For decades, the margins of Philippine cinema have been a playground for raw, uncompromising creative expression.
This July, the landscape of independent art breathes fully once more as a beloved tradition returns to its roots. In a beautiful homage to forty years of creative defiance, a curated retrospective brings together generations of filmmakers who dared to step outside the commercial mold.
Consequently, whether you are a lifelong cinephile or a curious wanderer seeking stories that challenge the ordinary, this gathering serves as a sanctuary for the bold and the beautiful in moving images.
Frameworks of the Unconventional
The curated lineup acts as a vivid tapestry of eras, textures, and radical storytelling styles. Spanning from foundational avant-garde experiments to contemporary digital visions, the featured works include:
- Cleaners (2019) dir. Glenn Barit
- The Eye in the Sky (1984) dir. Joey Agbayani
- ABCD (1985) dir. Roxlee
- Bulador de Casa (Indoor Kite) (2012) dir. Victor Ian Covarrubias
- Ang Lalong ni Kulakog (Kulakog’s Rooster) (2013) dir. Omar P. Aguilar
- Isang Araw, May Halimaw (Episodes 1 & 2) (2013) dir. TJ Cadiz
- Hinagunoy sa Guryon (Chirps of the Tree Sparrow) (2016) dir. Karl Derick Sia
- Unos (2017) dir. Arthur Mercader
- Daisy (2024) dir. Pepot Atienza, Aditi Dixit, & Shecid Aguilera
Furthermore, to deepen the experience, a live talkback session moderated by Ricky Orella will follow the screenings. This will allow audiences to converse directly with the minds behind the frames.
Mowelfund’s Artistic Legacy
Experiencing this showcase also means stepping into the physical and cultural home of the movement: Mowelfund (the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation).
Since 1974, this vital institution has operated as a safety net providing medical and financial welfare to the industry’s marginalized, behind-the-scenes crew members. Meanwhile, it has also served as the very incubator for the country’s cinematic avant-garde. Through its educational arm—the Mowelfund Film Institute—it championed affordable, alternative mediums like Super-8mm and 16mm film.
As a result, it gave rise to independent masters like Brillante Mendoza and Lav Diaz.
Today, the Cubao complex houses the unique National Film Museum and a vast audiovisual archive. It stands as the perfect, historic backdrop for this artistic homecoming.
Gathering in the Dark
The screenings will take place on Friday, July 24, at the Dengcar Theater, located on the 6th Floor of the Mowelfund Center (66 Ilang-Ilang St., Cubao, Quezon City).
In the spirit of community and shared artistic discovery, admission to this retrospective is entirely free. However, because space within the theater is intimate and limited, you should secure your seat in the dark early.
You can easily do this by filling out the festival registration form ahead of time.
Ultimately, come with an open mind, and leave carried away by the enduring current of the Filipino independent spirit.
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