The evolving Cinemalaya experience with Ayala Malls and Gateway Cineplex 18

The 21st edition of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival brings with it not just a fresh slate of bold, boundary-pushing Filipino films, but also a broader cinematic footprint. 

To open more doors to Cinemalaya’s growing community of storytellers and cinephiles, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. continue to nurture its two-decades-old partnership with Ayala Malls Cinemas as their steadfast partner venue, while welcoming the Gateway Cineplex 18 to its list of Cinemalaya’s official partner venues.

Across the metro, Ayala Malls Cinemas integrate the Cinemalaya experience into the everyday rhythms of mall culture from Circuit, Makati to U.P. Town Center in Quezon City, and beyond. As in years past, Cinemalaya continues to thrive in these accessible, high-traffic locations with its comfortable theaters and reliable screening facilities. 

Meanwhile, at Gateway Cineplex 18, nestled within the bustling Araneta City in Cubao, the Cinemalaya experience feels both intimate and expansive. The newly-opened Cineplex provided a fresh, revitalized space for Cinemalaya with its upgraded audiovisual systems. Select cinemas even hosted talkbacks, gala and block screenings, giving audiences a chance to dive deeper into the creative processes behind the films.

At the heart of it all remains Cinemalaya’s unwavering spirit, which continues to champion the festival through changing tides. Despite challenges from the ongoing redevelopment of the CCP Main Building to shifts in the country’s cultural and political climate, Cinemalaya endures and continues to set sail. 

This year’s theme, “Layag: sa Alon, Hangin, at Unos,” resonates deeply. It is a tribute to the resilience of Filipino cinema and its auteurs, navigating the turbulence with courage, creativity, and an unrelenting drive to tell stories that matter.

This strategic expansion signals a promising future for Cinemalaya — one that’s more inclusive, mobile, and integrated with mainstream movie culture. By bringing independent Filipino cinema into commercial spaces, the festival not only reaches wider audiences but also subtly redefines where and how we watch local films.

More than just new venues, Ayala Malls Cinemas and Gateway Cineplex 18 became communal spaces, where diverse stories of identity, resistance, love, and loss echoed beyond the screen and into the hearts of every viewer willing to listen.

Continue supporting the 10 full-length and 10 short films of Cinemalaya 21 until October 12, 2025, at the Shangri-La Plaza, Ayala Malls Cinemas, and Gateway Cineplex 18. 

For more information, visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) and the Cinemalaya website (www.cinemalaya.org). Follow the official CCP and Cinemalaya Facebook pages and other social media accounts on X, Instagram, and TikTok.