Positioning art as a response to crisis, the MSEUF Lente Film Festival (MLFF) 2025 announced that 20% of all ticket sales will be donated to communities hardest hit by Super Typhoon Uwan as the festival opens its third year on November 20 and 21.
According to overall director, Edlyn Jhane Tabor, the decision reflects Lente’s identity as a community-built festival that owes its existence to the people who support it.
“Lente exists because of the people, and it is for the people,” Tabor said, adding that the devastation left by Uwan made it clear that the festival had a responsibility not only to showcase films but also to extend concrete help.
Regarding this year’s theme ‘Katutubo,’ Tabor explained that filmmakers were encouraged to begin their work through research and immersion to gain a grounded understanding of indigenous experiences.
Tabor noted that organizers placed strict emphasis on accurate representation and cultural respect, beginning with studying protocols and extending to a selection process that examined each film’s intentions and methods.
“We reviewed every film not just for content but for how it was made,” she said, stressing that portrayals had to avoid bias and ensure that no aspect of indigenous culture was compromised.
The festival opened its call for entries to young filmmakers from Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation (MSEUF) and across Quezon Province through four categories: BIGKIS, DÁNAS, HAMPAS, and LALIM.
BIGKIS features exhibition and non-competition films from Quezon filmmakers, while DÁNAS spotlights narratives centered on the experiences of Quezonians by JHS, SHS, and college Envergans.
HAMPAS focuses on stories that promote culture and local realities created by students and filmmakers in Quezon, while LALIM is dedicated to the works of 3rd and 4th year AB Communication students.
Screenings on November 20 will run from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM across EMRC Main, EMRC A and B, and AEC 105 and 106, featuring Film Sets A to F, which explore themes of community, heritage, and identity.
The second day, November 21, will feature selected works at the AEC Little Theatre, including films by professors, alumni, and BA Communication students that deepen the festival’s focus on the Filipino experience.
Day two will also present its curated sets, including the opening film from Pelikultūra Films and the closing thesis film “Alingawngaw,” written and directed by Jade Ora.
Tickets can be purchased at EMRC Main, EMRC A and B, AEC 105 and 106, or claimed at Gate 2 throughout the festival.
