Cinemalaya 21 explores Filipino identity through new film literature

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – As the country’s leading platform for independent film, Cinemalaya expands its celebration of Filipino artistry with a series of book launches scheduled for October 8, 9, and 11 at the Red Carpet Cinema, Shangri-La Plaza.

Now in its 21st year, the festival highlights the convergence of film, literature, and national identity through four significant publications: Manong: The Life and Works of Gerardo de Leon by Dr. Nicanor G. Tiongson; Agaw-Tingin (Stolen Glances) and Pinilakang Tabing (Silver Screen) by National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee; and Letters from the Future: 35 Years of the Gawad CCP para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, published by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) through its Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division.

The initiative underscores Cinemalaya’s longstanding commitment to discovering and nurturing voices in Philippine cinema while opening new spaces for scholarship, dialogue, and cultural preservation.

Dr. Tiongson’s Manong: The Life and Works of Gerardo de Leon is the first and only comprehensive study of the National Artist, documenting his personal history and artistic contributions across more than 80 films created for Parlatone Hispano-Filipino, Sampaguita Pictures, Premiere Productions, and independent companies in the Philippines and abroad. The work not only memorializes de Leon’s legacy but also situates him as a central figure in the evolution of Filipino film language.

Meanwhile, Ricky Lee contributes two titles to the festival’s literary showcase. Agaw-Tingin (Stolen Glances), a nonfiction anthology of essays written for publications such as Asia-Philippines Leader, TV Weekly, and National Midweek, presents the filmmaker as a keen observer of everyday life, capturing truths embedded in both mundane and extraordinary moments. His novel Pinilakang Tabing (Silver Screen), on the other hand, draws from four decades of Philippine cinema, weaving fictional narratives that mirror the industry’s impact on Filipino lives. An excerpt featuring a character named Journey hints at the intensity of the novel with the chilling line, “…pinatay ako ng pelikula” (“…cinema killed me”).

The CCP’s Letters from the Future, edited by Adjani G. Arumpac with Janella Paris, Bane Vicente, and Tom Estrera III, gathers 35 years of works from Gawad CCP Alternatibo awardees. The anthology provides a rare chronicle of alternative filmmaking in the Philippines, reflecting on its pioneering role in shaping independent and experimental practices.

Together, these publications reinforce the festival’s educational thrust and its role as a cultural forum. From screen to page, Cinemalaya continues to cultivate dialogue among filmmakers, scholars, and audiences while chronicling the narratives that define the Filipino cinematic tradition.

The book launches are scheduled as follows:

• Manong: The Life and Works of Gerardo de Leon – October 8, 2025, 5:00 PM, Red Carpet Cinema 3
• Letters from the Future: 35 Years of the Gawad CCP para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video – October 9, 2025, 3:30 PM
• Ricky Lee’s Agaw-Tingin (Stolen Glances) and Pinilakang Tabing (Silver Screen) – October 11, 2025, 5:00 PM, Red Carpet Cinema 2

All events will take place at Shangri-La Plaza.

The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival runs from October 3 to 12, with screenings of competing full-length and short feature films at Shangri-La Plaza, Ayala Malls Cinemas, and Gateway Cineplex.

For more information, visit www.cinemalaya.org or www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.

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