Spanish Film Festival Película-Pelikula Returns to the Philippines for Its 25th Year
Under Película-Pelikula’s “En corto: Short films from the Philippines, Latin America, and Spain,” Filipino short films like Agapito (2025) and Elenita, Elena, Elaine (2025) will be screened on October 11, 2026. Photo courtesy of Agapito
The most well-known Spanish-language film festival in Southeast Asia marks its silver anniversary with a new lineup of diverse films and activities beyond the cinema.
Película-Pelikula is returning to Metro Manila for its 25th year. The annual film festival by Instituto Cervantes de Manila will run from October 4 to 11, 2026, at Power Plant Mall in Makati and Instituto Cervantes’ Intramuros branch (Casa Azul).
Since its establishment in 2002, Película-Pelikula’s main goal has been to make Spanish and Hispanic movies accessible to a Filipino audience, whose narratives and storytelling may resonate with those of these regions. All screenings will be free of charge and will feature a lineup of 23 films, including documentaries, animated films, and dramas spanning eight countries.
In collaboration with the Spanish embassy and other educational institutions, the festival will debut critically acclaimed films such as Sirāt (2025) and The Room Next Door (2024), which were also featured in QCinema, a notable and long-time partner of the event. Additionally, under “En corto: Short films from the Philippines, Latin America, and Spain,” Filipino short films will be screened on October 11, 2026. The selected Filipino short films include Cannes short film contender Agapito (2025) and Elenita, Elena, Elaine (2025).
Beyond movie screenings, the film festival hosted a music concert by Merienda Jazz to kick off the event on October 2 at the Ayala Museum, titled Musika ng Pelikula.
Additionally, Mexican artist Juan Pablo Chipe, a sculptor and visual artist, will lead a series of modeling clay and collage workshops that have limited but free slots. He will hold his first workshop on October 4, 9 A.M., at the Instituto Cervantes (Intramuros), where he will teach children how to create sculptures out of modeling clay. For an adult audience, he will be holding a recycling workshop on October 6, 9 A.M., at the SoFA Design Institute, 2nd level, Proscenium Retail Row, Rockwell Center.
All films will also include English subtitles alongside the original language.
Película-Pelikula will run from October 4 to 11, 2026, at Power Plant Mall in Makati and at the Instituto Cervantes Intramuros branch (Casa Azul). For more information, attendees can visit the official Facebook page.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a Manila Spanish Film festival organized by the Instituto Cervantes in collaboration with other universities and filmmakers to showcase movies from Spain and Latin America
The movie screenings will take place from October 4 to 11, 2026, at Instituto Cervantes’ Intramuros branch (Casa Azul) and Power Plant Cinema, Makati City.
The lineup will include 23 films from Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines.
All Película-Pelikula movie screenings are completely free of charge; however, seating is based on a first-come, first-served basis at the actual venue.
For this year, there will be two workshops by Mexican Artist Juan Pablo Chipe that will cover modeling clay lessons for children and a recycling workshop for adults.