Manila International Film Festival spotlights Filpino and FilAm cinema & talent, Sept. 3-6

Mark your calendars, film lovers. The Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) returns to Los Angeles Sept. 3-6, 2026 — kicking off with an exclusive advance screening of DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island three full weeks before its worldwide release on September 25.

In a major coup, MIFF audiences get an exclusive advance screening of DreamWorks Animation’s highly anticipated animated feature, Forgotten Island on Sept. 4. This special event happens three full weeks before the movie hits general theaters on Sept. 25.

Directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the animated feature is deeply rooted in Philippine folklore. It follows two childhood friends trapped on a magical island that steals memories. 

Even better? The voice cast features a powerhouse line-up of FilAm talent including H.E.R. (aka Gabby Sarmiento Wilson), Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Manny Jacinto, Jo Koy and the legendary Lea Salonga.

The 6 p.m. screening at the TCL Chinese Theater will be followed by a short Q&A with the films' directors and stars.

'Forgotten Island' the story of two Filipino American friends will screen at the 2026 MIFF.

Films to watch out for

Besides Forgotten Island, this year’s festival is packed with fresh cinema. Attendees will witness a total of 14 film debuts, including highly anticipated titles to watch for:

• Quezon: The Hollywood premiere of Jerrold Tarog’s sweeping historical drama.

• Manila's Finest: A gripping thriller by Raymond Red making its Los Angeles premiere.

• The Road to Sydney: Benito Bautista's latest work making its LA debut.

The festival concludes with a star-studded Closing Night Awards Gala at The Beverly Hilton. The highlight of the evening will be honoring global icon Lea Salonga. She will receive the inaugural MIFF Icon Award for her legendary contributions to the arts and her fierce representation of Filipino talent worldwide.

Manila in Los Angeles?

Why Los Angeles? Simple. LA is the entertainment capital of the world. It is also home to one of the largest Filipino American communities in the United States. This festival bridges the gap. It places Filipino stories right on the global stage.

Hosting MIFF in L.A. puts Filipino stories directly in the epicenter of the global film industry. For decades, Filipino and Filipino American artists have contributed immensely to cinema, yet culturally authentic narratives remain underrepresented in mainstream Hollywood.

Festival producers believe showcasing FilAm and Philippine talent on this scale does more than fill seat numbers—it builds genuine equity behind the camera, validates nuance in representation, and proves that localized, culturally specific stories possess universal appeal.

How to Score Tickets: Screenings and filmmaker Q&As will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Full festival passes and single-session tickets are available now on the official Manila International Film Festival Website.

The 2026 Manila International Film Festival lineup features an interesting mix of world premieres, award-winning documentaries, and star-studded features.

Every screening listed below takes place at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. You can book individual tickets for these specific blocks on the MIFF Eventbrite Page.

Featured Films & Screening Time:

Thursday, September 3

• Manila's Finest (5:30 p.m.): This intense action thriller directed by Raymond Red makes its Los Angeles Premiere. Followed by a 15-minute filmmaker Q&A
• FilAm Creative Community Shorts (9:00 p.m.): A dedicated block showcasing short films from talented Filipino American creators.

Friday, September 4

• Lea Salonga Retrospective (1:00 p.m.): A celebration of the Broadway legend featuring screenings of Sana Maulit Muli and The Vale – Origins.

• Forgotten Island ( 6 p.m.) Dreamworks' animated feature about two Filipino American friends stuck in a magical world drawn from Philippine myths and folklore. Featuring lead voices by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano.

• Veterano (9:00 p.m.): A highly anticipated Hollywood Premiere directed by Patrick Epino. It screens as part of a double feature block.

• Eddie Romero Remastered: A Century of Filipino Cinema (9:00 p.m.): The World Premiere of a documentary celebrating a legend of Philippine cinema. Screens right alongside Veterano.

Saturday, September 5

• No Room For Love (10:30 a.m.): A romantic Hollywood Premiere directed by Randal and Maria Luna Kamradt.

• The Road to Sydney (11:00 a.m.): The Los Angeles Premiere of a captivating drama directed by Benito Bautista.

• 58th (2:00 p.m.): The North American Premiere of Carl Joseph Papa's incredibly powerful, award-winning animated documentary focused on the Maguindanao massacre.

• Pinay / Bebot / Along Comes Larry (2:30 p.m.): A powerhouse triple-feature block. It includes the World Premiere of Pinay, the L.A. Premiere of Bebot: Generation One (featuring The Black Eyed Peas), and the Hollywood Premiere of Along Comes Larry: The Larry Ramos Story.

• Quezon (4:30 p.m.): The Hollywood Premiere of director Jerrold Tarog's major historical drama starring Jericho Rosales.

• Bench/ Body of Work (5:00 p.m.): A highly stylized World Premiere film.

Lea Salonga

• East of Western (7:45 p.m.) & Kappa-Tiran (8:30 p.m.): Two back-to-back major World Premieres closing out Saturday night's indie screenings.

Sunday, September 6

• 2026 MIFF Awards Gala will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Beverly Hilton includes a special tribute to Broadway and Disney star Lea Salonga. Tickets are still available.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please share.

'Forgotten Island': Upcoming animated epic Is a love letter to Filipino culture and music

"Forgotten Island" is premiering Sept. 25 by Universal Studios.

Anticipation is reaching a fever pitch for DreamWorks’ upcoming animated epic Forgotten Island, especially after early preview audiences—including a rapturous crowd at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival—met the film with a roaring five-minute standing ovation.

The buzz isn't just about the breathtaking animation or emotional storytelling; it’s about a historic moment for Filipino representation on the global screen.

         FYI: Click here to view trailer of 'Forgotten Island''

Produced by DreamWorks Animation, the movie serves as a high-profile celebration of Filipino identity, values, and precolonial history. For the first time on this scale, a major Hollywood studio feature film is putting the sights, folklore, and unmistakably vibrant sounds of the Philippines right at center stage.

“What's been thrilling for us all along is giving a voice to Filipino culture and Filipino stories, and seeing how that has translated into this freshness in the music... Many amazingly talented Filipino artists have come together to create this unified...” says Joel Crawford, who along with FilAm Januel Mercado.

A historic tapestry of sound

What sets Forgotten Island apart is its intentional, genre-spanning soundtrack engineered by composer Nathan Matthew David and Universal Pictures’ SVP of Film Music Angela Leus. The music acts as a cultural bridge: when the story begins in the human realm, the score hums with nostalgic '80s pop, '90s analog synths, and classic hip-hop.

With both H.E.R., left, and Liza Soberano born in the Bay Area, the voices
for the 'best friends" in Forgotten Island.

The moment the main characters step through a mystical portal into the world of Nakali, the musical palette undergoes a radical evolution. The soundtrack bursts open with deep cultural heritage, weaving together:

• Indigenous Tribal Instruments & Chanters: Rich, multi-layered rhythm arrangements that ground the fantasy world in real ancestral heritage.

• Traditional Gandingan: A southern Philippine talking gong utilized specifically for mythical character moments.

• The Las Piñas Bamboo Pipe Organ & Tagalog Choir: Sacred, historic sonic textures rarely heard in mainstream Western filmmaking.

Universal Pictures' film music team notes that the track captures an unforced, natural chemistry. The vocal delivery mirrors the growth of two strong Filipinas, serving as the musical heart of the film's transition into the magical world of adventure.

An all-star Filipino & FilAm musical lineup

R&B artist and Grammy winner H.E.R., aka Vallejo-born Gabby Sarmiento, was not asked to create a song for the film. However, it happened organically. After viewing  the feature onscreen, she was inspired to write "BRB" which stands out for seamlessly integrating Tagalog lyrics into modern pop structures. This design choice is meant to ground the upbeat track in authentic Filipino language and culture.

The song delivers a rich, dual-vocal dynamic featuring both H.E.R. and co-star Liza Soberano, who was born in Santa Clara, California. 

The P-pop group BINI made performed "Parallel World" part of Forgotten Island's soundrack
 at the recent ComicCon in San Diego.

To execute this ambitious sonic vision, the filmmakers assembled an unprecedented lineup of global Filipino powerhouses, delivering original tracks and reimagined anthems:

• H.E.R. & Liza Soberano: The lead voice actors team up on the title track "BRB," an original contemporary pop anthem written by Oscar and Grammy winner H.E.R. The track fuses Tagalog lyricism with upbeat pop energy to mirror the central bond between lead characters Jo and Raissa.

• BINI: The "Nation's Girl Group" brings their signature energy with "A Parallel World," a synth-pop original track produced alongside Shawn Wasabi and David.

• SB19: The undisputed kings of P-pop bring high-octane modern appeal to a classic, dropping a cover of Francis Magalona’s iconic nationalist hip-hop track "Mga Kababayan."

• Sophia Laforteza: The Filipina star from global girl group KATSEYE lends powerhouse vocals to a completely reimagined cover of INXS’s "Never Tear Us Apart."

• Lea Salonga: The Broadway legend provides haunting vocal textures across the score and chant work during key transformation scenes.

• Ruby Ibarra & Carl Angelo: Heavyweight FilAm hip-hop talent Ruby Ibarra joins Carl Angelo to deliver "Salbahae Ako," a fiery original track showcasing Pinoy rap at its finest.

The music reinforces the cultural significance of Forgotten Island. The movie it is the first major Hollywood-backed animated feature film deeply rooted in Philippine culture and folklore. 

The cast of Forgotten Island includes some prominent Filipino and FilAm talent, including H.E.R. as Jo, Liza Soberano as Raissa, alongside Lea Salonga, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, and Jo Koy.

By centering authentic language, native instrumentation, and an undeniable roster of talent, Forgotten Island is shaping up to be more than just a box-office event—it’s a major cultural celebration for the global Pinoy community.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.