The Cinemalaya Film Festival is an event that is very close to my heart – it is my longest commitment still.

I have been attending the prestigious film festival since I was a student and my biggest influences back then were my college professors and schoolmates. That’s where my passion for filmmaking and storytelling began.

More than a decade later, for me as a working professional, visiting Cinemalaya is like an escape from my hectic world. It feels like coming home.

If this is your first time attending the festival, it’s not a problem because the cinephile community is very vibrant and welcoming, and you’re guaranteed to keep coming back until it becomes an annual habit.

Here are some tips to make your first Cinemalaya experience unforgettable:

Mingle with the people.

The best thing about Cinemalaya, at least for me, is the atmosphere. It’s like a gathering of film lovers and a kind of reunion, like homecoming week. I meet people from my college days and it’s a great way to meet up. Of course, it depends on my social status.

You’ll see lots of filmmakers, writers and even actors leisurely strolling around and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to chat with them. National Artist Ricky Lee attends every year!

Watch the gala performances.

The gala screenings are the red carpet days where you get to see the film with the cast and crew. Cinemalaya releases the full festival schedule in advance so you can know the gala screening schedule and plan accordingly. There is no dress code so you can just come to the cinema as you like.

If you miss the gala and are interested in the film, I highly recommend the talkback screenings. After the film, there is a question and answer session with the filmmakers and, if you’re lucky, some of the cast will be there too.

Visit the gallery.

Every year there is a museum-like exhibition of the items used in the feature-length films. During Cinemalaya CCP times, this “gallery” is usually located under the beautiful, brutalist staircase leading to the ticket booth.

This year, the gallery will likely be somewhere in the halls of Ayala Malls Manila Bay, and although it will look different (and we are excited to see the new look!), it is not to be missed.

Buy the merch.

Aside from the visual treats from films and exhibitions, Cinemalaya also sells merchandise like shirts, bags, hats and more. They also collaborate with independent artists, so you might fancy a bit of artsy merch at the cinema. One of my all-time favorites is the Taga indie merch – which comes out almost every year.

If your budget for merchandising is very limited, take home a printed festival schedule. It contains all the details you need, from the film schedule to the synopsis. Cinemalaya gives them out for free. I collect them every year as a souvenir.

Find out about the current special offers.

Cinemalaya collaborates with various brands like Grab, so don’t forget to follow their social media accounts to avoid missing out on special offers!

Bring your rain gear.

And finally, since the film festival always takes place in August, which is typhoon season, be prepared for rain. There’s an inside joke in the community that goes, “It’s not Cinemalaya week if it doesn’t rain,” and I think that’s really part of the whole experience, whether we like it or not.

You can find Cinemalaya’s full screening schedule here.