‘Honey, My Love, So Sweet’ wins best narrative for student shorts at US-based youth film fest

The queer coming-of-age narrative triumphs in Seattle as it explores identity within the walls of a disappearing Manila movie house.

Filipino short film “Honey, My Love, So Sweet” has scored another international milestone, winning Best Narrative Short (Student) at the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY), a United States-based festival dedicated to emerging filmmakers. 

Based in Seattle, Washington, NFFTY is considered one of the world’s largest film festivals for young and emerging filmmakers, showcasing student works from across the globe. Now on its 19th edition, the festival continues to serve as a platform for new voices in cinema, making the recognition a significant achievement for the Filipino short.

Directed, written, and edited by JT Trinidad, “Honey, My Love, So Sweet” is set in early 2000s Manila and follows Life, an androgynous boy navigating questions of identity, love, and belonging inside a soon-to-be-demolished cinema. The film stars Kian Co, Marcus Timbas, Manuel Tinio, and Mina Cruz.

Manila nostalgia meets global acclaim

Following its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival, the short went on to win Best Short Film at QCinema 2026. 

According to Trinidad, the film will continue its international run with several key premieres: its Portuguese premiere at IndieLisboa, its Zurich premiere at the Pink Apple Film Festival where it is also nominated for the Short Film Award, and its Spokane premiere at the Spokane International Film Festival. Additional screenings, including a South American premiere and a return to a major US festival, are expected to be announced soon.

With its latest win at a major US-based youth festival, “Honey, My Love, So Sweet” further cements its status as one of the standout Filipino short films currently making waves worldwide.