As a finalist for this year, Ang Pagbukod ni Melmel will be screened during the Cinemalaya Film Festival at the Red Carpet Cinemas, Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City, on October 4–11, 2025. * The Gawad Alternatibo, organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), is the longest-running independent film competition in Asia, celebrating alternative and independent filmmaking.
Other entries selected alongside Ang Pagbukod ni Melmel include works from student and independent filmmakers nationwide, competing in the Narrative and Documentary categories. This recognition is a milestone for Palawan youth cinema, proving that local stories and talents from Palawan schools can compete on a national and prestigious stage.
The short film tells a story coming from remote Palaw’an community, young Melmel is bound by tradition to an arranged marriage with a tribesman of her late father. Yet her heart belongs to Felix, a boy from town who is powerless to challenge the decision. As the wedding day approaches, Melmel struggles to find a way out of a destiny she did not choose. In the face of cultural duty and personal longing, she must confront the hardest question of all: how much is she willing to risk for her freedom, and who is she willing to leave behind to claim it.
Meanwhile, Isla Pelikula Year IV is now open for submissions until September 30, 2025. The festival continues to nurture young storytellers, with mentorship by award-winning filmmaker Direk Zig Dulay, who has been guiding participants since Year I.
Isla Pelikula Year IV will also be held in partnership with Canon Marketing Inc. Philippines, further strengthening the festival’s commitment to providing opportunities and industry support for young filmmakers. * The festival is led by Monica Montejo, Chief Executive Officer of Infinite Digital Media.
