In its 4th edition, the Cinema Primera Regional Film Festival continued amplifying underrepresented voices and communities in CALABARZON, celebrating the passion of young storytellers and filmmakers from April 21–23, 2025 at the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA – Molino Campus.
Organized by the Multimedia Arts Society from the College of Arts and Sciences since 2018, and now joined by the Communication Arts Society of the same department, Cinema Primera has remained true to its roots. By successfully inviting various universities across CALABARZON, the festival has become an annual celebration of talent and of the local film industry.
Cinema Primera began with a vision: to give students a platform to tell their stories in a film scene long dominated by Metro Manila. The goal was to cultivate an environment dedicated to regions outside the capital—a stage where young creators could shine. Over time, it expanded to embrace a wider artistic community, welcoming tattoo artists, illustrators, craft makers, and local business owners to enrich the festival’s creative space.
With 15–16 film entries per day, the screenings were held in Room 500 of the Main Building, home to the university’s Multimedia Arts Studio. For three days, the space buzzed with energy as students from various schools came together, excited to witness storytelling fueled by raw passion.
Paul Canonizado, president of the Multimedia Arts Society and one of the festival directors, shared:
“We were looking forward to growth, learnings, and more opportunities for student filmmakers and enthusiasts here in the south—CALABARZON.”
Janmax Biares, former tech team member turned overall coordinator, reflected:
“What I looked forward to the most was seeing everything from a wider perspective… shaping the vibe of Cinema Primera 2025 and making it an experience people would really remember. This is not just a film festival, it’s a spotlight for all aspiring film students.”
This year, Cinema Primera partnered with WhenInManila.com, INQpop!, Cebu News Daily, INQUIRER.net, Be An Inquirer, SINEGANG.ph, and WazzupPilipinas.com, widening its reach and keeping the spotlight on student filmmakers across the region.
Cinema Primera Regional Film Festival is ready for takeoff—as young storytellers shoot for the stars with their creative visions and voices.
47 FILM ENTRIES. 18 UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES. 5 PROVINCES. 1 REGION.
THE CINEMA PRIMERA REGIONAL FILM FESTIVAL HAS CONCLUDED!
