Cinephiles know two things about August to be true: It’s the rainy season and that means it’s time for Cinemalaya. The annual independent film festival celebrates its 18th year with in-person screenings and a roster of must-watch films from local filmmakers. It’s safe to say film buffs will very much enjoy the upcoming two months. Here’s everything you need to know about Cinemalaya 2022.

Cinemalaya is on its 18th year

“Breaking Through the Noise” is the theme for Cinemalaya 2022. The film festival will run from August 5 to October 31 in a combination of in-person screening and online streaming. You can watch the films at the CCP from August 5 to 14, in select Ayala Malls and SM Cinemas from August 10 to 16, and online from October 17 to 31.

Participating Ayala Malls include Trinoma, Glorietta, Manila Bay, Capitol Central Bacolod & CDO Centrio. For SM Cinemas that’s SM Megamall, Baguio, Clark, Dasmarinas, and Legazpi. Don’t forget to mark your calendars!

11 full-length films + 12 short films in competition

Tip from seasoned Cinemalaya goers: Have a list of the films you want to see so you can plan your week. This year, everyone is treated to a total of 23 films — 11 full-length and 12 short films — competing for the Balanghai trophy. Here’s a quick list so you can note which ones you’d like to see:

Full-length titles:

1. “The Baseball Player” by Carlo Obispo (Rated G)
2. “Retirada” by Cynthia Cruz-Paz and Milo Alto Paz (Rated PG)
3. “Kargo” by TM Malones (Rated PG)
4. “Kaluskos” by Roman Perez Jr.; Screenplay by Enrique Villasis (Rated PG)
5. “Ginhawa” by Christian Paolo Lat (Rated PG)
6. “Bula Sa Langit” by Sheenly Gener; Screenplay by Andrian Legaspi (Rated R-13)
7. “Blue Room” by Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagnalan (Rated R-13)
8. “Batsoy” by Ronald Espinosa Batallones (Rated G)
9. “Bakit Di Mo Sabihin?” by Real Florido; Screenplay by Floriza Ferrer (Rated PG)
10. “Angkas” by Rain Yamson; Screenplay by Jaymar Santos Castro (Rated R-13)
11. “12 Weeks” by Anna Isabelle Matutina (Rated R-13)

Short films:

1. “Ampangabagat Nin Talakba Ha Likol (It’s Raining Frogs Outside)” by Maria Estela Paiso (Rated PG)
2. “Black Rainbow” by Zig Dulay (Rated G)
3. “City of Flowers” by Xeph Suarez (Rated PG)
4. “Dikit” by Gabriela Serrano (Rated PG)
5. “Distance” by Dexter Paul De Jesus (Rated PG)
6. “Duwa-Duwa” by Nena Jane Achacoso (Rated PG)
7. “Kwits” by Raz De La Torre (Rated G)
8. “Mata Kang Busay (Vision of the Falls)” by Niño Maldecir & Cyphor John Gayorgor (Rated PG)
9. “Mga Handum Nga Nasulat Sa Baras (The Dreams That Are Written In The Sand)” by Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay and Richard Jeroui Salvadico (Rated G)
10. “Roundtrip To Happiness” by Claudia Fernando (Rated G)
11. “See You, George!” by Mark Moneda (Rated PG)
12. “Si Oddie” by Maria KydyleeTorato (Rated G)

You can find information on each film over at Cinemalaya’s official Facebook page.

On August 5, Friday, at 6:15 PM, there will also be a screening of Martika Ramirez Escobar’s “Leonor Will Never Die” to kick off the festival. Escobar’s directorial debut film recently won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Innovative Spirit at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Catch it at the CCP Main Theater (Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo).

Check out the full film schedules for CCP and mall cinemas

Those who don’t have a lot of free time have to plan their Cinemalaya week ahead. 

Where can you buy the tickets?

You can either drop by the CCP Box Office or purchase tickets online via CCP’s official website. Users must create an account on the website, click on the Live at CCP tab, and purchase tickets on the Cinemalaya page.

Tickets are priced at P250 for screenings at CCP, Ayala Malls NCR and Regional Branches, and SM NCR Branches. You can get them for P230 for SM Regional branches.

You can also take advantage of the Cinemalaya Festival Pass

For the ultimate Cinemalaya 2022 experience, go for the Cinemalaya Festival Pass (P2,500) so you won’t miss anything. The pass will give you 13 screening credits good for each of the 11 full-length films and 2 sets of short films. It also entitles you to a priority lane and a first-come, first-served basis on orchestral seats Cinemalaya Talkback.

To get your Festival Pass, drop by the CCP Box Office which is open from Tuesday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Fill out the Festival Pass Form, have your picture taken (or send it ahead via email), and pay via cash or credit card. You can also purchase the pass online via CCP’s official website here for a small additional fee.

What else awaits film enthusiasts?

Aside from the films in the competition, you can also catch more exciting things happening outside theaters. There’s the Cinemalaya Talkback where viewers can listen to in-depth discussions about the film they just watched. There’s also a screening of the Cinemalaya Retrospective Shorts: 2021 and 2020 Cinemalaya short films.

Follow Cinemalaya’s official Facebook page for updates and continue supporting the local film industry!

Which films are you most excited to see at Cinemalaya 2022?

Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube, to be the first to know about the latest news and coolest trends!