, August 12 at 3:30 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Saturday, August 12 at 5:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Sunday, August 13 at 8:00 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)

Rookie by Samantha Lee and Natts Jadaone

A queer film that follows a tall, awkward teenager who moves to a new town and is forced to join her new all-girl Catholic high school's volleyball team, and ends up falling for the team captain.

• Saturday, August 5 at 12: 30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Saturday, August 5 at 12:45 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Monday, August 7 at 5:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Tuesday, August 8 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Wednesday, August 9 at 3:30 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Wednesday, August 9 at 3:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Thursday, August 10 at 12:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Friday, August 11 at 10:00 a.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Friday, August 11 at 12:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Saturday, August 12 at 10:00 a.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Sunday, August 13 at 3:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)

Tether by Gian Arre

After a one-night stand, an arrogant playboy and a timid young woman discover that any pleasure or pain they inflict on themselves is simultaneously felt by the other.

• Saturday, August 5 at 5:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Saturday, August 5 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Sunday, August 6 at 5:30 pm.m (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Monday, August 7 at 9:00 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Tuesday, August 8 at 3:30 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Tuesday, August 8 at 3:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Thursday, August 10 at 10:00 a.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Thursday, August 10 at 3:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Friday, August 11 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Saturday, August 12 at 12:45 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Saturday, August 12 at 8:00 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Sunday, August 13 at 12:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)

When This Is All Over by Kevin Mayuga

A disconnected, desperate individual forges a deal with privileged misfits to plan a secret party at the height of a global pandemic as an escape from reality.

• Saturday, August 5 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Sunday, August 6 at 12:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Monday, August 7 at 3:30 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Monday, August 7 at 8:00 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Tuesday, August 8 at 3:30 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Wednesday, August 9 at 12:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Thursday, August 10 at 5:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Friday, August 11 at 12:45 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Friday, August 11 at 5:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Saturday, August 12 at 12:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Saturday, August 12 at 12:45 p.m. (PICC Cinema)

Also read: 10 Cinemalaya Classics Every Movie Buff Needs to See

Shorts A comprises Sota (Horse Caretaker) by Mae Tanagon, Hinakdal (Condemned) by Arvin Belarmino, Kokuryo: The Untold Story of BB. Undas 2019 by Diokko Manuel Dionisio, Hm Hm Mhm by Sam Villa-Real and Kim Timan, and Sibuyas ni Perfecto (Perfecto’s Onion) by Januar Yap.

• Saturday, August 5 at 10:00 a.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Saturday, August 5 at 8:00 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Monday, August 7 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Tuesday, August 8 at 12:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Wednesday, August 9 at 5:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Thursday, August 10 at 9:00 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Friday, August 11 at 12:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Friday, August 11 at 9:00 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Friday, August 11 at 3:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Saturday, August 12 at 12:45 p.m. (PICC Cinema)

Shorts B comprises 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, Makoko sa Baybay (I Am Going to the Beach) by Mike Cabarles, Maudi Nga Arapaap (Last Dream) by Daniel Magayon, and Tong Adlaw Nga Nag-Snow sa Pinas (The Day It Showed in the Philippines) by Joshua Caesar Medroso.

• Sunday, August 6 at 12:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Sunday, August 6 at 12:45 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Monday, August 7 at 8:00 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Wednesday, August 9 at 12:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)
• Wednesday, August 9 at 3:30 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Thursday, August 10 at 6:15 p.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Thursday, August 10 at 8:00 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Friday, August 11 at 10:00 a.m. (PICC Cinema)
• Saturday, August 12 at 12:30 p.m. (Trinoma and Manila Bay)
• Sunday, August 13 at 3:30 p.m. (UP Town Center and Glorietta)