Cinegoma filmfest 2025 bigger than ever

Xavier Cortez

The 6th Cinegoma Film Festival underscored the stories of indigenous people and ordinary Filipinos in a film screening held recently at Fort Santiago in Intramuros.

The theme this year is "May Kuwento ang Bawat Laban," a brainchild of director Xavier Cortez, who also owns the rubber manufacturer RK Rubber.

"Ang tema is about the story of struggle,” he said. “Hindi ‘yung usual na challenges na nakikita natin, kundi ‘yung struggle ng mga ordinaryo at maliliit na tao.”

“Sa Cinegoma, gusto natin ipakita na kahit ‘yung mga maliit na tao, meron rin silang kwento. At ‘yung mga maliit na community na bihira po nating makita sa mainstream, dapat mabigyan ng boses.”

The festival this year runs from November 24 to 29. Some of the screenings will be held at QCX in Quezon Memorial Circle, RK Cinema in Quezon City, and SinePop.

More than 50 full-length and short films---many by regional filmmakers---are on the slate. Cinegoma also has an AI category, a first in the country.

"Ang focus din namin ay aspiring filmmakers, student filmmakers. Open kami sa mga professional, pero mas hinihikayat lnamin ang mga baguhan kasi sila ang may puro na boses at pag-iisip pagdating sa pelikula," Xavier said.

An awarding ceremony wherein cash prizes await winners will be held sometime this month too.

Later, Cinegoma embarks on its very first campus tour, particularly in Manila and Q.C.

All events are free for filmmakers and audiences.

Watch our videos of the highlights of the press conference here: