BY: VALERIE ANN DISMAYA
The Montañosa Film Festival (MFF) 2025 is expanding its reach with the launch of its first-ever Cinema Open Film Competition, marking its fifth anniversary with over 230 participants from across the country.
Scheduled from March 26 to 30, the festival features four competition categories: Narrative, Mobile, Documentary, and Experimental. These categories provide a platform for both emerging and experienced filmmakers to showcase their creative vision.
Festival Director Ferdinand Balanag emphasized the significance of storytelling in cinema. “Film is like a wave—it continues to expand, shift perspectives, and inspire,” he said. “This year, MFF celebrates the art of storytelling, inviting diverse voices from our culture.”
Further expanding its offerings, MFF has introduced an Animation Festival in partnership with the Cordillera School of Digital Arts (CSDA). This initiative aims to highlight the region’s animation talents in digital arts.
Another festival highlight is SineMusiKain, a month-long celebration of film, music, and food. It includes free film screenings, live concerts, and a food festival, showcasing the vibrant culture of Baguio and the Cordilleras.
Since its inception, MFF has produced 58 local films, some of which have gained international recognition. Among them is filmmaker Jonathan Jurilla, whose works won in the Narrative and Documentary Film Competitions in previous years. His documentary-based film Love Child became a Cinemalaya finalist and ranked among Netflix Philippines’ top 10 most-watched movies for over a month.
Another celebrated filmmaker from MFF is Julius Lumiqued, who adapted Amador Daguio’s The Wedding Dance into film. The project was featured in Cinemalaya and shed light on Cordilleran wedding traditions.
Beyond film screenings, MFF serves as a learning platform for aspiring filmmakers through film talks, workshops, and screenings aimed at nurturing the next generation of storytellers.
The festival’s grand opening will take place at SM City Baguio on March 26, followed by the Cinema Open Film Premiere and Exclusive Screenings at SM Cinemas from March 27 to 28. A special International Film Festival Launch is set for March 27, featuring world premieres of Riki Rhino, Woman From Rote Island, and Wayang: Shadow of the Night, in partnership with the Embassy of Indonesia.
The festival will culminate in an Awarding Ceremony on March 30, recognizing outstanding films across various categories. It will be followed by the annual Folk Music Festival at Rose Garden, highlighting the connection between film, music, and Cordilleran culture.
Balanag believes MFF plays a key role in promoting film tourism in the Cordillera region. “We aim to showcase the natural beauty of our region through film while giving local filmmakers the opportunity to bring their art to the world,” he said.
As part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Baguio continues to prove its status as a hub for the creative arts. Through MFF, Filipino cinema thrives, cultural narratives are amplified, and Cordilleran stories are shared with the world.
The official media launch of MFF 2025 was held at The Orchard Hotel last March 15, attended by key media practitioners, supporters, including Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Baguio City Creative Council’s Marie Venus Tan, and UB Linkages Office’s Melanie Rulla-Saro.
More than just a film festival, MFF 2025 is a movement—championing art, culture, and unity through storytelling.
