Cinemalaya films ‘The Hearing,’ ‘Cinemartyrs’ secure major int’l festival screenings

Filipino independent cinema makes international waves with upcoming premieres in California and the Netherlands.

Filipino cinema continues its global run as two Cinemalaya entries, “The Hearing” and “Cinemartyrs,” prepare for their upcoming international festival screenings.

Lawrence Fajardo’s “The Hearing” has been officially selected for the SignLight International Film Festival (SLIFF) 2026, running from October 7 to 9 in Culver City, California.

The festival serves as a global platform dedicated to advancing Deaf representation, culture, and sign language accessibility in media. By showcasing deaf and hard-of-hearing filmmakers and actors, SLIFF provides a dedicated venue for disability advocacy and inclusive cinema.

Centered on the realities faced by the Deaf community, “The Hearing” follows Lucas (Enzo Osorio), a young deaf boy from a fishing village who is abused by a local priest. As his parents (Mylene Dizon and Nor Domingo) pursue legal action, their path crosses with a court sign language interpreter (Ina Feleo) facing her own domestic struggles, exposing systemic communication barriers in the pursuit of justice.

Meanwhile, “Cinemartyrs,” directed by Cinemalaya 2025 Best Director awardee Sari Dalena, will screen in the Netherlands on September 22 at 8:15 p.m. at Cinema Kijkhuis (Cinema 1) in Leiden.

Nearly two decades in the making, the metacinematic feature follows a young filmmaker (Noor Hooshmand) whose project on a forgotten Philippine massacre blurs the boundaries between history, fiction, and production realities.

Drawing from Dalena’s experience filming “Memories of a Forgotten War” (2001)—where cast members reportedly experienced spirit possession at historical sites—the film frames historical ghosts as both metaphor and physical presence, while honoring overlooked women pioneers in 1940s and 1950s Philippine cinema.

The international runs for “The Hearing” and “Cinemartyrs” highlight the sustained global demand for socially relevant Filipino films. 

Through these international festival selections, local independent cinema continues to preserve historical memory while connecting Philippine realities to broader global audiences.

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