Bacolod in 2222? This Negrense sci-fi short imagines it

BACOLOD CITY — The Negrense independent short film “Those Little Things” has been selected for this year’s Active Vista Human Rights Film Festival as part of FRAMES: Filipino Short Film Exhibition.

With the theme “Walang Kawala,” the festival spotlights filmmakers who use cinema to challenge systemic violence, demand accountability, and safeguard human rights.

Artist-activist group DAKILA and its Active Vista Center organize the festival, which is held every September to coincide with the anniversary of the 1972 declaration of martial law.

The film is set in a speculative, cyberpunk Bacolod in 2222, pairing science fiction worldbuilding with an intimate story about family and quiet resilience.

Produced by Kwentista Produksyon, the film follows a teenager through an ordinary day with her father, using everyday interactions to highlight broader social realities, human dignity, and the emotional weight of lived experience.

The production features a team of talents from Negros Occidental.

Poli Gonzales and Massah Gonzales-Gamboa co-directed and co-produced the film.

Gonzales also handled the visual effects, while Gonzales-Gamboa wrote the screenplay based on a story by Gonzales.

Ynez Arceo plays the teenager and Bon Cerbo plays her father, with John Arceo in a supporting role.

Paolo Correa handled cinematography, Kathryn Tecson-Baynosa the production design, and Rolf Baynosa the sound design.

Before its Active Vista selection, “Those Little Things” was selected to compete in the Lumayagan Shorts Competition of the 6th Oroquieta Film Festival in October.

The back-to-back selections place the film among contemporary works that use creative storytelling to address complex social issues.

“Those Little Things” screens alongside short films from across the country, divided into two curated programs meant to spark dialogue on human rights and justice.

Set A premiered at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Sine Pop in Cubao, Quezon City.

It featured Migui Francisco’s “Nang Umiyak Ang Dagat,” Dexter Paul De Jesus and Drexler Jaramel’s “Kwentong Multo,” Monique Chua’s “Eye See You,” Michael Pogoy’s “Coding si Papa,” and Nics Basco’s “Letters to Cinema.”

Set B, which includes “Those Little Things,” debuts at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, at Balay Bayani inside the Bantayog Memorial Center in Quezon City.

The center honors those who resisted the Marcos dictatorship.

The Set B lineup also includes Jhayzon U Parañel’s “Manong,” Ryan Capili’s “Forms of Forgetting,” Faithy Ferrer Lacanlale’s “Mga Bulaklak sa Family Tree,” Mae Chan Li’s “Para-paraan,” and Louise Asis’s “Aninag.”

Both programs screen again Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Harong Cafe in Quezon City, with Set A at 6 p.m. and Set B at 8 p.m.