MOVIES | Top 10 Independent (Indie) Films in the Phlippines

If you are wondering what might be some good films to understand Filipino culture, I made a list below of some of my recommendations. These films deals with poverty to homophobia and family issues - themes which are all very prevalent to Filipinos. Again, these are all mere reflections and do not necessarily apply to all Filipinos' lives, but nonetheless these works of art are good gauge to understand the Filipino psyche.

Runners-Up:

Pamilya Ordinaryo, 2016; directed by Eduardo Roy, Jr.

Genre: Drama/Teen | Theme: Lives of young poor people in the streets of Manila

Two teenagers living in the streets of Manila suffers after their baby Arjan got kidnapped. They go through all possible means to retrieve the baby.

Fuccbois, 2019; directed by Eduardo Roy, Jr.

Genre: Drama/Gay | Theme: Two young boys tangled in a deadly web of sex and drugs

Two boys who dream of being popular find themselves trapped in the clutches of a politician who uses them sexually and blackmails them of a sex video.

Alone/Together, 2019; directed by Antoinette Jadaone 

Genre: Drama/Romance | Theme: Romance between University lovers falls out after graduation

A UP magna cum laude dreams of changing the world, but finds exactly the opposite after working in a company, thereby doubting herself and everyone around her.

That Thing Called Tadhana, 2014; directed by Antoinette Jadaone 

Genre: Drama/Romantic | Theme: A broken hearted girl finds redemption from a stranger

A girl who just broke up with her partner unexpectedly meets a guy in a bus and heads together in a mountain where they let out their life frustrations.

Pisay, 2007; directed by Aureus Solito

Genre: Drama/Romantic | Theme: High school students all going through personal struggles

Set in a prime university in the Philippines, these students find answers to their questions and doubts about themselves and later finds resolve.

Final Selection. The Top 10 Indie Films in the Philippines

10 | Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank

Year: 2011

Director: Chris Martinez

Artists: Eugene Domingo, JM De Guzman, Kian Cipriano

Awards: Best Picture, Director, Actress, Screenplay,  (7th Cinemalaya, Philippines)

Genre: Comedy | Theme: Social commentary on the lives of actors/actresses

This film depicts the lives of budding film makers who convinces a popular actress to create a project that will catapult them to stardom. The journey becomes hilarious as they go through setbacks one after another.

9 | Ang Lihim Ni Antonio

Year: 2008

Director: Joselito Altarejos

Artists: Kenjie Garcia, Jiro Manio, Shamaine Buencamino, Josh Ivan Morales

Awards: Best Feature Film, Actor (2010 Festival Del Mar, Spain)

Genre: Drama/Gay | Theme: Coming of age gay film about a boy's identity crisis and a murder

The movie follows the life of Antonio who comes from a typical family. After his uncle moves in with them, Antonio's life started to change.

8 | Mamu: And A Mother Too

Year: 2018

Director: Rod Singh

Artists: Iya Mina, Aaron Villaflor, EJ Jallorina

Awards: Best Actress, Supporting Actor (2018 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival)

Genre: Comedy/Gay | Theme: A transwoman  adopts his nephew while raising money for a boob work

After his sister's death, Mamu takes with him his nephew to Manila. Mamu and the nephew, along with Mamu's lover lives together. Issues started to erupt as relationships get more complicated among the three of them.

7 | Inang Yaya

Year: 2006

Director: Pablo Biglang-awa, Veronica Velasco

Artists: Maricel Soriano, Erika Oreta, Tala Santos, Julia Buencamino

Awards: Best Long Feature Film (2008 Cairo International Film Festival)

Genre: Drama | Theme: A nanny is torn between her daughter and the child she looks after

Due to poverty, Norma is forced to leave her daughter in the care of her mother while she works as a nanny in Manila. After some time, she decides to bring her child with her. Unfortunately, things did not go out as she expected.

6 | Patay Na Si Hesus

Year: 2017

Director: Victor Villanueva

Artists: Jaclyn Jose, Vincent Viado, Chai Fonacier, Melde Montanez, Mailes Kanapi

Awards: Jury's Choice (2017 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino)

Genre: Comedy/Family | Theme: A family decides to visit the wake of their father

After separation, Iyay and her kids receives news that their patriarch died. Although the kids prefer not to attend the wake, Iyay forces them and together they go on a road trip where they encounter several episodes, each giving them realizations.

5 | Batad Sa Paang Palay

Year: 2006

Director: Benji Garcia

Artists: Gina Alajar, Nonie Buencamino, Alchris Galura

Awards: Best Actor, Screenplay, Production Design (2006 Cinemalay)

Genre: Drama/Ethnic | Theme: An Ifugao boy longs to leave to have shoes and desires to leave the mountain against his family's will

After meeting some people from the city, and Ifugao boy started wishing to leave the mountain and become a city dweller. The family is against this and therefore does not support their son.

4 | Mga Munting Tinig

Year: 2002

Director: Gil Portes

Artists: Alessandra De Rossi, Dexter Doria, Gina Alajar, Amy Austria

Awards: Best Feature Film, Director, Screenplay (2003 Palm Beach International Film Festival)

Genre: Drama/Education | Theme: A new teacher struggles to teach in a small community

An idealistic teacher strives to teach poor kids in a small town, but due to different issues, she struggles to convince these kids to continue studying and dream for themselves.

3 | Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros

Year: 2005

Director: Auraeus Solito

Artists: Nathan Lopez, Soliman Cruz, JR Valentin

Awards: Best Feature Film (2006 Berlin International Film Festival)

Genre: Drama/Gay | Theme: A coming of age gay film about a young gay and a cop

As the son of a community known thug, Maxi finds himself trapped in the situation as he comes to terms with being gay. Things get more complicated when he befriends a good-looking cop who becomes center of his gay attention.

2 | Die Beautiful

Year: 2016

Director: Jun Robles Lana

Artists: Paolo Ballesteros, Christian Bables, Joel Torre, Luis Alandy, Albie Casino

Awards: Best Actor (29th Tokyo International Film Festival)

Genre: Comedy/Gay | Theme: Trisha only wanted to win a beauty pageant and prove himself

As a transwoman, Trisha only wanted to be recognzed in the gay community by winning a beauty pegeant. But behind the looks, lies dark secrets of the past which comes to her later in his life.

1 | John Denver Trending

Year: 2019

Director: Arden Rod Condez

Artists: Jansen Magpusao, Meryll Soriano

Awards: Best Project (5th Hanoi International Film Festival); Best Film, Cinematography, Actor (15th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival)

Genre: Drama | Theme: An impoverished student suffers social media bullying

A video uploaded on a social media platform quickly goes viral thereby earning the ire and wrath of the people in small community. John Denver, the kid in the video is also accused of stealing an ipad, which got blown out of proportion.

What are some of your favorite Indie films about the Philippines? Share them with us by commenting below. Don't forget to share this article to your friends who might be interested.