Directors share their favorite films of 2025

Whether it’s a documentary about the West Philippine Sea, a highly successful anime film that drew even non-fans to the big screen, a young gymnast seeking an abortion, an epic cat-and-mouse chase of a revolutionary family from a past adversary, or a teenage boy pursuing justice for a sexual assault --- these movies are reminders of why directors love cinema as an art form and as a way to engage audiences.

- By JANUAR JUNIOR AGUJA

Here are some filmmakers sharing their favorite flicks released this year:

Jun Robles Lana - Director of “Call Me Mother,” “Die Beautiful”

"Raging" (dir. Ryan Machado)

This year’s Cinemalaya entry is set in the mid-1990s in Sibuyan, Romblon. It stars Elijah Canlas as Eli, a young man who was raped by his peers — a crime dismissed as a playful prank by authorities. Struggling to adjust, he witnesses a strange plane crash that vanishes without a trace, sparking him to break his silence.

Lana: "Whether I understood it or not, it’s a movie that stayed with me. I am aware of its divisive reception, but I loved it. I love the way it was shot. I love what the film is trying to say about the monster in all of us. It’s a type of film that makes me question things about life, and it makes me want to explore the kind of cinema we want to tell because it challenges me as a filmmaker and lover of Philippine cinema."

Kip Oebanda - Director of “Bar Boys: After School” and “Balota”

"Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea" (dir. Baby Ruth Villarama)