Despite the months-long delay, the 2025 edition of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival ended on a successful note, earning ?13.4 million in box office sales throughout its weeklong run.
Cinemalaya’s box office sales were announced by festival director Chris Millado during his speech at the awards ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 12.
The box office sales of the 2025 film festival were a steep jump from last year’s ?5.8 million, which, according to Millado, was ‘more than a hundred percent increase.’
‘Senyales ito ng patunay na paglawak ng tinatawag nating footprint ng Cinemalaya sa labas ng CCP. At kung patuloy ang trend na ito, lalampasan natin ang ating revenue noong pre-pandemic sa [mga] susunod na taon,’ he said.
‘Patuloy ito na sa karampot na budget, sa matinding pagpupunyagi, patuloy na maikwento ng filmmakers ang kwento ng buhay, kamatayan, kinasadlakan, para matunghayan natin ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,’ he continued.
(This is proof that Cinemalaya’s footprint goes beyond the walls of CCP. If this trend continues, we might surpass the revenues we had pre-pandemic in the years to come. It is proof that even with a meager budget, hard work, and filmmakers’ determination to tell stories of life, death, and hardships, in order to tell the story of every Filipino.)
Topping the box office in screening venues in Shangri-La, Ayala Malls, and Gateway Cineplex is the queer film ‘Open Endings,’ which stars Janella Salvador, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Klea Pineda, and Leanne Mamonong.
During the ceremony, Cinemalaya chairman Carlos Siguion-Reyna also announced the 10 full-length finalists for next year’s festival, set to be held in August 2026.
These include ‘a.ni.mal,’ ‘2 Valid IDs,’ ‘Dangeom,’ ‘Ganggang,’ ‘Kamay ni Bathala,’ ‘Mag-iina,’ ‘May Buntot ang mga Yan,’ ‘Status Rejected,’ ‘Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam,’ and ‘Tirik.’ /edv