Cinephiles, rejoice! The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is back for its 19th edition, bringing with it 10 fresh, full-length films in competition and 10 short films. It will run from August 4 to 13, 2023 in its new home at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). Where can you watch Cinemalaya 19 and how can you purchase tickets? Here’s everything you need to know!

Where is it held?

Since the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Building is currently undergoing rehabilitation, Cinemalaya this year will be held at the PICC. Cinema Rizal, Cinema Bonifacio, and Cinema Felipe are all reserved for screenings plus another separate venue for special events.

If you can’t drop by PICC, you still enjoy the film festival thanks to screenings at four Ayala Cinema Malls: Manila Bay, Glorietta, Trinoma, and UP Town Center.

How many films are in competition?

Cinemalaya has its usual lineup of 10 full-length films-in-competition and 2 sets of 5 short films. But aside from these, you can also catch a screening of Cinemalaya 19’s opening and closing films, Quark Henares’ Marupok AF (August 4, 7 PM) and Dwein Baltazar’s Third World Romance (August 12, 9 PM) respectively.

Here’s a quick list of the Cinemalaya 19 full-length films:

1. Ang Duyan Ng Magiting (The Cradle of the Brave) by Dustin Celestino
2. As If It’s True by John Rogers
3. Bulawan Nga Usa (Golden Deer) by Kenneth De La Cruz
4. Gitling by Jopy Arnaldo
5. Huling Palabas (Fin) by Ryan Espinosa Machado
6. Iti Mapukpukaw (The Missing) by Carl Joseph E. Papa
7. Maria by She Andes
8. Rookie by Samantha Lee and Natts Jadaone
9. Tether by Gian Arre
10. When This Is All Over by Kevin Mayuga

Short films:

1. Ang Kining Binalaybay Kag Ambahanon Ko Para Sa Imo (These Rhymes and Rhythms Meant For You) by Kent John D. Desamparado
2. Golden Bells by Kurt Soberano
3. Hinakdal (Condemned) by Arvin Belarmino
4. Hm Hm Mhm by Sam Villa-Real and Kim Timan
5. Kokuryo: The Untold Story of Bb. Undas 2019 by Diokko Manuel Dionisio
6. Makoko Sa Baybay (I Am Going to the Beach) by Mike Cabarles
7. Maudi Nga Arapaap (Last Dream) by Daniel Magayon
8. Sibuyas Ni Perfecto (Perfecto’s Onion) by Januar Yap
9. Sota (Horse Caretaker) by Mae Tanagon
10. Tong Adlaw Nga Nag-Snow Sa Pinas (The Day It Snowed in the Philippines) by Joshua Caesar Medroso

To know more about these films, follow Cinemalaya on Facebook and Instagram.

What’s the screening schedule?

Screenings for both PICC and Ayala Malls Cinemas will begin on August 5, Saturday and will end on August 13, Sunday. For PICC, screenings slots are at 10 AM, 12:45 PM, 3:30 PM, 6:15 PM, and 9 PM. Screenings at Ayala Malls Cinemas are at 12:30 PM, 3:30 PM, 5:30 PM, and 8 PM.

Download your copy of the Cinemalaya 19 daily screening schedules here.

What else can I do during Cinemalaya 19?

Like always, Cinemalaya holds other events aside from screenings of its films in competition. There will be live events including the opening program on August 4, the closing program on August 12, plus the highly anticipated Cinemalaya Awards Night on August 13. There’s also the Cinemalaya Retrospective where attendees can look back at the winning films of past Cinemalaya editions.

Other special events to look forward to are Cinemalaya’s Festival’s Best, Visions of Asia, premieres of never-before-screened films, dokyu, Cinemalaya Campus, exhibits, trade fair, and book launches.

How much are the tickets and where can I buy them?

Tickets are priced at P300 per screening and P200 for students with a 20% discount for PWDs, senior citizens, government and military personnel, and athletes. These are available for purchase starting August 1, online at Ticketworld or at the CCP Box Office.

Festival Passes are also available for those who are planning on watching all films-in-competition (full-length and short films) at the PICC Cinemas. These are available for P2,880 and includes reserve seating, priority entry, and complimentary access to Vision of Asia screenings. To get your Cinemalaya Festival Pass Card, download the form here.

What should I prepare for?

It’s a widely known fact (and an annual inside joke) for avid Cinemalaya fans that the festival almost always happens in the middle of the typhoon. And if the weather the past few days is anything to go by, it’s safe to say traditions will continue. So, if you’re planning on going, it’s better to prepare your raincoats, jackets, and umbrellas. Make sure to get to the venue early, if you’re watching at PICC to get ahead of traffic and find a good seat.

Happy watching!

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