The first Directors’ Factory to take place in Southeast Asia, this year’s program features promising future filmmakers from the Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, India, and Malaysia.
The Directors’ Factory is a program aimed at fostering emerging talents on the international stage. It enables four newly formed pairs, each with ambitious first or second-feature projects, to collaborate in co-writing and co-directing. This involves pairing a regional director with an international counterpart, resulting in a total of four films premiering under this initiative.
Following its inaugural edition in Taiwan in 2013, the Directors’ Factory returns to Asia for the first time in the Philippines. All the short films were shot in the historic city of Dapitan, located in the Zamboanga Peninsula, where the Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal, was exiled.
Since its inception, the Directors’ Fortnight has been instrumental in discovering established filmmakers who have gained prominence on the global festival circuit. For instance, Taiwanese director Midi Z, featured in the 2013 edition, received the Un Certain Regard label for his film Nina Wu in 2019, and his latest work, The Clinic, premiered at IDFA last year. Similarly, Alireza Khatami, also part of the 2013 program, debuted at the Venice Orizzonti in 2017 with Oblivion Verses, earning accolades such as the Best Screenplay, FIPRESCI, and Interfilm Award. His latest film, Terrestrial Verses, premiered at Cannes in 2023. In 2019, the program expanded to the Balkans, discovering North Macedonian director Elenora Veninova, whose film Things Unsaid was selected for the main competition at the Cairo International Film Festival.
The regional directors for this year’s edition are Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan, Arvin Belarmino, Maria Estela Piaso, and Eve Baswel. The Filipino outfit Epicmedia, represented by Bradley Liew, who has also been part of this year’s Cannes Official Selection with Viet and Nam, co-produced all the short films alongside Dominique Welinski from France’s DW.
COLD CUT by Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan and Siyou Tan
The omnibus opens with Cold Cut, a collaboration between Don Eblahan and Singaporean filmmaker Siyou Tan. Both are widely recognized for their participation in five major festivals. Eblahan gained acclaim by winning the Sundance Grand Jury Prize in 2022 with The Headhunter’s Daughter, a story about a young girl leaving her family to pursue a career as a country singer in the city. Meanwhile, Tan’s short film Hello Ahma was selected for both Berlinale and TIFF.
Cold Cut appears to echo Eblahan’s thematic interests explored in The Headhunter’s Daughter. It follows Joy, a 19-year-old student, as she prepares to audition for a local talent show, only to be captivated by a mysterious stranger. Among the films featured in this program, Cold Cut stands out for its use of local talents from Dapitan City. The co-directors skillfully weave together multiple storylines, resulting in a rich and compelling narrative. The film’s remarkable editing and vibrant cinematography add depth to the portrayal of budding artists as they showcase their talents. Cold Cut excels in almost every aspect of filmmaking.
In terms of future projects, Eblahan is currently developing his feature debut film titled Hum. He was selected for the Cannes La Residence program in 2023 and the Sundance Institute Native Lab this year. Production for Hum is scheduled to commence in 2026, with Hannah Schierbeek serving as the producer. On the other hand, Tan’s debut project, Amoeba, is set to begin filming later this year. Produced by Akanga Film, a leading Singaporean production company renowned for titles such as A Land Imagined (Golden Leopard 2019), Yuni (TIFF Platform Prize 2021), as well as Cannes selections like Apprentice (2016), A Yellow Bird (2016), and Tiger Stripes (2023).
SILIG by Arvin Belarmino and Lomorpich Rithy (aka YoKi)
Filipino emerging talent Arvin Belarmino, who is also competing in the Critics’ Week with Radikals, co-directs Silig alongside Cambodia’s Lomorpich Rithy, also known as YoKi. This clever and unabashedly witty film follows Mamang, portrayed by the remarkable Sylvia Sanchez, as she returns to town to arrange her own funeral. There, she reconnects with her lesbian ex, Sabina, played by Angel Aquino, known for her roles in Lav Diaz’s films. However, Mamang surprises everyone by expressing her desire to be cremated instead of being buried in a coffin.
From its captivating opening scene, where Sylvia Sanchez disembarks from a boat and makes her way through the sand to meet Angel Aquino, accompanied by an operatic melody, Silig demonstrates a brilliant approach. Both actresses deliver impeccable performances, and blosson under Belarmino and YoKi’s fearless and humorous direction. Their 14-minute performance brims with humor, warmth, and heart, making Silig an uproarious delight.
Looking ahead, Belarmino’s feature debut project, Ria, is currently in development and is scheduled to begin filming next year with producer Kristine de Leon. In 2022, he was selected for Cannes La Residence, followed by La Fabrique Cinema in 2023. Meanwhile, YoKi’s sophomore project, Romdoul: The Evening Fragrance, produced by Laura Mam, is slated to shoot in 2026. YoKi made her debut at Locarno in 2019 with her first feature, Young Love.
NIGHTBIRDS by Maria Estela Piaso and Ashok Vish
“A mythical Bird God, the Tigmamanukan, is sent from the heavens to help flightless bird…” Based on Tagalog beliefs, these mythical Bird Gods serve as crucial indicators for the outcome of anticipated journeys. In this program’s third installment, co-directed by Maria Estela Piaso and Ashok Vish from India, the Tigmamanukan bird is summoned by the bird council to assist Ivy (a Comedian-Actress renowned for her role in Karlovy Vary’s film Ode to Nothing) in freeing herself from her husband, who squanders their money on cockfighting.
Through a blend of live-action and animation, Nightbirds initially presents itself as a deadpan comedy, evolving into an atmospheric odyssey in its latter half. This transformation is largely driven by Arbi Barbarona’s eerie and foreboding musical scores, encapsulating a dark journey of female emancipation intertwined with mythological beliefs. While the plot twist may lack surprise, it offers a satisfying flavor.
Looking ahead, Piaso is gearing up for her debut feature Karaoke Dreaming, set to commence filming in 2026 with producer Gale Osorio. She gained recognition for It’s Raining Frog Outside, which was showcased at Berlinale, Sundance, New Directors/New Films, and continues to garner acclaim. Meanwhile, Vish is developing his debut feature To Kill the One You Love, produced by Shaji Mathew. The project was selected for FNDC’s Film Bazaar in Goa in 2021.
WALAY BALAY by Eve Baswel and Gogularaajan Rajendran
The concluding film in this program, Walay Balay, narrates the journey of mother-daughter duo Norayda (portrayed by Rubi Ruiz, recognized for her role in Lulu Wang’s Expats) and Yahaira (played by Lav Diaz’s mainstay, Shaina Magdayao). Set against the backdrop of the Marawi conflict, their lives take a tumultuous turn upon the arrival of an official letter.
Eve Baswel collaborates with Malaysia’s Gogularaajan Rajendran for this project. It stands out as the sole film shot in black-and-white, a cinematic style commonly associated with arthouse Tagalog cinema. This choice contributes to the creation of a cinematic language that resonates with the film’s themes. The haunting cinematography by Pao Orendain establishes a connection between the viewers and the characters’ sense of belonging, immersing them in the narrative and its setting.
Looking forward, Baswel is slated to commence shooting her second feature, Heaven Help, in 2027, following her debut with Tia Madre. John Torres of Los Otros Manila is onboard as the producer, having recently participated in the Full Circle Lab for Fiction. Meanwhile, Rajendran is expected to begin filming his debut feature, Kaali: Depth of Darkness, in two years. He was the recipient of the Mylab FINAS Award, and Kumanavannan Rajendran will serve as the producer for this project.
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