On Aug. 8, the chairman of the Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. Antonio “Tony Boy” Cojuangco and Film Development Council of the Philippines chairman and CEO Jose Javier Reyes gathered the Cinemalaya filmmakers from 2005 to the present to celebrate Cinemalaya’s 20th year.

“Twenty years of Cinemalaya is something to be proud of,” said Cojuangco. “Not many businesses last that long.”

He is a staunch supporter of independent films, financing and giving seed money to aspiring filmmakers. Most established directors in film, television, and advertising industries started their careers in the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).  

The patron of the arts, who also chairs Ballet Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino, and the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation, has an appeal to filmmakers. “Although a lot of people are aware of Cinemalaya, it’s not available,” he said.

He has been negotiating, trying to convince the filmmakers to allow Cinemalaya to put the films on a platform. “So that people who hear about Cinemalaya, they can access the films,” he said. “Otherwise, it would be a once-a-year festival with good films, a lot of awards locally and abroad, but that’s it. A lot of people have come to me and said, ‘Where can we watch the films?’ I have no answer.”

The Filipino businessman reiterated his appeal to the Cinemalaya filmmakers. “I just hope that there are enough films to be shown in a common Cinemalaya platform,” he stressed. 

In her speech, Cinemalaya president Laurice Guillen shared why independent films were important. “Because [they] pave the way for new voices, new stories, and new perspectives,” she said. “The birth of the Filipino New Wave, with 10 visionary filmmakers at its core, set the stage for a movement that continues to ripple through our industry.”

She gave a short history on Cinemalaya. “More than two decades ago, in a meeting with of the FDCP ex oficio members, the seed of Cinemalaya was planted out of a deep concern for the future of our film industry,” she recalled. “The aim was not just to revive the industry but to rediscover the true essence of the Filipino film, free from the constraints of mainstream cinema.”  

Among award-winning films that were produced during her stint are Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, Transit, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, Bwakaw, Ekstra, Respeto, Liway, John Denvr Trending, Iti Mapukpukaw, among others.

Among award-winning films that were produced during her stint are Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, Transit, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, Bwakaw, Ekstra, Respeto, Liway, John Denver Trending, Iti Mapukpukaw, among others.

“As we celebrate the two decades of Cinemalaya, remember that you are part of a legacy, a community united by a passion for storytelling and a commitment to pushing boundaries,” said Guillen. “Your films matter, your voices are heard, and your stories resonate with audiences near and far.”

Cinemalaya, according to filmmaker Jose Javier Reyes, is the most important film festival in our country today. “After 20 years, Cinemalaya has proven to be the breeding ground for the next generation of Filipino filmmakers and there is no doubt about that,” he said.

There is a sense of continuity that is happening in Philippine cinema. “In my so many years of being a filmmaker, there are films I do out of necessity and certain films I do out of passion,” said the Mga Mumunting Lihim director. “What I see in this room (Cinemalaya filmmakers) are passionate people. Right here, we are doing films straight from our heart.”

Movies are products. Films are creation. In this Cinemalaya gathering, the finalists are not moviemakers but true filmmakers. Long live, Cinemalaya!