Now on its 21st year, the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival continues to recognize not only outstanding Filipino independent films, but also the individuals entrusted with selecting this year’s awardees. The Cinemalaya 21 jury features respected names from film, television, criticism, and education.
Leading the Main Competition jury is veteran actor and director Christopher de Leon, widely known as the “King of Philippine Drama.” With a career spanning more than 50 years, he is regarded as “one of the best Filipino actors of all time” and has received multiple lifetime achievement awards.
Joining him is filmmaker Pepe Diokno, who gained international recognition for his debut Engkwentro, which won the Lion of the Future and Orizzonti Prize at the Venice Film Festival. Diokno now heads Kapitol Films, producing films and branded content for global audiences.
Mark Schilling, a Tokyo-based film critic for The Japan Times and Variety, has written extensively on Japanese cinema and curated retrospectives for the Udine Far East Film Festival. He is also the author of several books on Japanese film history.
Sophia Wellington, Head of Screenwriting at the London Film School, is an educator, script consultant, and writer with over two decades of international teaching experience, including workshops at the Cinemalaya Institute.
Rounding out the panel is screenwriter Michiko Yamamoto, known for Magnifico, Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, and On the Job. Her work has been featured at Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Sundance.
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For the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Award, the jury includes filmmaker and stage designer Loy Arcenas, whose films such as Niño and Ang Larawan have earned awards at Cinemalaya and MMFF.
Ina Feleo, a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans dance, acting, writing, and directing, joins the NETPAC jury. She won her first acting award at Cinemalaya in 2007 and has since earned multiple nominations for both mainstream and independent roles.
Completing the panel is Pradip Kurbah, a self-taught filmmaker from India. His film The Elysian Field will open Cinemalaya 21, following multiple wins at the Moscow International Film Festival.
Cinemalaya 21 runs from October 3 to 12 in select Metro Manila cinemas.
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