‘Ang Pagbabalik ni Max Buwaya’ secures spot at international film festivals

Filipino narrative short film “Ang Pagbabalik ni Max Buwaya” has been officially selected to the Diwa Filipino Film Festival in Seattle, Washington, in October, while also making waves in South Asia as an official selection in the Foreign Language Narrative Short category for the 7th Gandhara Independent Film Festival in Pakistan this month.

Set in 1989, the narrative follows Rody (Jun Sabayton), an aging former ring villain who performed under the moniker Max Buwaya during the height of the local professional wrestling era. Rody navigates an isolated existence decades after his peak, relying on his old ring mask for solace as time moves past him. Battling a decline in relevance, he undertakes training for one last bout to claim an elusive championship belt.

The film, written and directed by John Luke Miraflor, explores themes of personal identity, endurance, and the cost of chasing an unfinished dream.

“Through Rody’s journey inside and outside the ring, we wanted to capture the quiet tragedy of holding onto a past identity – how the line between who we were and who we are becomes blurred when the spotlight fades. It is a story about the stubborn grit of marginalized fighters who refuse to let the final bell ring unnoticed,” Miraflor shared

Miraflor is a filmmaker, film educator, and creative producer raised in Malabon. An alumnus of the University of the East College of Fine Arts, Architecture, and Design in Caloocan, he was part of the short film “ASWE,” which competed at the 23rd FACINE Filipino International Cine Festival in San Francisco and the 9th CMS International Children’s Film Festival in Lucknow, India in 2015.

His previous works include “Limbo” (screened at Flickerfest and Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia) and “Clairvoyant” (featured at Interfilm Berlin and Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival). An active member of the Filipino Society of Cinematographers, he also served as Director of Photography of “Transients” and “Lunod,” both screened at Cinemalaya and Gawad Alternatibo. In 2024, Miraflor was awarded the 39th Gintong Parangal ng Malabon for his artistic contributions to Philippine independent cinema.

Miraflor, who also served as the film’s director of photography, got ample support from executive producers Brilliant Jerk Production, Emmanuel Piñol, and Braveheart Farms, producers Mads Miraflor, and Yssa Valdes, assistant director Danielle Anne Tumbali, script continuity supervisor Erika Reyes, location manager Camille Tan, first camera operator JA Longares, second camera operator Migo Matas, 2nd AC Jermel Guerrero, key grip Dustin Dagamac, gaffers Jaymaro Baustisa, Rodel Pamares, Christan Absalon, Gabriel Gacuray, and Ramon Saldua, production designers Jeric Delos Angeles and Eloisa V. Lamayo, props coordinator Lamayo, wardrobe stylist Adrian Bolante II, sound designer Drew Millalos, recordist/sound designer Anna Melissa De Dios, boom operator Michael Correche, editor and behind-the-scenes videographer Reysalyn Abapial, animator Kenneth Surillo, musical director and BTS photographer Aldrin Sereño, graphic designer Romeo Basco Sereño, and poster designer Ardie Aquino.