Warla is a fearless crime drama that refuses to look away from the desperation and longing at the heart of its characters. Raw, heartbreaking, and confrontational, the film follows Kitkat, a 19-year-old transgender woman who finds the family she’s been searching for in a gang of “sisters” who kidnap foreigners to fund their gender-affirming surgeries.
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College sweethearts Ayla and Paolo decide to drop out of school to start a family after a whirlwind romance leads to an unplanned pregnancy. Four years later, they are devastated to learn that their son, Kali, is diagnosed with autism. As they navigate the complexities of raising a child with special needs, they confront an increasingly unsupportive environment. Their journey challenges their relationship and the dream of a complete, harmonious family, forcing them to find strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
Despite contentions from historians, legend has it that in ancient times, an Ati chieftain traded their land to Bornean datus for a golden necklace and a wide-brimmed hat. The mountains were left to the Atis, while the plains and rivers went to the Malays. Today, even the mountains are under threat, sometimes violently taken from the Atis. Featuring an all-Ati non-professional acting ensemble, speaking in their own language, Inati, the film reveals the relentless struggle of these indigenous people to reclaim their land. As one Ati once said, “Tell us where the end of the earth is, and we will go there to live in peace, untouched.”
Headlined by actors Jansen Magpusao and Ronnie Lazaro, The Gospel of the Beast is a coming-of-age film about Mateo, a 15-year-old boy known for being a troublemaker in school but possessing a genuine heart for his two siblings. He assumed the role of man of the house after his father went missing, doing his best to care for them. However, a confrontation with his schoolmate escalates into violence when Mateo accidentally takes the life of his rival. With nowhere else to turn, Mateo seeks help from a man he barely knows, Berto, who persuades him to run away and introduces him to the world of the syndicate.
Over time, Berto evolves into a father figure for Mateo, and as their unique father-son relationship grows, Mateo gradually learns the harsh realities of life. But when his best friend is slayed and the secret of his father’s passing is revealed, Mateo finally loses himself to violence and despair, falling into a trap on his ultimate journey into beasthood.
