Global Dreams

In a night of glitz and glamour at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, Filipino stars shone brighter than ever during the highly anticipated Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) last March 7.

- JESSICA ZAPATA

Originally planned to take place from January 20 to February 2, the event—already in its second edition—was rescheduled due to the devastating wildfires in some parts of Los Angeles. Nevertheless, the night was a success as the Philippine film industry was celebrated in Hollywood.

The MIFF's mission is to elevate Philippine cinema on the global stage and the event was a testament to the growing impact and enduring beauty of Filipino storytelling. As the actors gathered to honour their recent films, several awards were given to cement their great talents—Audience Favorite Awards, Lifetime Achievement, Visionary, Trailblazer and Special Awards. Filipino-American first responders in the Southern California wildfires were also saluted for their sacrifices and service to others.

Sixteen films were screened for the MIFF, including entries from the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival, world premieres and select additional films.

Bagging several awards was King Palisoc’s