'Bona' leads Filipino cinema showcase at SGIFF's 35th edition

The 35th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is poised to celebrate Filipino cinema, showcasing the richness of storytelling and creativity that the Philippines has to offer.

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The festival, which runs from Nov. 28 to Dec. 8, will present nine feature and short films from the country, including both classics and contemporary pieces, highlighting the unique perspectives of Filipino filmmakers within the broader Asian cinema landscape.

Notable films in the lineup include "Bona" (1980), a restored classic directed by the late National Artist Lino Brocka and starring National Artist Nora Aunor, alongside "Some Nights I Feel Like Walking," a vivid portrayal of Manila's youth by Petersen Vargas.

In addition, Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan's "Vox Humana"—recipient of the SGIFF SEA-SHORTS production grant and which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this year—will be part of the Southeast Asian Short Film Competition. The festival also includes the international premiere of "Text FIND DAD and send to 2366" by Kent Michael Cadungog, along with the Singapore premieres of "Animal Lovers" by Aedrian Araojo and "Rumbles of the Earth" by Carl Joseph Lara. To celebrate this occasion, a party hosted with the Film Development Council of the Philippines is happening on Dec. 5.