Seven films from the 21st edition of Cinemalaya have earned a total of 29 nominations at the Gawad Urian Awards, recognizing the filmmakers, artists, and creatives behind some of the festival’s most compelling works. The nominations span major categories from Best Film and Best Director to acting, screenplay, cinematography, editing, music and sound, reaffirming the strength of the country’s indie filmmaking scene.
The nominated films are Bloom Where You Are Planted, Cinemartyrs, Republika ng Pipolipinas, Paglilitis, Raging, Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan, and All seven were part of the full-length category of Cinemalaya 21 (2025).
Leading the nominations is Cinemartyrs by Sari Dalena, with eight nods, including Best Film for Kino Arts, Best Director for Sari Dalena, Best Screenplay for Sari Dalena and Keith Sicat, Best Actress for Nour Hooshmand, Best Production Design for Toym Imao, Best Cinematography for Neil Daza and Kiri Dalena, Best Editing for Keith Sicat, and Best Sound for Emilio Bien Sparks. The film follows a young filmmaker who sets out to recreate forgotten massacres from Philippine history, only to awaken the spirits of those who were killed at one of the massacre sites.
Bloom Where You Are Planted by Noni Abao earned six nominations, including Best Film and Best Documentary for Alex Poblete, Taripnong Cagayan Valley, and Noni Abao, Best Director for Noni Abao, Best Editing for Che Tagyamon, Best Music for Glenn Barit, and Best Sound for Mikko Quizon and John Michael Perez. The documentary follows three land rights activists in Cagayan Valley as they confront threats, displacement, and the struggle to find a secure place to call home.
Republika ng Pipolipinas received three nominations, including Best Screenplay for Renei Dimla, Best Actress for Geraldine Villamil, and Best Supporting Actress for Alessandra de Rossi. The mockumentary follows Cora Vitug, a disillusioned farmer who, after facing eviction from her land, renounces her Filipino citizenship and establishes her own micronation.
Paglilitis earned two acting nominations, for Best Actress for Rissey Reyes-Robinson and Best Supporting Actress for Eula Valdez. The drama explores the aftermath of workplace sexual harassment and the complicated pursuit of justice in an age when social media can turn a personal grievance into a public trial.
Raging, directed by Ryan Machado, garnered three nominations, including Best Actor for Elijah Canlas, Best Cinematography for Theo Lozada, and Best Sound for Lamberto Casas. Set in 1990s Sibuyan Island, the film follows a young man traumatized by abuse whose discovery of a crashed plane draws him into a dangerous mystery and a quest for truth and justice.
Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan received four nominations, including Best Actor for Jojit Lorenzo, Best Supporting Actress for Dolly de Leon, Best Supporting Actor for Nanding Josef, and Best Music for Paulo Protacio. The existential drama follows four Filipinos grappling with the aftermath of a painful political defeat as they confront disinformation, fading memories, and questions of purpose, truth, and hope.
Rounding out the nominees is Child No. 82: Anak ni Boy Kana, which received three nominations: Best Supporting Actress for Rochelle Pangilinan-Solinap, Best Editing for Vanessa Ubas De Leon, and Best Sound for Alex Tomboc. The fantasy-comedy drama follows Max, a young man who sets out to prove he is the 82nd child of a legendary action star in the hope of seeing his recently deceased father one last time, only to confront the complicated truth about his family and his own identity.
Since its inception in 2005, Cinemalaya has become a vital platform for showcasing the unique voices in Philippine independent cinema. It has launched the careers of numerous acclaimed filmmakers and actors, fostering a vibrant community that challenges mainstream narratives and pushes creative boundaries. Beyond awards, Cinemalaya’s influence extends to sparking important conversations about society, culture, and identity, making it not just a film festival, but a powerful movement that continues to shape and redefine Philippine storytelling on both local and international stages.
The Gawad Urian Awards is one of the most prestigious film award-giving bodies in the Philippines, organized by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Known for its critical and discerning approach, Gawad Urian has long been regarded as a benchmark for artistic and cinematic quality in the country’s film industry since its inception in 1977.
To date, Cinemalaya has nurtured over 200 Filipino filmmakers and showcased over 1,000 of their works, including full-feature films, shorts, documentaries, Filipino film classics, and art films.
With the recent conclusion of its 22nd edition, Cinemalaya will surely continue to uphold its vision to discover, encourage, support, train and recognize gifted Filipino independent filmmakers.
