Cinemalaya 22 Opening and Closing Films Reflect the Diversity of Filipino Experiences

 

Enjoy your stay

For its 22nd edition, the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival opens and closes with two internationally acclaimed independent films that reflect the complexity of Filipino experience: the opening film, Enjoy Your Stay, explores a mother's enduring love for her daughter, while the closing film, Filipiñana, follows a teenage girl whose job at a country club leads to unexpected discoveries.

Opening Film

Directed by Dominik Locher and Honee Alipio and co-produced by Close Up Films and JBA

Production, Enjoy Your Stay follows Luz, a Filipina who has spent years working as an undocumented cleaner in Switzerland. Living in the shadows alongside her friend Aileen and other Filipina migrant workers, she constantly faces the threat of being discovered and deported.

When she sees her ex-husband appear on a Filipino reality TV show with their six-year-old daughter, Luz’s life is shaken. In a desperate attempt to keep her child after years of working abroad, she promises on live television to return home in time for her daughter's birthday.

Looking at her savings and her ballooning debts, will she be able to secure her daughter's future? Racing against time, Luz is forced to find ways to earn money even if it means betraying her community and crossing her own moral boundaries. Actress Mercedes Cabral headlines Enjoy Your Stay, alongside acclaimed Filipino actresses Anna Luna, Hasmine Killip, Irma Adlawan, Donna Cariaga, and Madeleine Nicolas.

Enjoy Your Stay had its world premiere in the Panorama section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival in Germany on February 14, 2026.

The opening film will be screened free to the public on August 6 (Thursday), at 7:30 p.m. at Red Carpet Cinemas 1 and 2, Shangri-La Plaza.

Closing Film

Filipiñana tells the story of Isabel, played by Jorrybell Agoto, a teenage employee at an exclusive country club who finds herself drawn to its president, Dr. Palanca, played by Teroy Guzman. But as Isabel begins to uncover the violence hidden beneath the country club’s pristine facade, she realizes that what started as an innocent infatuation is rooted in a far more sinister shared history.

Filipiniana

Directed by Rafael Manuel, Filipiñana is a feature-length expansion of his acclaimed 2020 short film of the same title. The film had its world premiere in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in January 2026.

As the closing film of the 22nd Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, Filipiñana will be screened on August 16, 2026, at 8:30 p.m. at Red Carpet Cinemas 1 and 2, Shangri-La Plaza. Tickets are priced at ₱350 for regular admission and ₱250 for students.

Reel Reflections

Anchored on the theme “Cinemalaya 22: Reel Reflections,” the festival's opening and closing films embody the spirit of this year’s edition by telling stories that reflect the realities, struggles, and triumphs of women and the communities they belong to.

Tickets to the opening and closing film screenings will be given on a first-come, first-served basis two hours before the screening schedule.

For more information, visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) and the Cinemalaya

website (www.cinemalaya.org). Follow the official CCP and Cinemalaya Facebook pages and other social media accounts on X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Japan Foundation Manila Presents: Nihongo Fiesta 2024 - Celebrating Language, Culture, and Creativity

 

The Japan Foundation Manila announces the return of the highly anticipated Nihongo Fiesta, now in its 19th year, promising a dynamic celebration of Japanese language and culture. The 51st Nihongo Fiesta is set to take place at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong, on February 24, 2024, from 1:20 PM to 2:40 PM.

The Nihongo Fiesta stands as a celebration of the enduring camaraderie between the Philippines and Japan, serving not only as an event but as a cherished tradition that fosters deeper connections between the two nations. It provides a fertile ground for the flourishing community of Nihongo speakers and enthusiasts, welcoming individuals from all walks of life, from eager language learners to seasoned professionals, to take part in an immersive arts and cultural experience unlike any other.

One of the highlights of the Nihongo Fiesta is the Nihongo Speech Contest, wherein nine finalists from Luzon, Davao, and the Visayas will showcase their language proficiency and communication skills. This year's competition promises to be fiercer than ever, as participants vie for top honors with their original compositions on various themes.

Adding to the excitement, the "Minna no Nihongo Fiesta" will feature a captivating display of photos submitted by educational institutions across the Philippines, giving the audience a unique glimpse into the diverse facets of Japanese culture. Meanwhile, attendees will be treated to a captivating performance by the UP Philippines-Japan Friendship Club (UP Tomo-Kai), showcasing the rich tapestry of Japanese traditions. Guests will also get to experience the Ryukyu Buyo, an Okinawan traditional dance performance that promises to mesmerize and delight.

For more information on Nihongo Fiesta 2024 and other Japan Foundation Manila initiatives, visit www.jfmo.org.ph and www.facebook.com/JFManila.

For inquiries and other related concerns, please contact: Ms. Setsuko Kanuka via email at setsuko_kanuka@jpf.go.jp or via landline at (632) 5322-3200 (Ex. 121).