SPOTLIGHT ON THE PHILIPPINES celebrates Filipino American History Month (FAHM)with a dynamic showcase of new cinema from the Philippines and across the Filipino diaspora. In partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), this HIFF45 section premieres world renowned films produced in the Philippines while honoring the rich diversity of voices that span generations and borders. From bold contemporary storytelling to deeply rooted cultural narratives, the program highlights the vibrant connections between the Philippines, its global diaspora, and Hawai‘i’s own Filipino community.
ERASERHEADS: COMBO ON THE RUN
Directed by Maria Diane Ventura
October 30, 6:00pm — Consolidated Kapolei
In a time of political upheaval and uncertainty, the legendary Filipino rock band Eraserheads reunites, offering unexpected solace to a nation in crisis while confronting their own need for healing. Once disbanded, the group finds themselves both mirrors and mediators of a society in turmoil. Through candid interviews, electrifying performances, and urgent social context, their journey becomes more than a reunion—it is a powerful testament to the universal ability of music to unite, console, and inspire.
FOOD DELIVERY: FRESH FROM THE WEST PHILIPPINES SEA
Directed by Baby Ruth Villarama
October 18, 2:15pm / October 23, 6:00pm — Consolidated Kahala
FOOD DELIVERY is a gripping documentary that follows Filipino fishermen, the Philippine Coast Guard, and Navy personnel as they defend the West Philippine Sea. Centered on Arnel Satam, a fisherman pursued by the China Coast Guard near Scarborough Shoal, the film reveals the real-life dangers of living at the frontline of geopolitical conflict. With rare access to Coast Guard missions and intimate stories from the sea, Food Delivery highlights quiet heroism, solidarity, and sacrifice. Visually arresting and deeply human, the film offers a timely, urgent portrait of courage and community amidst rising global tensions.
MAGELLAN
Directed by Lav Diaz
October 24, 4:15pm / October 25, 5:30pm — Consolidated Kahala
Lav Diaz (NORTE, THE END OF HISTORY; EVOLUTION OF A FILIPINO FAMILY) delivers a monumental reimagining of the Age of Discovery, stripping myth from history to expose colonial ambition and human frailty. Gael García Bernal vanishes into the role of Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer who led a Spanish-funded voyage to Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Visually breathtaking and politically charged, the film reframes conquest as a stark meditation on violence, obsession, and the wounds of empire. The Philippines official entry to Academy Awards Best International Feature category.
QUEZON
Director: Jerrold Tarog
October 26, 2:30pm — Consolidated Kahala / October 28, 6:00pm — Consolidated Kapolei
QUEZON is the third chapter in the successful “Bayaniverse” trilogy (HENERAL LUNA, GOYO), bringing to life the rise of Manuel L. Quezon, the lawyer and soldier who became President of the Philippine Commonwealth. Jericho Rosales makes his highly anticipated return to cinema in the title role, joined by Mon Confiado as Emilio Aguinaldo and Benjamin Alves as the younger Quezon. Iain Glen (GAME OF THRONES) portrays U.S. Governor-General Leonard Wood, whose fraught relationship with Quezon shaped the nation’s struggle for independence. Epic in scope yet intimate in focus, the film dramatizes a pivotal moment in Philippine history, blending political intrigue, personal sacrifice, and the fight for nationhood.
FilAm Frames – Short Films from the Diaspora (Shorts Program)
A vibrant showcase of Filipino American short films—both narrative and documentary—exploring family bonds, intergenerational connections, and the pursuit of identity and fleeting fame across the FilAm experience.
ALONG COMES LARRY, THE LARRY RAMOS STORY
Director: Rick Quan
Kauai-born Larry Ramos was the first Asian American to win a Grammy. A child prodigy with the ukulele, he would go on to break racial barriers by being the only non-white member of two of the biggest groups of the sixties, The New Christy Minstrels and The Association.
EAST DID MEET WEST
Director: Aiko Lozar
1930s, Los Angeles County. Filipino farmer Salvador Roldan and English pianist Marjorie Rogers must find a way to convince a hardened attorney to fight for their marriage despite the anti-miscegenation laws of the time. Meanwhile, we follow their epic love story through a series of flashbacks.
MAYBE IT’S JUST THE RAIN
Director: Reina Bonta
In their historic debut, an underdog, diasporic group of young women despite all odds become the first Filipino team to score a goal and win a World Cup match. Reina, team center back, brings us along on this turbulent journey, culminating in an intimate trip to her grandmother’s hometown in the Philippines.
MYSELF WHEN I AM REAL
Director: Angeline Gragasin
Set in the year 2000, a single mother and her teenage daughter struggle to make friends and find belonging at a Filipino Christmas party in suburban Wisconsin.
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