‘Silenced Nights’ Heads To North Macedonia As First PH Film To Vie @ Skopje OFF

Macedonia – The gripping drama “Silenced Nights” will be the first Filipino feature to compete at the Skopje International Film Festival. The 26th edition of the festival will run from November 4 to 9.

Director Lawrence Fajardo is slated to fly to North Macedonia to personally represent the film, engage with international audiences, and participate in festival discourse.

At its core, “Silenced Nights” plunges viewers into a stark urban landscape. Set against the backdrop of Manila’s Tondo district, and drawing thematic inspiration from real-world struggles for justice, the narrative centers on an ordinary laborer (Nico Antonio).

The protagonist’s fragile existence is violently upended after he inadvertently witnesses a brutal killing, pulling him into a tense spiral of moral reckoning and survival.

Antonio got ample support from fellow actors Lotlot De Leon, Ina Feleo, Joel Saracho, Tanya Gomez, Dylan Ray Talon, Jorrybell Agoto, Simon Ibarra, Mario Magal­lona, Rom Factol­erin, Soli­man Cruz, Hec­tor Macaso, Raul Morit, Bombi Plata, Apollo Abra­ham, DMs Boongal­ing, Mae Paner, Tess Jamias, Timothy Castillo, Ken­ken Nuyad, Micko Laurente, Enzo Osorio, and newcomer Aquisha Tombiga.

Fajardo collaborated with executive producers Atty. Joji Alonso, Perci Intalan, Hsin-Hung Tsai, and Vincent Wang, producers Ferdy Lapuz and Patricia Sumagui, screenwriter Troy Espiritu, and director of photography Albert Banzon, among others.

The project is an international co-production between Quantum Films (Philippines), House on Fire (France), and House on Fire International (Taiwan), created with support from the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

The film, which earned critical praise for its bold, unflinching look at urban survival and accountability, has established a historic trajectory on the international film circuit.

The international co-production earlier made major waves by securing a spot in the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Platform, an exclusive, highly selective international juried competition highlighting emerging cinematic auteurs. This also marked the first time a Filipino feature was chosen for the TIFF Platform section.