I'm not usually drawn to documentaries heavy on talking heads, but Chuck Escasa has a gift for tackling the most fascinating subjects. I thoroughly enjoyed his Jingle Lang ang Pahina (2012), a heartfelt homage to the iconic Pinoy music magazine from the 1970s to the 90s, which also served as a creative outlet for commentary on the political upheavals during Martial Law.

In Ghosts of Kalantiaw, Escasa delves into the myth surrounding Datu Bendahara Kalantiaw by interviewing locals of Batan,…

One of the best things that Cinemalaya has done the past few years is the addition of a film lab after a shortlist is announced as it adds a layer of quality assurance. None of the 5 Cinemalaya films I've seen so far are absolute clunkers, and my least favorite of the bunch is still actually pretty good. 

One of the surprises for me is Kantil, an unpredictable, almost unclassifiable poem of a film from Davao that features a supernatural…

Ang Tumandok represents the pinnacle of Filipino filmmaking on indigenous peoples' narratives, fueled by an urgent call for the government and society in general to respect IPs' rights to land and to a good life (more than tokenistic efforts aimed at merely protecting culture), and crafted with such care and respect for stories that really emanate from communities.

All those who doubt that a film wholly performed by indigenous actors can be effective will once for all be silenced by…