Filipino Films Triumph at International Film Festival Manhattan ‘25
The festival—long recognized as “one of New York City’s coolest indie film festivals”—unfolded as both a cinematic showcase and a collective heartbeat, proof that stories can still move, change, and humanize across languages and borders.
Fronting this year’s welcome posters was 19-year-old youth activist and Miss Universe Norway 2025 Leonora Lysglimt-Rødland, who graced the red carpet in a breathtaking pink abaca sash by Norwegian-based Filipina designer Mayeth Codoy—a creation that embodied sustainability, heritage, and the vibrant soul of the Filipino diaspora.
The Awards Ceremony, held at the Philippine Consulate General in New York City on October 9, 2025, gathered storytellers from the Philippines, the U.S., Italy, Norway, Belgium, France, Sweden, Ukraine, and Portugal. Under the guidance of IFFM founder Luis Pedron, the festival continued its mission of championing diverse, socially relevant filmmaking. “Our short film programming encompasses all different genres of diverse programs,” Pedron shared—words that echoed the spirit of artistic democracy at the festival’s core.
Fierce Women, Fearless Stories
With the empowering theme “Fierce Women Filmmakers,” IFFM 2025 turned its spotlight on the courage, compassion, and creative vision of women behind the lens. At a time when the cinematic world grapples with the rise of artificial intelligence, it was human-made films from the Philippines that reclaimed the soul of the screen—culminating in a historic sweep that celebrated authenticity, empathy, and the artistry of lived experience.
At the heart of this triumph stood Haligi (Pillar), a poignant film from CEBSI Films, the media arm of the Iglesia Ni Cristo. Haligi follows four fathers in Manila as they struggle to provide for their families amid poverty, illness, and the unrelenting weight of survival. As the “pillars of the household,” these men embody both strength and vulnerability—the quiet heroism of those who hold their families together through faith, sacrifice, and unspoken love. Through their intertwined stories, the film becomes a mirror of the nation itself: resilient, bruised, and steadfastly hopeful.
The film’s resonance lies in its honesty. In a country where breadwinner culture shapes both identity and expectation, Haligi reflects the emotional cost of endurance. As corruption, inequality, and climate disasters continue to test the Filipino working class, stories like Haligi rise to the surface—films that do not simply glorify struggle, but question it, humanize it, and ultimately remind us that even the strongest pillars sometimes need rest.
The Spirit of Filipino Storytelling
Another striking theme at this year’s IFFM was the growing presence of AI—whether debated, questioned, or woven directly into stories about the human condition. “Our film explores themes of grief, obsession, identity, and the ethical limits of science when it intersects with human desire. It asks difficult questions about how far someone would go to reclaim a lost love and the costs—emotional, moral, and relational—of attempting to alter fate,” says Rane Rose, the actress in UnfAIthful, which won the Independent Achievement Award.
UnfAIthful is a timely RMG thriller about a grieving man who accepts a biotech company’s offer to clone his late fiancée, only to descend into a labyrinth of secrets, betrayal, and moral peril that erupts in a shattering anniversary-dinner revelation. “Starring in the film allowed me to fully inhabit AI’s turbulent emotional landscape,” says Rose, who won the Independent Achievement Award. “Raw chemistry among the cast and the spontaneity of collaboration elevated each scene far beyond what was written on the page.”
Beyond Haligi and UnfAIthful, the following Filipino films and filmmakers left an indelible mark at this year’s IFFM, screened at LOOK Dine-In Cinemas in Midtown Manhattan:
• Pedro Katipunero by Michael Magsombol, Jessica Magsombol, and Knights of Rizal Astoria Chapter – Grand Prize Winner, Dr. Jose Rizal Filmmaking Contest
• Ang Gamu-Gamu (The Moth) by Michael Magsombol and Joselito Cayabyab – 2nd Place, Dr. Jose Rizal Filmmaking Contest
• Rizal Reloaded by Mike Magat; Prod: Kate Brios – 3rd Place, Dr. Jose Rizal Filmmaking Contest
• In the Shadow of History by Ashley Hernandez – 4th Place, Dr. Jose Rizal Filmmaking Contest
• Overwhelmed Hope by Ashley Hernandez – 5th Place, Dr. Jose Rizal Filmmaking Contest
• Convenient Circumstance by Michael Magsombol and Jessica Magsombol – Best Ensemble in Acting (Short Film)
• We Are the Descendants by Steven Chesne and Nayip Ramos – Silver Achievement Award (Music Video)
• The Third Estate by Elaine Joy Edaya Degale – Honorable Mention Award
• Jessica Magsombol – Fierce Women Filmmaker, Convenient Circumstance
• Romeo “Ronald” Ratio Cortez Jr. – Lifetime Achievement Award for Visual Arts
A Woman of Vision and Heart
This year’s Fierce Woman Filmmaker, Jessica Magsombol, brought three works to IFFM—Convenient Circumstance, Alidoro Momente, and Pedro Katipunero—each radiating resilience and cultural pride. Her creative partnership with her husband, Michael Magsombol, anchors their shared belief that art can bridge history and imagination.
“The International Film Festival Manhattan matters because it serves as a platform for diverse, independent filmmakers—the unheard voices, stories, or points of view that might otherwise be marginalized or not shown in the mainstream,” Jessica says.
The films collectively earned Jessica and her team several awards: Best Ensemble in Acting, the Grand Prize in the Dr. Jose Rizal Filmmaking Contest for Pedro Katipunero, and Best Female Filmmaker. Drawing from her years of working in Italy, Jessica’s creative journey is deeply personal—anchored in rediscovering her artistic spirit with her husband and creative partner, Michael.
When asked about her most unforgettable moment while making the Alidoro Momente documentary, she recalled asking a shopkeeper in Italian what he missed most about Caorle. “You speak my language?” he replied, surprised. His heartfelt answer revealed a deep, homesick love for the place he calls home—a sincerity that captured the emotional core of Alidoro Momente.
The festival—long recognized as “one of New York City’s coolest indie film festivals”—unfolded as both a cinematic showcase and a collective heartbeat, proof that stories can still move, change, and humanize across languages and borders.
And perhaps the best thing about the International Film Festival Manhattan is that new filmmakers feel at home.
IFFM’s 15th anniversary was more than a film festival—it was a gathering of dreamers who believe that art can outlast algorithms, that authenticity still moves hearts. The International Film Festival Manhattan NYC Online 2025 continues that celebration with its digital showcase, streaming from November 22 to 30, 2025—inviting audiences around the world to witness stories that prove cinema still has a soul.
Elaine Joy Edaya Degale is a Black-Filipina writer and lecturer at community colleges within the City University of New York (CUNY), and has an Ed.M. and M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University.
She graduated cum laude from Mount Holyoke College where she studied International Relations and Development, and continues to support literacy and food programming efforts in indigenous communities through her Community-Based organization, OperationMerienda.org.
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