Cine Nationale, the annual flagship film event of NU Fairview’s AB Communication program, makes its grand return this October with a bigger stage for young storytellers and a month-long lineup that celebrates the art and power of filmmaking.
Proudly carrying its new tagline “Ating Kwento, Ating Kultura,” Cine Nationale remains committed to showcasing the stories that reflect Filipino identity and experience. This year’s theme, “Mga Anino sa Silahis,” challenges student filmmakers to explore shadows, transitions, and the light that emerges from life’s most defining moments and society’s most prevalent issues.
The celebration begins with the Cine Nationale Grand Media Launch on October 1, 2025 at the SM Fairview Atrium. This exciting kickoff event will gather students, faculty, and film lovers, as well as celebrities and the media, to officially open this year’s festivities and spotlight NU Fairview’s new generation of storytellers.
The NU Fairview community and film enthusiasts can then catch the Cine Nationale Cinema Screening on October 7-8, 2025 at SM Fairview Cinema 4, featuring seven original short films produced by sophomore AB Communication students:
Ang Sinag ni Ilaya (Lenscape Collectives)
Seasoned Philippine cinema actors Nadia Montenegro and Ramon “Monching” Gutierrez return to the big screen in this short film about Ilaya — a young woman searching for light after the painful memory of losing her father, Sinag. The project is produced by Montenegro’s daughter, Ayisha Ameerah Asistio, a sophomore student at NU Fairview.
Bangkang Papel (Muni-muni Productions)
Bangkang Papel is a story of love, friendship, and the bittersweet journey toward acceptance and letting go. The first ever Cine Nationale Film to break the regional language barriers, it follows Sol and Isay as they navigate the highs and lows of life as young free-spirited friends — each, in their own poetic way, searching for light through the stories and words that sail with time, carried by paper boats.
Indak ng Silweta (Tricolor Productions)
This short film marks the return of actor Grace Schuke, whose performance was recognized in the first Cine Nationale last year. At its heart of this short film is Kala’s story — a reminder that life’s rhythm isn’t always what we imagined. Her journey to follow her own heartbeat shows us that life always gives us reasons to move with grace and remain grateful.
Lukas (Seesaw Productions)
A stigma, a societal problem, a misunderstood sexual reality — these are the painful truths surrounding the rise of HIV cases in the Philippines and across the globe. At the center of this story is Lukas, a young man in the prime of his life, caught between the need to protect himself and the fear of facing society’s and his family’s judgment after testing positive for the virus.
Sapantaha (Noctra Fims)
To be seen. And then to be loved — in that order. Sapantaha tells the story of a ghost we all fear: losing ourselves in the eyes of the ones we love, and dying a little each day for the lack of reasons to feel we truly exist.
Serenata (Light Bulb Pictures)
Leah’s act of total surrender in love is her way of embracing a season so different from how she once knew it. Serenata reminds us that love can outshine even the shadows of a painful past — no matter where the ending leads or what reality reveals.
Tahimik ang Ama Namin (Haraya Films)
Every family has a secret. For some, it’s as light as the morning sun. For others, it’s as dark as the dungeons where monsters hide. Silence can keep fear at bay, but it can never erase the chilling truth — we are only as good as the last secret we keep.
Each film offers a unique perspective, interpreting this year’s theme in ways that challenge, move, and inspire audiences.
The month-long celebration culminates with the prestigious Cine Nationale 2025 Gabi ng Parangal on October 31, 2025, a night dedicated to honoring outstanding student work in direction, writing, cinematography, and performance — and celebrating the passion and dedication behind every story told.
Cine Nationale and NU Fairview AB Communication Program continue to champion cinema as a tool for communication, culture, and change by giving students a platform to tell meaningful stories that inspire conversation and connection – a proof of “Education that Works”. This October, audiences are invited to join the movement, embrace “Ating Kwento, Ating Kultura,” and witness how today’s young filmmakers bring “Mga Anino sa Silahis” to life.
