ILOILO — The Ilonggo Cinema Festival 2026, known as ICFest, will open on October 14 and run through October 18, celebrating the films, filmmakers, writers, artists, and workers who shape Ilonggo cinema. Screenings and activities will unfold across the FDCP Cinematheque Centre Iloilo, Festive Walk Iloilo, and Festive Walk Cinema.
A Five-Day Celebration of Ilonggo Cinema
ICFest positions itself as a showcase of Ilonggo films alongside a wider program of talks, forums, and community gatherings. The festival honors not only directors and actors but also the production crews, writers, and audiences whose support sustains regional filmmaking. Admission is free for all participants.
The opening ceremony takes place on October 14 at 5:00 PM at Festive Walk Cinema 1. It will feature the screening of the festival's official opening film, "Salum," along with two other short films. Organizers encourage early registration through the provided online forms to secure seats.
CineDiskusyon: Lectures and Talks
The ICFest CineDiskusyon series offers free educational lectures aimed at enriching the skills and spirit of filmmakers and audiences alike. On October 15, Ilonggo filmmaker Kevin Pison Piamonte leads "Ang Pagpamukadkad sang Istorya," covering story development through directing, beginning at 9:00 AM at the Cinematheque.
On October 16, Ilonggo producer Jo Andrew Torlao conducts "Pagdumala sang mga Hangaway," a lecture on film production management, also at 9:00 AM. Both sessions are sponsored by the Iloilo City Government, allowing participants to attend without paying any fees.
Screenings and Community Forums
Screenings run daily, featuring curated short film sets and themed blocks such as Cine Espirito, Cine Espejo, Cine Enganio, Cine Enkanto, Cine Enkuentro, and Cine Elemento. Each block highlights different voices and styles emerging from the Ilonggo film community, giving audiences a broad view of local storytelling.
On October 17, FDCP Chairperson Joey Reyes meets student filmmakers during the "Enganio" forum at 1:00 PM. A townhall meeting titled "Pagtililipon" follows at 3:00 PM, gathering the Ilonggo cinema community for dialogue on shared challenges and opportunities.
Guests, Closing Film, and Awards
On October 18, the festival hosts "Cine Encantada," a short film screening and open forum on Women in Cinema, with actress Gabby Padilla as special guest. The session begins at 1:00 PM at Festive Walk Cinema 1 and invites discussion on representation and opportunity.
The closing film, "With Love Bridgit" by Kevin Pison Piamonte, screens at 4:00 PM, followed by the Awarding and Closing Ceremony at 6:00 PM. These final events cap five days of screenings, learning, and community building within Iloilo's creative sector.
How to Join the Festival
All activities are free of charge, and organizers remind the public that no reservation or registration fees are being collected. Interested participants may register through the official Google Forms links distributed by ICFest for each day's events. Questions may be sent to [email protected].
The festival is organized by Cine Enkanto, the Social Starter, the Office of Jay Treñas, MICE Iloilo, and the Iloilo City Government, with support from the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Prometheus Enterprises, and Megaworld Iloilo. Organizers invite everyone to celebrate Ilonggo cinema.
