MIFF reveals 2026 lineup led by ‘Forgotten Island’

The Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) announced the first 14 movies in its 2026 lineup, which includes a special advance screening of DreamWorks Animation’s “Forgotten Island.”

This year’s edition—which will run from Sept. 3 to Sept. 6—will screen the animated film three weeks ahead of its Sept. 25 theatrical release in the United States. The film fest will also feature a special screening of Carl Joseph Papa’s “58th,” as well as a Lea Salonga retrospective honoring the acclaimed actress-singer as the recipient of its inaugural Icon Award.

Salonga is set to be honored with the award during the Closing Night Awards Gala on Sept. 6 at The Beverly Hilton.

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Also part of the lineup are Chuck Gutierrez and Baby Ruth Villarama’s “Eddie Romero Remastered: A Century of Filipino Cinema,” Neal “Buboy” Tan’s “Kappa-Tiran” and Keesa Ocampo’s “Pinay”—all of which will have its world premieres at the annual film event.

“The first wave of this year’s lineup reflects the breadth of Filipino filmmaking today, from a major studio film inspired by Philippine folklore to independent features and documentaries exploring our history, identity and communities,” said Lisa Lew, Executive Producer of the MIFF. “In our third year, MIFF continues to create a meaningful platform in Hollywood for filmmakers from the Philippines and across the diaspora to share their work with new audiences.”

Here’s the first wave of the 2026 MIFF lineup:

Special screenings

  • “Forgotten Island” (Written and directed by Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado)
  • “58th” (Directed by Carl Joseph Papa)

World premieres

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  • “Eddie Romero Remastered: A Century of Filipino Cinema” (Directed by Chuck Gutierrez and Baby Ruth Villarama)
  • “Kappa-Tiran” (Directed by Neal “Buboy” Tan)
  • “Pinay” (Directed by Keesa Ocampo and produced by Christina Luna)

Hollywood premieres

  • “Along Comes Larry: The Larry Ramos Story” (Directed by Rick Quan)
  • “No Room for Love” (Directed by Randal Kamradt and Maria Luna Kamradt)
  • “Quezon” (Directed by Jerrold Tarog)
  • “Veterano” (Directed by Patrick Epino)

Los Angeles premieres

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  • “Manila’s Finest” (Directed by Raymond Red)
  • “The Road to Sydney” (Directed by Benito Bautista)
  • “Bebot: Generation One, The Black Eyed Peas” (Directed by Patricio Ginelsa)

Lea Salonga retrospective

  • “Sana Maulit Muli” (Directed by Olivia Lamasan)
  • “The Vale: Origins” (Directed by Abigail Hing Wen)

Aside from the film screenings, the 2026 MIFF will also hold filmmaker question-and-answer sessions and industry panels at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. /edv