Jay Altarejos’ ‘Guardia de Honor’ selected for Santa Cruz Film Festival

Jay Altarejos’ gripping police drama heads towards Argentina to confront the cycle of patriarchal violence on the global stage.

Filipino film “Guardia de Honor” has been selected to screen at the Santa Cruz Film Festival in Argentina, marking another international milestone for director Joselito “Jay” Altarejos’ socially charged drama.

Released in 2024, “Guardia de Honor” (also known as “The Guardian of Honor”) explores generational trauma, patriarchal abuse, and police violence within a Filipino family. The film is loosely inspired by a 2020 incident in Tarlac involving a police officer who killed two civilians.

A legacy reframed

The narrative follows Eddie Boy, a policeman whose violent act exposes a long history of abuse within his family. At the center is Mamang Anita, portrayed by Laurice Guillen, who is forced to confront the past and make a difficult decision in an attempt to restore her family’s sense of honor.

The cast also includes Sunshine Cruz, Allen Dizon, Therese Malvar, and Oliver Aquino.

Since its world premiere at the 46th Moscow International Film Festival in April 2024, the film has earned several international recognitions. Altarejos won Best Director at the 2025 Ahmedabad International Film Festival, while Guillen received Best Actress honors at the same event. The film also took home the Special Audience Award at the Dhaka International Film Festival and has screened at Cinemalaya, the Da Nang Asian Film Festival, and the Asian Film Festival Barcelona.

The Santa Cruz Film Festival selection adds to the film’s growing presence on the global festival circuit.