The future of Filipinas in film has never looked brighter, thanks to masterful storyteller Antoinette Jadaone and her new creative studio, Ilaya Ilaya.
Photo: Maris Racal, Antoinette Jadaone, Angelica Panganiban/Instagram
For years, Jadaone has earned her stripes as an award-winning director, writer, and visionary through films that’ve made a lasting impact on Filipinos across all generations. From the polarizing dynamics of Fangirl (2020) to the gripping social commentary of Sunshine (2025), she has stopped at nothing to put Filipinas at the heart of her craft and uplift their truths at all costs.
We’ve all witnessed Jadaone’s unparalleled passion for the arts shine through these titles and their headstrong female leads. Now, she’s taking their perspectives and narratives to the next level with Ilaya Ilaya, her newly launched film studio by and for Filipinas.
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Built on “genuine love for Filipino stories,” the Ilaya Ilaya team joined forces with the country’s notable filmmakers last month to rekindle our love for local cinema—a goal Jadaone has been striving to fulfill herself. With extensive conversations about homegrown classics and upcoming releases constantly making waves online, there couldn’t have been a better time to put Ilaya Ilaya’s plans and aspirations into motion. And with Jadaone at the studio’s helm, we reckon it’ll only be a matter of time before they enjoy the fruits of their labor in full bloom.
Ilaya Ilaya is in great hands with Angelica Panganiban, Maris Racal, Eugene Domingo, Kaila Estrada, and many more of our favorite Filipina visionaries headlining its forthcoming titles. Here’s what each one has in store for us:
Sunshine: The Immersive Stage Adaptation
Maris Racal is channeling her inner star athlete again this year as she brings back her titular role in Sunshine for the film’s immersive stage adaptation. Get ready to revisit the soul-bearing tale of agency, autonomy, freedom, and empowerment live, with additional reprises from Elijah Canlas, Xyriel Manabat, and more.
Birdsong
Ilaya Ilaya’s first found-footage horror film is already gearing up to be the talk of the town—even in Thailand! Pam Miras’s Birdsong follows an ornithologist (Kaila Estrada) who, upon confronting her partner’s disappearance from a decade ago, sets out to find a mythical bird that haunts a remote mountain. Ahead of its imminent nationwide premiere, the movie made a lasting impression at this year’s Thailand Content Market and Bangkok International Content Market under the Asian Project Pitching Program.
Boldstar
Angelica Panganiban is ready for her close-up, and this time, she won’t let anything (or anyone) get in her way. In Jadaone’s Boldstar, a former sexy star comes across a leaked sex tape that presents a second chance at stardom. But she soon clashes with her younger self, who’s equally hungry for the spotlight and would go to great lengths to own it.
Crème de la Crème
After The Loved One and Midnight Girls, director Irene Villamor is taking another leap of faith with Crème de la Crème, a coming-of-age thriller that gives the true-crime genre an old-school twist. The film explores the high-profile “poisoning” incident at Philippine Science High School in 2006, which involved two students who sabotaged their classmate’s graduation by lacing her water with mercury nitrate.
Chandra Catacutan and the Curse of the Fuchsia Moon
This is Eugene Domingo’s world, and we’re all simply living in it. It was an honor watching her shine on the big stage as the star of Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 4: Oh Sh*t! It’s Live sa Cheter! Now, she’s set to headline Tim Rone Villanueva’s upcoming supernatural comedy, which follows a manananggal mother who reunites with her children, led by eldest daughter Chandra, after a gruelling stroke that separates her from her lower half.
An Untitled Rom-com Series
Who doesn’t love a swoon-worthy series that’ll fuel our delulu fantasies? Ilaya Ilaya is serving up loads of kilig feels with an untitled Netflix original by Jadaone that has us all intrigued. We don’t know what the show is about or who’ll star in it, but we can’t wait to add it to our watch lists once it’s out.
ALSO READ: Maris Racal’s Birthday Wish Is ‘DPWH’—Here’s What She Means
Are you excited for Ilaya Ilaya’s upcoming projects? Sound off and share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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