Jayneca Reyes is a visual storyteller, feminist, and human rights activist. She is particularly interested in highlighting peoples; stories related to women, youth empowerment, social movements, and human rights. She directed Twilight in the Morning (2023), about the violence experienced by Children at Risks and Children in Conflict with the Law, DocWomentary: Women Behind the Lens (2019) which explores why women are at the forefront of documentary filmmaking in the Philippines, and Bagong Silang (2016) which chronicles the process of transferring urban poor communities in the 1980s to the relocation site named Bagong Silang, represented a painful and miserable experience as people saw tracts of land dotted, not with houses, but toilets.

Angela Chaves is a film graduate student, researcher, curriculum developer, trainer, and educator with 15 years of work in the industry and the academe. Her industry career began with Ideal Minds, Corp. as production manager and segment producer for block timer shows “It’s a Guy Thing,” for ABS-CBN Studio 23, “Homecoming” for MTV Pilipinas, and “Go Negosyo” for Channel 9, and worked as a writer for ABS-CBN Foundation’s “Mathtinik”. She is currently serving as a University Researcher at the UP Film Institute and is presently engaged in projects and activities involving audiovisual archiving.

Milo Alto Paz is a multi-awarded director, writer, and producer. His documentaries and short films Kakosa, Pitong Maria, Tamaraw Quest, Si Vina at Si Jane, Bangsamoro and Tortyur sa Ilalim ng Martial Law, were all recipients of the Gawad CCP para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video. He directed Star Cinema’s first digital film, “Taxi ni Pilo”, “Lugaw” for the omnibus film “Imahenasyon”, and co-directed “Boses”, a 2008 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival finalist. His full-length feature film, Retirada, is also one of the finalists for the 2022 edition of Cinemalaya.

He also worked as an executive producer and director for GMA 7’s Entertainment

Group and News & Public Affairs. He and his wife, Cynthia, regularly produce videos for NGOs and government agencies on important issues and advocacies in support of child protection, environmental conservation, human rights, and cultural heritage.

CYNTHIA CRUZ-PAZ has written romance novels and is currently a writer in various TV series. Her short film Boda de Oro won second prize at the 25th Gawad CCP para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video. Her first feature film, Retirada, is also one of the finalists for the 2022 edition of Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

She has produced video documentaries on important issues and advocacies such as child protection, environmental and cultural conservation, human rights, and values formation for NGOs, government agencies and private institutions.

Angelica Noelle Y. Taruc is a graduate of the UP Film Institute. She is currently working as an Accounts Manager/Assistant Brand Manager at Bull.ish Launch Agency. In 2022, she worked on a documentary film, called Mad Red, where she talks about her personal struggles with menstruation. Her personal advocacies have been geared towards mental health awareness and reproductive health awareness, but sees that her interests are ever-evolving.

Raia Alexis T. Gallardo is a Landscape Architecture researcher and film enjoyer, at best. Aside from high school performance task videos, sponsored brand reels, and occasional production staff gigs, she has had little to no experience in filmmaking, but hopes to get the chance to tell the story of the people of Barangay Agojo, Capiz, with whom she worked closely with for her undergraduate thesis.

Juan is a filmmaker whose skill spans the realm of cinematography and video editing. Some of his films, like Searching Siam (2014) and The Last Stick (2019), premiered in various film festivals locally and abroad. He acquired his diploma in Motion Picture Production from Asia Pacific Film Institute. His love for the oceans led him to discover underwater filmmaking, impact media, and marine conservation. He is a certified dive professional and is currently working on a documentary film about the sharks of Sulu Sea.

Jerome Dulin is a culture and film advocate from the Ibanag and Apayao ethnic groups in the Northern Philippines. An alumnus from the University of the Philippines Los Baños  finishing his studies in Agriculture major in Agricultural Systems. He is the Founder and Managing Director of North Luzon Cinema Guild, Inc. since 2015. 

Recently, he has been awarded and recognized as Creative Pioneer by Moleskine Foundation in Milan, Italy in 2023 for his initiative for the film education programs and advocating storytelling through cinema for change.

He is a graduate of Development Communication in the University of the Philippines Los Baños and is currently the External Affair Officer of the Guild and Program Director for program implementation and film distribution. Currently- the Festival Coordinator of the North Luzon Film Festival, Kultura Film Festival and one of the Secretariats for Regional Filmmakers Network. He is currently a Associate Professor at the Philippine Christian University under the Communications Program of the College of Arts, Sciences and Social Works

John Lester Rimorin is a Malikhaing Pagsulat sa Filipino student at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. He is making waves in the short film industry with a unique storytelling style that captures the essence of diverse narratives. His directorial achievements include notable screenings of international selections at festivals like Italy, Portugal, India, and China, among others, showcasing a keen ability to connect with audiences on a global scale. Through his creative vision and unwavering passion, Lester aspires to create enduring cinematic experiences that inspire and entertain children and youth, encouraging them to dream big.

Joshua Gerona is studying at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. He is a freelance film screenwriter-producer, seamlessly integrating his background as a writer-journalist into cinema. Hailing from the Philippines, his commitment to crafting engaging narratives for children and youth is evident in his impactful productions. With a unique storytelling approach, Joshua’s work has gained recognition at local and international film festivals, highlighting his ability to resonate with diverse audiences. As a writer and producer, Joshua is carving a niche in the film industry, bringing imaginative tales to life and leaving a lasting impression on the global cinematic landscape.

Joshua de Vera is a Broadcast Communication Student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He is the current president of Film Aficionados Circle (FilAC). He is passionate about queer and coming-of-age narratives and has already worked in multiple short films under FilAC and SBSG Pictures as a Producer/Director. He is the founder of SBSG Pictures, a small queer production team that aims to produce films that will both relate to and satisfy the well-needed representation of various stories

Hans Rivera is a film collaborator and multidisciplinary artist from the Philippines. He produced experimental short films that screened in both local and international festivals. He is a fellow of Cinemalaya’s Intensive Scriptwriting Workshop under Ricky Lee and the SGIFF Southeast Asian Film Lab 2022. Together with his friends, he nurtured Pothos Collective—a colorful group of storytellers exploring emancipative and novel approaches to filmmaking cultivated by the community’s lived experiences and struggles. His artistic endeavors center on sensory approaches to spaces and the environment, and he aims to create art cultivated by compassion.

Mary Baligod is a film collaborator and story producer from the Philippines. She is a graduate of European Studies with a minor in Development Studies at De La Salle University. She co-produced Day of the Everlasting Sun, a short film project by Hans Rivera. Her current areas of focus in her line of work are heirloom ingredients and gastronomical cultures in the Philippines.

Joseph Abello, a Filipino writer and director, holds a Cum Laude degree in Advertising Arts from the University of Santo Tomas. Under the mentorship of prominent Filipino filmmakers, Joseph directed his first film, ‘What Home Feels Like’ (2017), at the age of 25. His subsequent work, ‘Double Twisting Double Back’ (2018), was featured at the CinemaOne Originals Film Festival. Alongside filmmaking, Joseph serves as a consultant for NGOs, CSOs, and government agencies, contributing his creative expertise to causes like Save The Children Philippines and the Commission on Human Rights.

JP Corton is an emerging director who ventured into filmmaking in 2018. He won Best Screenplay and the CHED Chairman’s Choice Award for his short film “Higayon (2022)” at FDCP’s CineIskool Film Festival. He’s currently employed as a Science Research Specialist in Davao City. But in his free time, JP dedicates his leisure moments to crafting narratives imbued with childlike innocence.

His tales offer captivating insights into the imaginative realm of young adolescents within his hometown. Recently, he won the Special Jury Prize Award for his film “Nalumos Akong Papa sa Sabaw” during the Sine Kabataan Film Festival 2023.

Jaime Morados is a director and producer based in Binan City whose works have been selected and awarded in local and international film festivals. He won the Jury Prize at the Binisaya Film Festival for his film PROTACIO AND THE BUM (2021), Best Picture in Montañosa Film Festival and was mentioned in CNN Philippines’ Best Filipino Films of 2022 for his film AGA-HIW, THE DREAMER (2022). He’s known for his film ANG PAGLILIGTAS SA DALAGANG BUKID (Saving the Country Maiden, 2022) which was part of the QCinema International Film Festival’s grantees in 2022. In his films, he playfully mixes fantasy, comedy, and drama, with his love for Philippine history and culture.

Linus Masandag is an aspiring filmmaker, scriptwriter, regional cinema advocate, and consumer of various kinds of media, including books, music, video games, television, and movies. He is a film critic, and during his college years, he actively participated in his university’s media publication and writing organizations. Meanwhile, he also crafts short stories and films and assists other aspiring filmmakers with their projects from time to time. 

Currently, Linus is a media production assistant in one of the offices at his alma mater and is also one of the staff writers at Sinegang.ph, a local online publication dedicated to film and TV reviews. When it comes to storytelling, he is interested in writing stories that defies genre boundaries while having socially relevant themes.

Bradley Jason Pantajo is a young regional Filmmaker and Theatre artist from the Philippines. He uses filmmaking as a way of understanding the thing that he encounters. Trying to capture the complexities of human nature, and interested in exploring the absurdities of life.

Carlo Enciso Catu is a film director, script writer, festival director, actor and a producer. He is the founder and CEO of YATU Film Productions which has its focus on helping more young regional filmmakers from the Philippines capture and tell their stories to the world. He directed WAITING FOR SUNSET which won the Best Film award at the 14th Cinemalaya Film Festival; and ARI: MY LIFE WITH A KING which was named as one of the 50 Best Filipino Films of the 21st Century. In his free time, Carlo loves to play with his fur baby, Peachy. A high-spirited dachshund dog.

EARVIC NOAY (b. March 30, 2002 in Manila, Philippines) is currently finishing up his bachelor’s degree in Film at the University of the Philippines Film Institute. His film trajectory is a compelling blend of social commentary and socio-political justice which can be seen through his films Miss Informed (2021), Super Alaya: Ang Bagong Tagapagtanggol (2023), and May Pulis Sa Ilalim Ng Tulay (in development). He produces and directs animation films including Dear Frontliners (2021), Yuan Amandy’s i am but a small boy (2022), and Positively Negative (in development). He is currently the Creative Marketing Manager of UP Cinema, a student film organization. He is a lacto-ovo vegetarian, and outside film production, he likes playing tennis, and going to the beach.

Yuan Amandy, a Rizal-based filmmaker taking Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Digital Cinema Track) at Far Eastern University – Manila. He joined advocacy-based local film competitions such as Philippine Commission on Women’s CineJuana Digital Shorts Competition 2019 and the Climate Change Commission’s Klima Film Lab 2020. As a recipient of Gerry Roxas Leadership Award 2020, his films were driven with advocacies in the topics of gender, human rights, and equality that aimed to break social boundaries and promote safe space to the community. He is fascinated with Filipino mythologies and folktales.

Andre Jacques Fallaria is a fresh BS Biology graduate from the University of the Philippines Diliman. He is currently the National Convenor of Youth Strike for Climate Philippines, one of the pioneering youth-led climate action movements in the country. He is also a filmmaker behind several short films on family and climate such as Tinay (2019) which became a finalist in the 3rd Sine Kabataan under the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino in 2019. He is also the writer and co-director behind Ang Kuwento ng Dalawang Mundo (2021), which became a finalist in the Sine Bulacan Film Festival in March 2021..

Pamela Lira is a registered geologist from UP Diliman where she is recognized as the Gawad Tsanselor sa Natatanging Mag-aaral 2022. In her ten years of writing, she has won countless awards both international and local for her fiction and non-fiction pieces such as the Feature Writing Category in both the National Schools Press Conference (2018) National Media Conference (2019), and Magna Charta Observatory essay competitions in Europe. In 2021, she bagged the 3rd place in the nationwide Normal Awards, where the prize is the ongoing publication of her children’s story book on LGBTQ+ and women rights. Currently, she is the Storytelling Lead of the Youth Strike 4 Climate Philippines and part of the Climate Justice Committee of the Habi Youth Network.

JANYX REGALO is a multi-disciplined Creative whose explores intersections between film, feminism and food security. After clinching her first screenplay award during the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival for the film WRITE ABOUT LOVE, Janyx has expanded her repertoire into digital content production, social media marketing, and recently, digital PR management.

In 2020, she co-founded Pulô Productions (formerly Kayumanggi Kolektib), an independent, transnational visual storytelling collective dedicated to advancing narratives centered on social issues – inspiring her to explore innovative filmmaking approaches, as she emerges as a Producer and Cultural Worker.

Currently based in Los Baños, Laguna, Janyx Regalo savors leisurely long walks against the picturesque backdrop of Mt. Makiling.

Ronnie Ramos is a Filipino filmmaker from Pangasinan and currently a third-year film student at the UP Film Institute where he developed a deep passion for provocative regional films that challenge audiences and spark meaningful dialogue. At the same time, he is currently serving as the Director of Public Relations of UP Cinema, a non-profit university-wide film organization at University of the Philippines, Diliman. 

For him, promoting intercultural understanding through creative media is not just a career goal, but a personal mission. He is committed to using cinematic storytelling to create new regional content that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines, while also bringing attention to pressing social issues that affect his community and beyond.

Miko Biong is a student filmmaker from the University of the Philippines – Diliman. He is currently serving as the Vice President for Education and Research of UP Cineastes’ Studio, the country’s first and premier student film organization.

As a filmmaker, he holds the view that films should go beyond mere entertainment, and must carry the weight of serving as an enlightening medium for a deeper understanding of society. He believes that cinema should strive to enhance the audience’s political consciousness and societal commitment.

Sheryl Rose M. Andes is a development worker, filmmaker, and educator. She spent a decade in NGO work before embracing filmmaking. Her documentaries received recognitions from Sineng Pambansa, Gawad CCP para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, Ethnocineca in Vienna, DocEdge Kolkata, and recently in KKIFF Sabah Pitching and Purin Pictures. By day, she teaches film production, documentary, regional cinema, gender, and research to college students. 

Her first full-length documentary, Maria is the first documentary in the Main Competition Full-Length Films’ section in the 19 years history of Cinemalaya.

Bryan Kristoffer J. Brazil has been a film director and TV producer in the Philippines for more than a decade. He produced short documentaries and received recognitions from Gawad CCP para sa Pelikula and Video–Philippine Independent Film and Video Festival, New York Festivals, One World Award, Japan Prize International and International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival in Malaysia. His first documentary film, My Little Dancing Shoes was acquired through co-production by NHK BS1, NHK World Japan, Inside Lens (VOD) and EBS Korea Channel1 . It won the Colors of Asia award at Tokyo Docs 2017 and World Vision award at EBS International Documentary Festival 2019-South Korea. He also participated in Tokyo Docs- International Documentary Forum, Australia International Documentary Conference and If/Then by In Docs and Tribeca Film Institute and Docs By The Sea.

While producing Andes’ Maria in Cinemalaya, he is also in the post-production phase of his second feature documentary about cockfighting in the Philippines, produced by GMA Public Affairs.

PAUL STA. ANA is a published poet, an award- winning screenwriter, television and film director who graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Philosophy and a Dean’s Award for the Arts. He is also an alumnus of the Berlinale Talents, which is the talent development program of the Berlin International Film Festival. As a filmmaker, his art and praxis encompass a range of themes, including gender politics, the commodification of death, and ecology.

IANA BERNARDEZ is a young film producer who started her career making independent films mentored by sought-after line producer, Sarah Pagcaliwagan and globally recognized producer, Bianca Balbuena. Since then, she has gone on to produce with companies who do many local productions and international co-productions, Epicmedia and Daluyong Studios.

Ultimately, what has inspired Iana the most in her producing career is getting to work with young filmmakers, especially those on their debut or sophomore films. She finds magic in collaborating with these artists making their dreams come true.

BRYLLE TABORA is a screenwriter and poet based in Quezon City, Philippines. His screenplay “Sekyu” won second place in the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (the equivalent of Pulitzer Prize in the Philippines). He has been writing for television since 2015.

Currently, he is finishing his MFA in Creative Writing at the De La Salle University- Manila where he is working on his very first collection of poems.

Dustin Celestino is a filmmaker, composer, and educator. In 2023, his film “Ang Duyan ng Magiting” won 2 awards in the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival: the Special Jury Prize and the Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Acting. In 2019, his film “Utopia” won the Special Jury Prize in the Cinema One Originals Film Festival.

Janel Gutierrez is a producer & editor born, raised, and based in Manila. Her first feature film, “Ang Duyan ng Magiting” won 2 awards in the 2023 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Fes5val: The Special Jury Prize and the Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Acting.

Karen Toyoshima is an actress, rescuer, animal welfare advocate and the founder of Be Kind To All Kinds Philippines. Karen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Performing Arts from Assump5on College Maka5. A_er devo5ng her life full-5me as an actress for film & tv, she embarked upon a career as a Project Manager & Producer for several Community Projects during the peak of the pandemic. Her early produc5on work on documentaries for non-government organiza5ons started in 2020. In 2022, she received the Orange Carpet award for Best Animal Welfare Advocate.