How to join Cinemalaya 2026
The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival opens its doors to new entries for the Full-Length Film category of its 2026 edition. The deadline for submissions is on or before 6 p.m. of June 6, Friday.
The country’s biggest independent film festival continues its pursuit of innovative and excellent filmmaking as it celebrates 21 years of nurturing independent Filipino filmmakers eager to make their mark in the film industry in 2026.
Interested parties can submit their online entries at forms.gle/XFAaxKrwY34VDLjz8 with the following requirements: the concept paper of the project containing the premise(s) of the film, the genre, the tagline, the key characters, and their descriptions in Filipino or English; a two-page synopsis/storyline of the film project; resume of the proponent/s; two recent photos of the proponent/s; and a sample of the work directed by the proponent.
The sheets containing the concept paper must not bear the name of the proponent. Full scripts will not be accepted.
Interested participants may submit a maximum of three entries. However, only one entry per proponent may be considered as a finalist. Works already in principal photography or postproduction phase before July are disqualified, except for documentaries.
Works attached to film and television productions, as well as those of local streaming platforms, are eligible for submission as long as said works are not commissioned projects, but originated from the filmmaker as a proponent. Commissioned works from commercial platforms are disqualified for consideration.
By July 11, (Friday), the Cinemalaya Competition Committee shall select 30 promising submissions, whose proponents will be invited to a pitching session on July 26 (Saturday) for their respective projects. The initial selection will be narrowed down to 20 entries, whose proponents will participate in the Cinemalaya Film Lab, a film laboratory and mentorship program under the Cinemalaya Institute from August to November.
The Cinemalaya Film Lab is a program which brings together resource persons from different aspects of filmmaking: scriptwriting, directing, cinematography, performance, editing, production design, sound, music, production management, and promotion strategies.
From the film lab and mentorship program of the Cinemalaya Institute, the Competition Committee will choose the 10 finalists for the 2026 Cinemalaya Main Competition.
The ten film finalists will be screened during the festival period on Aug. 7-16, 2026, at various festival venues.
Since 2005, Cinemalaya has been committed to the development and promotion of Philippine independent film. At its core, it provides an avenue for the production of cinematic works of Filipino independent filmmakers that articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity. With its call for submissions for the 2026 full-length film competition, Cinemalaya continues to invigorate the Philippine film industry by developing a new breed of Filipino filmmakers.
Visit the Cinemalaya website (www.cinemalaya.org) and follow the official Cinemalaya social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.
