The cinema is back. Well, it has been for quite some time now with eased restrictions. You might have gone back to the theater to see a new film in the last month, rejoicing in the feeling of actually seeing something outside your laptop or TV screen—with other people! Well, if you missed that kind of feeling and want more, the good news is that Cinemalaya, the country’s independent film festival, is back in person this year.

Last year, due to pandemic restrictions, Cinemalaya was only held online via streaming. This time, you can see the 18th edition of the film fest, which features 11 full-length films along with 12 short films, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)’s Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater), Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Arthouse Cinema), and Tanghalang Huseng Batute (CCP Studio Theater) from Aug. 5 to 14.

In “Blue Room,” Rebel Rebel, an indie rock band composed of woke albeit sheltered teens, gets its big break at a prestigious local music festival. But after a celebratory drink, they are arrested for drug possession. Instead of the standard procedures, they were hauled to the Blue Room, a VIP detention area where they can bribe their way out through rogue cops. The band members have to decide whether to use their privilege to go on with their lives or to own up to what they had been preaching.

Full-Length films (with MTRCB rating)

“The Baseball Player” by Carlo Obispo (Rated G)
“Retirada” by Cynthia Cruz-Paz and Milo Alto Paz (Rated PG)
“Kargo” by TM Malones (Rated PG)
“Kaluskos” by Roman Perez Jr.; screenplay by Enrique Villasis (Rated PG)
“Ginhawa” by Christian Paolo Lat (Rated PG)
“Bula sa Langit” by Sheenly Gener; screenplay by Andrian Legaspi (Rated R-13)
“Blue Room” by Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan (Rated R-13)
“Batsoy” by Ronald Espinosa Batallones (Rated G)
“Bakit ‘Di Mo Sabihin?” by Real Florido; screenplay by Flo Reyes (Rated PG)
“Angkas” by Rain Yamson; screenplay by Jaymar Santos Castro (Rated R-13)
“12 Weeks” by Anna Isabelle Matutina (Rated R-13)

Short films (with MTRCB rating)

“Ampangabagat nin Talakba ha Likol (It’s Raining Frogs Outside)” by Maria Estela Paiso (Rated PG)
“Black Rainbow” by Zig Dulay (Rated G)
“City of Flowers” by Xeph Suarez (Rated PG)
“Dikit” by Gabriela Serrano (Rated PG)
“Distance” by Dexter Paul De Jesus (Rated PG)
“Duwa-duwa” by Nena Jane Achacoso (Rated PG)
“Kwits” by Raz De La Torre (Rated G)
“Mata Kang Busay (Vision of the Falls)” by Niño Maldecir & Cyphor John Gayorgor (Rated PG)
“Mga Handum Nga Nasulat sa Baras (The Dreams That Are Written in the Sand)” by Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay and Richard Jeroui Salvadico (Rated G)
“Roundtrip to Happiness” by Claudia Fernando (Rated G)
“See You, George!” by Mark Moneda (Rated PG)
“Si Oddie” by Maria Kydylee Torato (Rated G)

The Cinemalaya 18 festival pass (P2,500) gives you access to all the films in competition at CCP venues. You can purchase it here. You can also opt to buy individual tickets at the CCP box office or through TicketWorld for P250 each.

As usual, you can also catch Cinemalaya films in select Ayala Malls cinemas and SM Malls cinemas starting Aug. 10 until Aug. 16. Tickets are priced from P230 to P250.

And if you missed any of these in-person screenings, the films will still be available to stream online from Oct. 17 to 31.

The opening film for Cinemalaya 2022 is “Leonor Will Never Die” by Martika Ramirez Escobar, which premiered and won the Special Jury Prize for Innovative Spirit at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Tickets for its Aug. 5 screening in CCP are free and will be distributed on the same day on a first come, first served basis.

Here’s the schedule of screenings for this year’s Cinemalaya: