Benildean cinema takes the spotlight anew at Cinemalaya

The independent film scene is buzzing with energy, and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde is right at the center of the excitement. This year, Benilde has more reasons to celebrate as four more of its faculty members and alumni have been officially selected to compete in both the full-length and short film categories of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2026.

In the full-length category, Benilde Film educator Dustin Celestino unveils his tension-filled drama “A.ni.mál.” The plot kicks off when Lily, the daughter of a small-town mayor, returns home with a video that exposes a powerful governor abusing his dog. “A.ni.mál” stars Maxine Ignacio, Jojit Lorenzo, Reymund Domingo, Frances Makil-Ignacio, Bituin Escalante, and Anthony Falcon.

What sets “A.ni.mál” apart is that the entire film was shot using an iPhone 17 Pro Max. When financial constraints almost forced the team to back out, they decided to ditch traditional camera rentals. Instead, they redirected their budget to ensure the cast and crew were properly paid. Inspired by the raw, minimalist principles of Dogme 95, Celestino relied on natural light, sharp dialogue, and fly-on-the-wall framing to build an uncomfortable sense of reality.

Sharing the full-length spotlight is Benilde Film alumnus Vahn Leinard Pascual, who makes his feature directorial debut with the comedy-drama “Status: Rejected.” For Pascual, transitioning from an avid festival spectator looking up to industry icons to standing along with them as a peer marks a significant milestone in his artistic journey.

In the film, Virginia “Biring” Divinagracia (played by Ruby Ruiz), a 69-year-old widow, feels lonely at home and longs to move to America to reunite with her favorite son. After facing her fourth visa rejection from the embassy, her best friend convinces her to dive into the digital world to look for a foreign partner instead. Ruiz co-stars with Alessandra de Rossi, Beverly Salviejo, and Yani Villarosa.

Moving over to the short film category, Celestino’s fellow Benilde Film faculty member Lot-lot Hermosura presents a deeply moving piece entitled “The River Flows in Different Places.” The narrative traces the internal, emotional realities of two Filipino-Palestinian mothers forced to escape the conflict in Gaza. The documentary previously won the grand prize in the inaugural Films for Peace short film competition of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Joining Hermosura is Benilde Multimedia Arts alumna Gabriela Serrano with her sci-fi drama “Elenita Elena Elaine.” Set during a single night in an alternate reality where humanity has entirely lost the ability to dream, the film weaves together the ordinary routines and internal worlds of three women: a pop idol bracing for her last televised performance, a fresh graduate packing up her childhood bedroom for a job overseas, and a call center agent watching her voice get swallowed by ambient noise.

Serrano directs, edits, and co-writes the screenplay with her sister Mariana. The short film features a stellar cast including Agot Isidro, Gabby Padilla, and Mariana Serrano.

Through raw storytelling, technical ingenuity, and deeply personal narratives, these Benildean filmmakers are showcasing the vibrant future of contemporary Philippine cinema. Catch their films from August 6 to 18 at Shangri-La Plaza Red Carpet Cinemas, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Ayala Malls Circuit, Glorietta, Market! Market!, TriNoma, and Gateway Cineplex 18