¡Vamos al cine!
The anticipated Spanish Film Festival PELÍCULA>PELIKULA is back in Makati this October for its 24th edition. From Oct. 10 to 16, 2025, cinephiles can catch over 20 acclaimed films from Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines at the Ayala Triangle Gardens and Power Plant Mall, Cinema 6.
Kicking off the festival on Oct. 10, 2025 at Ayala Triangle Gardens is “El 47” (Marcel Barrena, 2024). The week-long program features a variety of genres, including dramas such as “Soy Nevenka” (Icíar Bollaín, 2024) and “Nosotros” (Helena Taberna, 2024), documentaries such as “Un hombre libre” (Laura Hojman, 2024) and “La guitarra flamenco de Yerai Cortés” (C. Tangana, 2024), and animations such as “Mariposas negras” (David Baute, 2024) and “Robotia” (Diego Cagide and Diego Lucero, 2024).
LLatin American cinema will also be highlighted during the festival, including the Argentinian drama "Por tu bien" (Axel Monsu, 2024), the Brazilian "Até que a música pare” (Cristiane Oliveira, 2023), Uruguay’s “Becho” (José Infantozzi, 2024), and the Peruvian “Reinas” (Klaudia Reynicke, 2024).
The Festival also spotlights Filipino voices through Encuentros en el cine: En corto on October 16: “Lip Sync Assassin” (Jon Galvez, 2025), “Animal Lovers” (Aedrian Araojo, 2024), and “Radikals” (Arvin Belarmino, 2024), where they will be presented by the directors themselves.
Audiences will once again get to vote for their favorite features for the Festival’s Audience Choice Award — a beloved tradition started in 2004. The winning title will be announced and screened again on Oct. 16, 2025 at the Power Plant Cinema 6 as part of the Festival’s closing ceremony.
Beyond the cinema screenings, PELÍCULA>PELIKULA will once again treat audiences to a Cine Maratón at the Ayala Triangle Gardens on Oct. 11, 2025, featuring back-to-back screenings of films such as “Dalia y el libro rojo” (David Bisbano, 2024), “Tasio” (Montxo Armendáriz, 1984), “Solos en la noche” (Guillermo Rojas, 2024), and “Reinas” (Klaudia Reynicke, 2024), from 11:45 AM to 11 PM.
Instituto Cervantes will also offer special creative activities for children, film-inspired workshops to highlight emerging Spanish and Filipino filmmakers, and a chance to win footballs and an official Real Madrid jersey signed by football legend Emilio Butragueño.
First launched in 2002 by Instituto Cervantes in Manila, PELÍCULA>PELIKULA has since become an anticipated event in Manila’s cultural scene, bringing foreign feature films to Filipino audiences for free.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the 24th edition of our beloved festival this year,” said Francisco Javier López Tapia, Director of Instituto Cervantes, in a welcoming message during the Press Conference held last Sept. 25, 2025. “24 years of cinema, community, and cultural exchange between Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines.”
All films will be screened in their original language and accompanied by English subtitles. The animated films will also be screened in English.
For more updates and full schedules, visit the Instituto Cervantes Manila website here and follow their Facebook and Instagram pages.
