Heads up, filmmakers! Cinemalaya is now accepting entries for 2026 edition

Filmmakers, mark your calendars! The prestigious Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is officially open for full-length film submissions for its 2026 edition. The clock is ticking, as hopefuls must get their entries in by June 6, 2025, at 6 pm.

The journey to the screen involves a multi-stage selection process. Initially, 30 submissions will be shortlisted by the Cinemalaya Competition Committee on July 11. These shortlisted proponents will then participate in a pitching session on July 26. Following the pitches, the pool will be narrowed down to 20 entries whose creators will be invited to the intensive Cinemalaya Film Lab, a mentorship program running from August to November. The ultimate step sees the committee selecting the final 10 films that will grace the big screen during the festival's main competition, scheduled from August 7 to 16, 2026.

Ready to submit your vision? Entries are accepted through a dedicated Google Form. Be prepared to include a concept paper outlining your film's premise, genre, tagline, and key character descriptions (remember, keep your name out of this paper, and submissions can be in Filipino or English). You'll also need to provide a two-page synopsis, your resume, two recent photos, and a sample of work you've directed. A heads-up: full scripts are not being accepted at this phase. While you can submit up to three distinct film ideas, only one can ultimately be selected as a finalist.

Regarding eligibility, projects that have already begun principal photography or entered the post-production phase before July 2025 are generally not considered, with the exception of documentaries. The festival also specifies that commissioned works from commercial platforms are not eligible. However, uncommissioned projects conceived solely by the filmmaker are welcome, even if they might later become affiliated with film/TV productions or local streaming services.