Mercedes Cabral’s movie ‘Enjoy Your Stay’ to kick off Cinemalaya 2026

“Enjoy Your Stay,” a movie starring award-winning actress Mercedes Cabral, will kick off the 22nd Cinemalaya film festival on August 6, while “Filipiñana” will be its closing movie.

The announcement was made by Cinemalaya, which will screen 9 full-length films from Aug. 6 to 18, and 10 short films handpicked in line with the festival’s theme for this year, “Reel Reflections.”

“Enjoy Your Stay,” which had its world premiere at the Panorama section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival last February, is directed by Dominik Locher and written by Honeylyn Joy Alipio.

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Presented by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in partnership with Be For Films (Belgium), “Enjoy Your Stay” will have its Philippine premiere at 7:30 PM at Red Carpet Cinemas 1 & 2, Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City.

Set against the breathtaking yet isolating backdrop of the Swiss Alps, the film follows Luz, an undocumented Filipino migrant worker at a luxury ski resort. She hopes to pay off her debt and collect money at any cost to avoid losing custody of her daughter in Manila.

Aside from Cabral, the movie also stars Irma Adlawan, and Anna Luna.

Meanwhile, the black comedy “Filipiñana,” directed by Rafael Manuel, will be Cinemalaya’s closing film on Aug. 16. The movie was a standout at the Sundance film festival last January, and is about a teenage country club employee who uncovers the violence hidden behind the club’s polished facade.

This year’s theme aims to celebrate cinema as a mirror of the human experience. Admission to the screenings is free.

The nine full-length films that will participate in the festival, and their respective film directors are as follows:

  • A.ni.mal (Dustin Celestino)
  • 2 Valid IDs (Asuncion Dagnalan)
  • Ganggang (JL Burgos)
  • Hand of God (Mark Duane Angos)
  • Mag-iina (Giancarlo Abrahan)
  • Kaka sa Yawan (Alpha Habon)
  • Status: Rejected (Vahn Leinard Pascual)
  • Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam (David Corpuz)
  • Tirik (May-I Badilla)