Elijah Canlas' Cinemalaya entry among 4 Filipino films at Berlinale 2026

MANILA, Philippines, January 28 ------ Four Filipino movies have been included in the line-up of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, more commonly known as Berlinale, taking place next month.

Rafael Manuel's "Filipiñana" is making its European premiere as one of the 13 films competing for the Best First Feature Award in the festival's Perspectives section. This comes after "Filipiñana" — a co-production of the Philippines with Singapore, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands based on Manuel's 2020 short film of the same name — made its world premiere last week at the Sundance Film Festival. The original short film notably won Silver Bear Jury Prize at the Berlinale in 2020 en route to a best British short nomination at the British Independent Film Awards later that year.

Ryan Machado's 2025 Cinemalaya entry "Rumaragasa," starring Elijah Canlas, meanwhile, was selected for Berlinale's Panorama section. Dominik Locher and Honeylyn Joy Alipio's "Enjoy Your Stay," a co-production of the Philippines with Switzerland and France, makes its world premiere at the same section.

Finally, the 2005 film "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros" was selected for the festival's Teddy 40, a special section to celebrate 40 years of awarding critically acclaimed queer productions. German filmmaker Wim Wenders will serve as the jury president of the main competition running from February 12 to 22, while Oscar winning-actress Michelle Yeoh will be honored with an Honorary Golden Bear.

Last year, Antoinette Jadaone's "Sunshine," starring Maris Racal, won the Crystal Bear for Best Film at the Berlinale's Generation 14plus – Youth Jury Awards.

Source: philstar.com