If you want to expose yourself to thought-provoking stories from all over the world this year, without the added stress of booking flights, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has just the event you need.
Photo: NEON/YouTube
From January 28 to February 3, 2026, the FDCP will bring globally renowned movies to Philippine cinemas as part of its annual World Cinema film festival. For only ₱250 per title (with special discounts at select theaters), cinephiles can secure front-row tickets to a lineup of compelling narratives that reflect on various harsh realities and impact our everyday experiences.
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In 2025, the FDCP’s World Cinema roster featured seven remarkable movies that took viewers on a vast trip across the continents. Among these standout films was Gints Zilbalodis’s Flow, which won Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards (Oscars).
This year, the FDCP’s highly anticipated international film screenings are back with an all-new, critically acclaimed selection. You can attend World Cinema screenings at the following movie houses nationwide:
SM Cinema
- SM Cinema Mall of Asia
- SM Cinema Megamall
- SM Cinema North Edsa
- SM Southmall
- SM Seaside City Cebu
- SM Davao
Robinsons Movieworld
- Robinsons Manila
- Robinsons Galleria Ortigas
Ayala Malls Cinemas
- Ayala Malls TriNoma
- Ayala Malls Manila Bay
Cinema 2000
- Gateway Cineplex 18
- Red Carpet Cinema, Shangri-La Plaza
- Power Plant Cinema
- Cinema ‘76 Film Society
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Extensive showcases of cultural diversity, social commentary, and global voices await you at this year’s World Cinema film festival by the FDCP. From heartfelt dramas to emotionally charged thrillers, here are the four diverse entries you can watch at your local theater for the next seven days:
It Was Just an Accident (2025)
Vengeance and morality are at the heart of this bleak yet suspenseful thriller by Iranian “master filmmaker” Jafar Panahi. It Was Just an Accident follows Vahid, a mechanic who crosses paths with a man whom he assumes to be his former tormentor, Eghbal. The two get trapped in a web of complex truths that blur the lines between their real and perceived identities. Panahi’s powerful film won the prestigious Palm d’Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. It has also received multiple nominations at last year’s Golden Globes and this year’s Oscars.
Sentimental Value (2025)
In this Oscar-nominated Norwegian drama by Joachim Trier, sisters Nora and Agnes grapple with the uncertainty, conflict, and inevitable awkwardness of reconnecting with their estranged father, Gustav, a director past his prime. More complications in their relationship arise when he offers Nora a role in his supposed comeback film, which he eventually hands over to an up-and-coming American actress instead. Sentimental Value offers a poignant perspective on broken families and Hollywood dreams, featuring captivating performances by Stellan Skarsgård, Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning.
Sound of Falling (2025)
Sound of Falling paints a vivid picture of womanhood, authority, and reclamation in the face of deep-seated trauma. This spine-chilling German drama by Mascha Schilinski revolves around four young women united by a history of harsh truths and encounters that haunt them and their loved ones. Cinema-goers are in for a hypnotic, intense, and riveting experience that also gives us a glimpse into everyday life in rural Germany.
Resurrection (2025)
Bi Gan’s Resurrection is a Chinese science fiction spectacle that explores multi-layered themes of humanity, longevity, wellness, and life expectancy. In a dystopian world where people are no longer capable of dreaming, we meet Miss Shu, who still has control over her visions and innermost thoughts. She embarks on an introspective journey, crossing paths with mysterious entities and apparitions who help her unravel her past little by little.
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Which local and international films are you looking forward to watching this year? Share your picks with us in the comments below!
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