A meditative reworking of Tolstoy's "God Sees the Truth But Waits." Lav Diaz's noir opus in 2016 bagged the Golden Lion prize at the 73rd Venice Film Festival. The female protagonist, Horacia (Charo Santos) wrestles herself with reintegration, vengeance, and transcendence after being wrongfully incarcerated for three decades. The film runs nearly 4 hours and is considered the most succinct yet compassionate narrative of the master filmmaker to date.

Adapted from the musical play of the same title, Ang Larawan (The Portrait) is based on National Artist Nick Joaquin's three-act play, "A Portrait of a Filipino as an Artist." Set in pre-World War II Intramuros (Old Manila), it tells the story of sisters Candida and Paula Marasigan, daughters of high profile painter, Don Marasigan. The sisters undergo financial hardship and are torn whether they should sell their father’s last great painting, ‘The Artist and His Muse’.

Stuck to his life as a celebrated surfing instructor in Baler, Ford (Sid Lucero) has always been told that he is the son of director Francis Ford Coppola. As he enjoys a seemingly cloudless life unencumbered by myths and stories, Ford gets embroiled in a menage a trois with Fiona (Annicka Dolonius), and with his childhood friend fiancee named Serena (Gwen Zamora). He continues to cover up his inner restlessness by getting wasted with weed and alcohol until the surfing season comes to its close and Ford is forced to reveal his past along with old wounds and inaction.

For his second full-length feature film, young filmmaker Mikhail Red interweaves two plotlines that depict the loss of innocence of two characters as they cope with the harsh realities of survival. Layered with prevailing issues of abuse of power and corruption, the film succeeds to present itself as a hybrid film that draws inspiration from Western parables infused with magic realism present in most of the sequences in the lush countryside.

Starting with her migration to the Philippines in the 1930s, American centenarian Jessie Lichauco shares her vivid memories of her marriage with a Filipino lawyer and her insights on the cruelty of war, survival and strength of the human spirit. The film won Best Documentary at the New York-Los Angeles (NYLA) International Film Festival and several other international film festivals.

A testimony to Youtube's cyberpower to discover musical talents, this documentary details how Arnel Pineda got fished out of obscurity and landed a gig that changed the course of his life - being the frontman of the iconic American band Journey. Director Ramona Diaz bankrolled on Pineda's blithe spirit in articulating his story and his palpable energy when performing the band's almost anthemic hits. The film won the Audience Award at the 2013-2014 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Independent Lens season of films.

To save her family from being homeless, her father dying from a heart condition, and herself from being married off to their landowner, Mayen (Kim Chiu) desperately agrees to the offer of a Chinese matchmaker for a huge amount of money. However, in exchange, Mayen must submit herself as a Ghost Bride to a wealthy but dead Chinese man, Xu Jian Rong.

This documentary centers on the ensuing trial of Paco Larranaga, along with six other young men, accused of a murder case of two Filipino-Chinese girls. Filmmakers Michael Collins and Marty Syjuco probe the hostile delivery of justice and obstruction of truth brought about by an overly bureaucratic leadership, media sensationalism and racial profiling. It won several awards in various international festivals, including Best Documentary at the 2013 National Film Society and the Audience Award at the 2012 San Sebastián Human Rights Film Festival.

The people 'need a role model. They need a star, especially in the dark of the night.' Ramona Diaz's debut film illustrates the life of Imelda Marcos as she ascends from being an impovished child in the province to becoming the richest and most celebrated First Lady of the country. Interspersing from third party interviews to her own narration, the film bagged the Excellence in Cinematography Award at the Sundance Film Festival

Gerardo Calagui's social realist drama introduces us to three transgender sex workers who saunter along the streets of Manila's red-light district to offer their friendship and services. Loosely based on real life events, the film embroils the viewers into taking a hard look into their nocturnal world of humor, anguish, and survival.

Gerardo Calagui's social realist drama introduces us to three transgender sex workers who saunter along the streets of Manila's red-light district to offer their friendship and services. Loosely based on real life events, the film embroils the viewers into taking a hard look into their nocturnal world of humor, anguish, and survival.

Filipinos are the second largest Asian-American community in the United States. Besides being one of the fastest growing immigrant groups in the country, Filipinos were also the first Asian people to have arrived on American soil, in Morro Bay, California, back in 1587 during the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade. One might imagine that because of its long history in the U.S. that Filipinos would have wider social and political influence in U.S. American culture. But hundreds of years on, Filipinos often still operate just beneath the surface, almost as an invisible minority. Whether it’s through occupational obligation or willing assimilation, Filipinos all over the world have quietly integrated into their respective new communities. But there has been an awakening and clamor for Filipino representation in film and TV. CIFF talks with influential Filipino-Americans and Asian Americans in the media industry to examine what brought about this resurgence and discuss the challenges and experi

For her fifth full-length documentary, director Ramona Diaz reinforces her niche in the industry as a driving force in documentary cinema. The film takes us into an almost claustrophobic yet intimate experience inside one of the world's busiest maternity ward, Fabella. Veering away from formal interviews and other storytelling devices used in most documentaries, the film first few sequences opens with hospital staff doing what seems to be their perfunctory roles and yet moves fluidly into snippets of human truths of survival.

Co-directed by S. Leo Chiang and Johnny Symons, the film captures a significant event in the history of Philippine politics when the world's first and only LGBT political party called Ladlad, attempts to elect a transgender woman to the Philippine Congress. Soon, they realize their uphill battle not just against political conservatives but also public perception.

While working to fulfill the traditional dowry imposed by his potential parents-in-law, an indigenous Aeta boy named Atan Dimaya (Garry Cabalic) encounters a beautiful student-researcher named Rain (Anna Luna), who he begins fancy, when he ventures out of the mountains into the city. Rain is working on her thesis about life patterns of intermarried Aetas (commonly called "kulots" because of their curly hair) and the lowlanders (known as "unats" which refers to those with straight-hair). When Atan’s father reminds him that he needs to fulfill his promise of marriage with Ani (Joan dela Cruz), he starts to distance himself from Rain. After his no-show act at the night of their pre-wedding rituals, Atan sprints downhill from infatuation to the conflicting values of tradition and obligation. Endowed with breathtaking images of the Pinatubo mountain range and the surrounding desolate landscape, Zig Dulay's film illustrates the sad plight of a minority group whose life opportunities are grea

When Iyay (Jaclyn Jose) learns that her estranged husband has died, she decides to drive her family to the wake. A self-confessed fanboy of film and pop culture, young director Victor Villanueva utilizes dark humor to the road trip film structure to showcase a layered social commentary on human behavior against a tapestry of religious traditions, intimacy and forgiveness. A hit on the international festival circuit.

During this special event, CIFF Industry Forum becomes a platform to present emerging and established Filipino-American and Filipino filmmakers, future collaborations and exciting new films set to debut in 2018. Attending talent Ramona Diaz, H.P. Mendoza, Loy Arcenas, PJ Raval and Marty Syjuco, Marie Jamora, Diane Paragas and other international filmmakers, writers and producers will take the stage to announce and show us sneak preview clips of their newest work. Through its new co-production initiative Cinematografo Originals, as well as discoveries of landmark independent films in production, join us as we light the path and blaze the trail of filmmaking and announce the 2018 co-production partnerships.

Co-starring Tony award-winning performer Lea Salonga and matinee idol Aga Muhlach, the film is regarded as a classic by most Filipinos in the romantic film genre. It tells of the journey of a young couple who opted to live apart to in search of a better life. Under the direction of Olivia Lamasan, the festival is proud to bring the film back to the big screen, digitally remastered after twenty years. Shot in the San Francisco Bay Area.