Sebastian Castro

Set ten years after the events of the first film, the story explores the impact of time on institutions, relationships, and individuals, delivering a poignant yet inspiring tale about the invisible costs of pursuing one's dreams.

Mia, a celebrated writer of romantic-comedy films, is at a turning point in her life which makes it difficult for her to believe that love could last. Everything comes to a head when Ethan returns, only for her to find out that he has become a cynic of lasting love because she broke his heart.

Filipino director Adolfo Alix Jr. returns to the Festival with this timely story of a couple caught up in Rodrigo Duterte’s violent war on drugs when their son goes missing.

A lifestyle photographer, a student activist, and a relationship that developed amidst contrasting ideals and principles.

A young psychiatrist ventures into a lone voyage to fight his depression. While at sea, he records stories of people departed from this world prematurely, while what awaits him on the shore is the ultimate irony of life.

The misadventures of three young men who try their luck in the college of law. As their friendship, families, relationships and convictions are brought to breaking point, they must keep their heads and emotions together as they prepare for the big day.

“Traslacion: Ang Paglakad sa Altar ng Alanganin” focuses on four LGBT couples and their stand on equality and the right to marry. This documentary addresses their complicated quests in defining themselves within a conservative society.

70-year-old Virginia shares the old ancestral house with Delia, her ever-loyal maid. Delia is marrying her long-time boyfriend, Rene, and tearfully confides to Virginia that she wants to go home to her parents in the province to start a new family life with him. Haunted by a past that Virginia tries to conquer her only son Sonny Boy who disappeared years ago, what follows shows a portrait of a woman and a mother trying to juggle the sad realities of life in a cycle of life and death.

A supertyphoon ravages the hometown of a family band composed of four boys, putting a halt to their musical pursuits. While taking refuge in a distant farmland, they meet a rich girl who offers to help them record their songs and have them played on the radio. Individual interests and trauma caused by the calamity test the unity of the band, as they struggle to make sense of life’s ironies and tragedies.

College friends Derek and Mark slowly realize they mean more to each other than either had initially imagined. In the days leading up to Valentine's Day, their friendship blossoms into something much more enduring as time goes on - which challenges both to question who they thought they were and who they truly want to be.

For Filipino filmmaker Andre Lee, winning the Grand Jury Award at a film festival in Los Angeles for a short film he directed, wrote, and produced is the realization of his dreams. He is ready to go back home to his family and friends in the Philippines to celebrate his triumph. But on his last night in LA, he, unfortunately, falls victim to a “professional scammer”. Andre promises to himself that he will not go home until he finds the swindler who took all his money. As he looks for a cheap room where he could stay for a few weeks, he unexpectedly meets Joshua Santos, a hardworking and uptight Korean immigrant who owns a studio unit. As they start to share a small room together, Joshua willingly shares with Andre some tricks and tips for making it in Los Angeles.