Returning for its 20th year, the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival premieres never-before-screened films from acclaimed Filipino directors in its Premiere Section.

Featured films are RIZAL by National Artist Marilou Diaz-Abaya, LOST SABUNGEROS by Bryan Brazil, AND SO IT BEGINS by Ramona Diaz,  ABENIDA by Luisito Lagdameo Ignacio, ASOG by Seán Devlin, GUARDIA DE HONOR by Jay Altarejos, LOLA MAGDALENA by Joel C. Lamangan, and TRANSIENTS by Kyla Romero.

With Dr. Jose Rizal’s story known to most, this movie goes deeper into the many layers of the National Hero’s life. It introduces to the audiences his life before he inspired the revolution. Directed by National Artist Marilou Diaz-Abaya and written by National Artist Ricky Lee, Jun Lana, and Peter Ong Lim back in 1998, it has been restored this year, 2024. Rizal will be screened on August 7 at 4:00PM at the Metropolitan Theater.

As the pandemic affected all the citizens of the Philippines, filmmaker Brazil told a story about how it affected the cockfighting sport of the country. Lost Sabungeros is a movie about the century-old gambling blood sport and how it went online due to the effects of COVID-19. The film will be screened on August 8 at 5:00PM and on August 9 at 5:30PM at Ayala Malls by the Bay.

Set during the time of elections, And So It Begins by Diaz is a film that talks about a grassroots movement that emerges to protect democracy from growing threats. Showing people uniting while autocracy expands, this documentary film shows the hopeful acts of resistance of the Filipino people. And So It Begins will be screened on August 9 at 8:30PM at Ayala Malls by the Bay.

A story of an artist with a mental illness, Abenida is a passion project that took Ignacio 10 years to find the perfect actor who will give justice to the title role. The movie shows the creativity and traditional craftsmanship of Paete, Laguna. Abenida will screen on August 10 at 5:00PM at Ayala Malls by the Bay.

From the Oscar-nominated Filipino-Canadian filmmaker Devlin, Asog is a tragicomedy about a teacher and a student traveling in pursuit of dreams and family. A story about the power of solidarity amidst struggle, this one-of-a-kind film will play with the lines of a narrative and documentary, flipping the conventions of a road movie. Asog will be on screen on August 9 at 5:30PM at Ayala Malls by the Bay.

Set on the eve of the presidential inauguration, Altajeros’ Guardia de Honor is a tale about a seemingly happy middle-class family whose world turns upside down by familial abuse and police violence. Guardia de Honor will be featured on August 9, 5:00PM at Ayala Malls by the Bay.

Lamangan’s Lola Magdalena is a dramedy tackles the friendship of five ageing prostitutes who live together in one house. Despite their age, their characters remain as sex workers with day jobs. Dalena, the main character, thought to be possessed by the spirit of Mary Magdalene. This movie shows the camaraderie between friends as they go through their struggles for a better future. Lola Magdalena will be on Cinemalaya screens on August 9, 2:30PM at Ayala Malls by the Bay.

A 2022 Gawad Alternatibo and 2023 Cinemalaya Alumni, Romero returns to Cinemalaya with her film Transients. The short film is about an analog filmmaker and a frustrated poet who, after reconnecting through a phone call, recreate their first meeting. Transients will grace the Ayala screens on August 10 at 5:30PM.

This year’s Cinemalaya will run from August 2 to 11 at Ayala Malls by the Bay.

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.