Cinemalaya 22 opens with ‘Enjoy Your Stay,’ closes with ‘Filipiñana’

“Enjoy Your Stay” opens August 6, “Filipiñana” closes August 16 at Shangri-La Plaza.

The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival has announced its opening and closing films for its 22nd edition, highlighting two internationally recognized works that reflect diverse Filipino experiences.

Opening the festival is “Enjoy Your Stay,” while “Filipiñana” will serve as the closing film, with both titles centering on women navigating complex personal and social realities.

Directed by Dominik Locher and Honee Alipio, “Enjoy Your Stay” follows Luz, a Filipina undocumented cleaner in Switzerland portrayed by Mercedes Cabral. Living under constant threat of deportation, she struggles to reunite with her daughter after years of working abroad.

Her situation becomes more urgent when her ex-husband appears on a Filipino reality TV show with their child. In a bid to reclaim her role as a mother, she promises on live television to return home in time for her daughter’s birthday, forcing her to make difficult choices as financial pressures mount. The film also stars Anna Luna, Hasmine Killip, Irma Adlawan, Donna Cariaga, and Madeleine Nicolas.

“Enjoy Your Stay” premiered at the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2026. It will be screened for free on August 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Red Carpet Cinemas 1 and 2 in Shangri-La Plaza.

Closing the festival is “Filipiñana,” directed by Rafael Manuel. The film follows Isabel, a teenage country club employee played by Jorrybell Agoto, who becomes entangled with the club’s president, portrayed by Teroy Guzman.

As Isabel uncovers unsettling truths beneath the club’s polished facade, her growing fascination turns into a confrontation with a darker shared past. The film is an expansion of Manuel’s 2020 short of the same title.

“Filipiñana” had its world premiere in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition of the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026. It will close the festival on August 16 at 8:30 p.m. at Red Carpet Cinemas 1 and 2, with tickets priced at ₱350 for regular admission and ₱250 for students.

Anchored on the theme “Reel Reflections,” this year’s Cinemalaya edition highlights stories that mirror the struggles, resilience, and realities of Filipino communities, particularly women-led narratives.

Tickets for both screenings will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis starting two hours before showtime.

READ: