A wave of film festivals is putting Negros Island’s growing filmmaking community in the spotlight, with screenings, competitions, workshops, and new film productions scheduled from November through February 2027.
Five film festivals across Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental are showcasing regional cinema, providing opportunities for emerging filmmakers, and bringing locally produced stories to audiences in theaters and community spaces.
The season began with Cine Kahirup: Silay Film Festival on Nov. 7 and 8, followed by the 12th Lutas Film Festival in Dumaguete City on Nov. 12 to 14, the Bacolod Film Festival on Nov. 27 to 29, and the 10th Sine Negrense: Negros Island Film Festival on Dec. 9 to 12.
Meanwhile, the Margaha Film Festival in Sagay City has announced eight short films selected for development ahead of its eighth edition in February 2027, with production funding and a script development workshop planned this month.
CINE KAHIRUP OPENS IN SILAY
Silay City opened the season with Cine Kahirup: Silay Film Festival, which held film previews on Nov. 7 and 8 at the Creatives Section of the Balay Negrense Grounds.
The screenings were part of the Kaon Ta! Silay Heritage Food Festival, bringing local films into a public cultural celebration centered on the city’s heritage.
Among the films featured were “Tabang,” directed by Nolyne May Dejoras; “Papay,” directed by J.M. Oreta; “Isa ka Gab-isa Prusisyon sang San Roque,” directed by David Rosol; and “Mangkot Ka Lang.”
The festival also featured a film directed by Jehu Peria.
The Silay City Public Information Office encouraged residents to support Silaynon filmmakers and local artists, highlighting filmmaking as another avenue for celebrating the city’s creative community.
LUTAS BRINGS SCREENINGS, WORKSHOPS TO DUMAGUETE
In Negros Oriental, the 12th Lutas Film Festival will run from Nov. 12 to 14, featuring competing films, filmmaking workshops, public screenings, and an awarding ceremony.
The three-day event will take place at Foundation University, Pantawan, and Robinsons Movieworld in Dumaguete City.
The festival will open on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m. at the SSS Hall of Foundation University, with the first screening of competing films.
On Friday, Nov. 13, actress Chai Fonacier will conduct a Fundamentals of Acting workshop from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Foundation University.
Filmmaker and educator Patrick Campos will also facilitate “Cinema, Literacy, and Education: A Film Experience Clinic” from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
A public screening titled “Pelikula ng Bayan” is scheduled at Pantawan later that day, providing an outdoor venue for audiences to experience regional films.
The festival will continue on Nov. 14 with another batch of competing films at the VIP Cinema of Robinsons Movieworld, followed by the closing film and awarding ceremony.
Fifteen films have been announced as official entries, including “Uwak,” “Ang Pagtabok kang Alubangbang,” “Bulalakaw sang Paglaum,” “Maria Who?,” “City of Graves,” “The Sound of K,” “Lenor,” “Meriam,” “Menudo,” and “Nobody But Today.”
Other entries include “The Knight of Candle Mountain,” “Due Date ni Judith,” “Zakas,” and “Dag E.T.”
BACOLOD FILM FESTIVAL TO PREMIERE 9 NEW FILMS
In Bacolod City, nine locally produced films will premiere during the Bacolod Film Festival 2026 from Nov. 27 to 29.
Screenings are scheduled at Ayala Cinema, SM Cinema, and Cinematheque Negros.
The festival earlier announced nine filmmaker-grantees selected through its call for entries, with each developing a film connected to Bacolod’s people, culture, history, or contemporary experiences.
Among the selected projects is “Be’ware of Dog” by Rolf Dubouzet Baynosa, which follows a stray dog navigating the streets of Bacolod and forming an unlikely friendship with a lonely boy.
Dranreb Cimatu will present “Buklod Balod Bakod Bacolod,” a film set against the city’s MassKara celebrations that explores the hidden struggles of performers behind the festival’s colorful spectacle.
Fahleen Fang’s “Si Balong Gin Bulang” tells the story of a 10-year-old boy who dreams of flying but faces bullying and pressure from his father, a cockfighter.
Renzo Grijaldo’s “Ka Aslum sang Batwan” follows a recovering person with substance use disorder and his relationship with an older man who offers guidance on recovery.
Jaden Mijares will premiere “PrinCaesar,” about a young scrap collector who dreams of becoming a singer and discovers a mysterious MassKara-shaped ring.
Mai Montelibano’s “Lumay” explores relationships, homecoming, and a rumored love potion, while Kurt Soberano’s “Duwa-Duwa” follows a young sugarcane worker transported from the 1984 Negros sugar crisis to the year 2024.
Zack Verzosa’s “Tukturuk” combines folklore and food in a story about a father attempting to save his daughter from the spirit of a rooster.
Pamela Reinee I. Viedor’s “Ang Tagabantay” follows a fine arts student whose discovery of a mysterious drawing leads her to stories about the Bakunawa and the preservation of cultural memory.
The nine films explore a range of subjects, including the sugar industry’s history, local folklore, substance use recovery, relationships, and the experiences of marginalized communities.
SINENEGRENSE MARKS 10 YEARS
The Sine Negrense: Negros Island Film Festival will celebrate its 10th year from Dec. 9 to 12 at Cinematheque Centre Negros in Bacolod City.
The festival has announced 20 competing films, divided equally between its Open and Inter-school categories.
The 10 official selections in the Open Category are “Dutan-On” by Rijannah Louisse Kubota, “Hallpass” by Joshua Lorenz Estilo, “Hilan” by Rafael Amit Jr., “Indi Mabuhi Ang Tawo Sa Tinapay Lang” by Jehu Peria, and “Maria Who?” by Keith Nemenzo.
Completing the category are “Pakamalauton” by Ray Owen Malundo, “Purya Buyag” by Jian Flores, “Sira Galing” by Nexus Avanceña, “Tabang” by Nolyne May Roquero Dejoras, and “You Will Learn How to Tie It Again” by Fahleen Fang.
The Inter-school Category will feature 10 films created by student filmmakers from schools across Negros Island.
These include “Duha Ka Itlog” by Daniela Marie Superal, “Ma Lugar Lang Ko” by Hannah Escober, “Mango Mango” by Therese Advincula, “Old Man’s Party” by Kate Dianne Caseria, and “Pa, Para Papa” by Gerald Benedict Cepalon and Mon Alex Campos.
Also selected are “Pamahaw, Geng!” by Cassandra Hernane and Sariah Noem Remolado, “Panublion” by Reuben James Bolo, “Si Manong Kag Si Sir” by Mariel Soliguen, “Singkwenty” by Crispel Jhun Ducay, and “Te, Ano Na?” by Gale Adelyn Elisan.
The festival’s two competition categories provide opportunities for both independent and student filmmakers to present their works to wider audiences.
Sine Negrense is presented by the Negros Cultural Foundation Inc., the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines, in partnership with The Negros Museum and Cinematheque Centre Negros.
MARGAHA SELECTS 8 SHORT FILMS FOR 2027 EDITION
While other festivals are preparing their screenings, the Margaha Film Festival in Sagay City is beginning the development of new films for its eighth edition in February 2027.
The festival has selected eight Sagaynon short film projects for production from 15 script submissions.
The selected projects are “Ang Maleta,” “Indi Pag Katola Ang Pilas,” “Kag Kung Indi Kapa Akig, Ngaa?,” “Mga Haligi sang Taliambong,” “Pingga-Pingga,” “Sabang,” “Siomai, Mani,” and “Tulod-Tulod nga Entablado.”
The films will receive seed funding through the support of Sagay City Mayor Leo Rafael “Bebo” Cueva, with the individual grant amounts yet to be announced.
The festival is also preparing a script development workshop with award-winning filmmaker Arden Rod Condez this November to help the selected filmmakers strengthen their stories before production.
The workshop is intended to provide creative guidance on screenplay development, storytelling, and the preparation of the selected projects for filming.
The completed short films are expected to premiere during the eighth Margaha Film Festival in February 2027.*
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