Directors share their favorite films of 2025

CEBU, Philippines — Whether it’s a documentary about the West Philippine Sea, a highly successful anime film that drew even non-fans to the big screen, a young gymnast seeking an abortion, an epic cat-and-mouse chase of a revolutionary family from a past adversary, or a teenage boy pursuing justice for a sexual assault --- these movies are reminders of why directors love cinema as an art form and as a way to engage audiences.

Here are some filmmakers sharing their favorite flicks released this year:

Jun Robles Lana – Director of “Call Me Mother,” “Die Beautiful”

“Raging” (dir. Ryan Machado)

This year’s Cinemalaya entry is set in the mid-1990s in Sibuyan, Romblon. It stars Elijah Canlas as Eli, a young man who was raped by his peers — a crime dismissed as a playful prank by authorities. Struggling to adjust, he witnesses a strange plane crash that vanishes without a trace, sparking him to break his silence.

Lana: “Whether I understood it or not, it’s a movie that stayed with me. I am aware of its divisive reception, but I loved it. I love the way it was shot. I love what the film is trying to say about the monster in all of us. It’s a type of film that makes me question things about life, and it makes me want to explore the kind of cinema we want to tell because it challenges me as a filmmaker and lover of Philippine cinema.”

Kip Oebanda – Director of “Bar Boys: After School” and “Balota”

“Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea” (dir. Baby Ruth Villarama)

This documentary focuses on the plight of Filipino fishermen, as well as the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard, as they assert that the West Philippine Sea is part of the country’s sovereignty amid China’s aggressive claims over the territory under the highly-disputed Nine-Dash Line. Its subject matter led to its removal from Puregold’s CinePanalo Film Festival earlier this year, though it still secured a limited theatrical release nationwide, including in Cebu.

Oebanda: “The documentary made the oppression of our fishermen so real, so accessible. It's the film we need now because we are fighting this battle to keep our lands. The West Philippine Sea is ours, and this film makes the emotional case for that.”

Rodina Singh – Director of “Dreamboi” and Jon Owen Lepiten – Director of “Sunog sa Sugbo”

“Sunshine” (dir. Antoinette Jadaone)

Maris Racal plays the titular character, a teenage gymnast who discovers she is pregnant in the middle of her national tryouts for an upcoming international sports competition. With little-to-no-options available due to abortion being illegal in the Philippines, Sunshine decides to take dangerous abortifacients from the Quiapo market while a young girl (Annika Co) begins following her.

Singh: “Sunshine has proven a lot, not only in terms of the message of the film or what it wants to put out there, but also in its deeper impact. For me, Sunshine is important because it shows how powerful a movie can be in starting conversations and discourse. Wherever that discourse may lead, that is where the true strength of film can be seen as a tool of change.”

Lepiten: “It captured such a controversial topic with rawness and sensitivity, and its structure really shows how meticulously it was crafted to show us the realities that we don’t live but that exist in our society.”

Fatrick Tabada – Director of “Flower Girl” and writer of “Patay Na Si Hesus”

“One Battle After Another” (dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)

After a revolution goes off the rails due to his absentee wife Perfidia (Teyana Taylor) years ago, a former revolutionary fighter in hiding Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his comrades attempt to protect his teenage daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti) as they were being chased by past nemesis Lockjaw (Sean Penn).

Tabada: “I really loved how the film engages with contemporary themes like resistance and systemic oppression without ever feeling preachy. The politics feel organic and only add more weight to an already thrilling story. I was also blown away by the film’s technical craft. The cinematography, editing, and score are all outstanding. I’ve always been a huge fan of Paul Thomas Anderson, and this film just reminded me why.”

Victor Kaiba Villanueva – Director of “Patay Na Si Hesus” and “I Am Not Big Bird”

“Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” (dir. Haruo Sotozaki)

Following the events of the fourth season of the hit anime series, the Demon Slayer Corps prepare for their most dangerous battle yet against Muzan Kibutsuji and the remaining Upper Rank demons in a high-stakes, epic showdown fitting for the big screen.

Villanueva: “Grabe! This felt like a once-in-a-generation moment for the story. After everything the characters have been through, seeing the Infinity Castle arc unfold on the big screen made the final descent feel heavy, intense, and earned. You could feel everyone lining up knowing this was the beginning of the end — the clash with the Upper Moons, the culmination of years of pain, sacrifice, and growth. Feel na feel gyud ang gigil sa tanan. Inside the cinema, people weren’t just watching— they were feeling it together. The cheers during the battles, the silence during the emotional scenes, the laughter and tears shared with strangers...this is why cinemas exist. It’s a rare ‘you had to be there’ experience, where the weight of the story and the collective anticipation of the crowd turn a movie into an unforgettable shared event. You’d think it’s just anime nerds, but it turned out to be a diverse audience.” — (FREEMAN)