MANILA, Philippines (Jul 2026) — A pair of gripping student short films originally made for a campus festival is heading to Cebu this August to take on the national stage.
The works, crafted by student filmmakers from the Far Eastern University (FEU) Department of Communication, secured official spots in the 16th BINISAYA International Film Festival. Running from Aug. 16 to 23, 2026, in Cebu City, the festival highlights independent stories from across the country. Both films will screen under the BINISAYA Horizons section, which highlights non-Cebuano works.
A raw look at survival and morals
Written and directed by Ayessa Tan, “Ani” takes viewers into an alternate reality to tell a grounded story about survival. The narrative centers on a struggling farmer pushed to his moral limits after a manipulative trader turns him against his peers.
Produced under Braindead Kidz Productions, the short film previously swept multiple awards at FEU’s own Sinepiyu XVIII festival last May, including third Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Production Design, and Best Supporting Actor for Vic Romano. For Tan, the festival selection is more than a win for her production team; she shared that the film serves as a deeply personal homage to her mother.
Shadows, secrets, and a mythical search
The second entry, “Where the Cave Ends,” takes a completely different turn, diving straight into a high-stakes investigation. Directed and written by Nix Vergara, the story follows Jim, a journalist played by Andre Miguel, who enters a mysterious cave to track down a local Babaylan.
The media labels the spiritual figure as the primary suspect behind the sudden disappearance of a military colonel. However, Jim finds a transformative truth waiting for him in the dark.
The project features an ensemble cast including Karl Medina, Rachel Du, MJ Managuelod, Serena Magiliw, and Jacq Nacu-Garcia. It is produced by Precious Vargas for Sineninix alongside Shepherd Pictures, Salinsining, Project V Media, and P.tik Bulag Films.
Originally premiering at Sinepiyu XVIII: DIWA, these two productions join a growing roster of FEU student films making waves outside university walls, proving that regional platforms remain vital for young Pinoy storytellers looking to bridge local narratives with a wider national audience.
