21 Ilonggo short films featured at ICFest 2025

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By Mariela Angella Oladive

A total of 21 Ilonggo short films will take center stage at this year’s ICFest: The Ilonggo Cinema Festival, set for October 24 to 26, 2025, at Festive Walk Cinema, Megaworld Iloilo.

The same lineup will also be screened at Cine Enkanto from October 23 to 25 at the FDCP Cinematheque Iloilo.

The featured short films are produced by Ilonggo filmmakers and film groups, including those from the Bantayan Film Festival of Guimbal, Miag-ao Film Festival, Central Philippine University, Ateneo de Iloilo–Santa Maria Catholic School, and John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University.

The screenings are grouped into four themed sets, covering a wide range of genres such as drama, mystery, horror, fantasy, and social commentary.

The official lineup includes Ang Bukay nga Batitis, Sa Bilog nga Kahon, Ang Tinuga sa Espejo, Ganyat, Nay Magding, Waiting Shed, Huni sang Kataw, Turil, I Am Art, Sintas kang mga Aswang, Marikudo, Ang Gadya sa Suba, Itom nga Bugas Kanaryo nga Ugat, Ang Bistida ni Ana sa Mata nga Pula, Ang Pulong sang mga Baboy, Laya nga Ginhawa, Liwat, Kung ang Bawa Masakitan, Lugdang, and 123 Smile.

The festival will officially open on October 24 with a ceremonial program and the screening of the opening film Cande, directed by Kevin Pison Piamonte of ERK Productions.

ICFest 2025 also introduces the ICFest Short Film Grants Competition, which will award PHP 40,000 each to three Ilonggo short film projects to be featured in the 2026 edition.

An awarding ceremony will be held on October 25, followed by final screenings and the closing film Bulawan nga Usa, directed by Kenneth De la Cruz, on October 26.

Festival Director Raymund Salao said ICFest aims to rally support from the business and government sectors for local cinema, revive interest in theatrical film viewing, and open more opportunities for Ilonggo filmmakers and film workers.

“This is about bringing back the habit of going to the cinema while also recognizing our own filmmakers,” Salao said.

ICFest serves as a platform to celebrate the growing Ilonggo film community and its storytellers whose works reflect the region’s culture, imagination, and identity.

The event is part of the Iloilo Arts Festival 2025 and is presented by the Iloilo City Government through the Iloilo City Local Culture and Arts Council, the Iloilo City M.I.C.E. Center, and the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc., in partnership with Cine Enkanto and Apassa Productions.

Admission to all screenings is free.