Cinemalaya 2025 short films submission deadline set
Celebrating more than 20 years of championing Philippine independent filmmaking, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. open the screens for submission to the Short Film Category of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2025.
The deadline for submissions is 6 p.m. on May 16.
The country’s biggest independent film competition is open to all Filipino filmmakers. Interested participants may submit a maximum of three entries but only one entry per proponent may be considered as a finalist.
Submitted entries must have been produced from March 8, 2024 to May 16, 2025. Short film entries that participated in other local and international festivals and competitions are qualified to join Cinemalaya. However, if an entry is submitted and is selected as a finalist in both the Cinemalaya and Gawad Alternatibo, the said entry will automatically be removed from the Gawad Alternatibo lineup, in favor of Cinemalaya.
For online application, submit all requirements through: forms.gle/NbgnaybpZ7jMvQ9W9. Requirements include a duly completed entry form, synopsis in English, a brief résumé with 2×2 photo/s of the filmmaker/s, and the final work in MP4 format, with violator/watermark (for screening purposes only) and properly labeled with title, production company, address and contact numbers, production date, director’s name, and running time (which should not exceed 20 minutes including credits).
For offline submission, send entries to the Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division office, located at the CCP Annex Building, Vicente Sotto St. corner Magdalena Jalandoni St., Pasay City. Film entry must be submitted on a thumb drive (USB), with the entry form, synopsis, and filmmaker’s profile. All must be submitted in a long brown envelope properly labeled with the proponent’s name, title of the film, and contact details.
The Cinemalaya Selection Committee will shortlist 10 film finalists which will be screened at the 2025 Cinemalaya Film Festival in October, and will have the chance to compete for the coveted Balanghai trophies.
For full mechanics, visit culturalcenter.gov.ph and cinemalaya.org.
