I love film festivals because it allows me and other Filipinos to see how amazing the local film industry is. But the thing is, they’re not widely accessible. Some film festivals only screen in one place. And for someone who lives in the south, supporting a film festival and watching all the entries is something to be planned and strategized in advance.

Thankfully, the Pista ng Pelikulang Pinoy was launched. It’s a film festival hosted by the progressive Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), where almost 800 theaters across the Philippines will be playing 12 selected films from August 16 to 22. For its inaugural run, the council selected an intriguing lineup that has something for everyone.

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News about TV shows has been sad lately because of cancellations. It’s hard not to feel down when your favorite shows are put on the chopping block, but I’d rather they end on a high rather than prolong their agony. Besides, they will also be there for rewatching. Thankfully, most of the shows I like have been renewed for new seasons, and I’m casually waiting for them while I enjoy recent drops like the fifth season of House of Cards and old shows like The Twilight Zone and Batman: The Animated Series.

Three of Warner TV‘s shows have been renewed, and I’m excited to catch up on them. I hope it won’t take too long before they release new episodes!

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I’m so happy with the current state of Philippine cinema. More producers, executives, and viewers are becoming more adventurous with the types of local films being screened in theaters. The last Metro Manila Film Festival was a treasure trove of thought-provoking movies across all genres, proving that a good Filipino movie doesn’t just need to be poverty porn. At the same time, I’m happy that more and more classic films are being restored.

Last weekend, I spent a great Saturday watching an outdoor screening of classic Filipino films at Circuit Makati. It was held from Friday to Sunday, but I was there for one evening, watching the restored version of Sarah, ang Munting Prinsesa and Magic Temple.

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For some weird reason, this year’s summer was unreasonably hot. I sweat while doing the most stationary of activities, like eating lunch or making a cup of tea. Because of this, I stayed indoors as much as possible, only going out when it was absolutely necessary. But when Cartoon Network invites you to a summer party, you know you have to go.

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Much has been said about Jerrold Tarog’s Bliss, which originally received an X rating from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). According to the agency, the film was given the rating because of explicit nudity. As a result, the film was deemed unfit for public exhibition. Okay, there was a lot of nudity, but I’m happy to report that it doesn’t overshadow the core of the film: a thought-provoking and well-crafted story on the entertainment industry and its chilling effect on artists.

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The theme of self-love has become popular in the past decade, but Disney has been instilling the values of confidence and individuality as early as 1941, when it released Dumbo. This animated feature tells the story of a young elephant bullied and exploited for his large ears.

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Watching an animated film or TV show as a child is a different experience from when you watch it as an adult. Sexual innuendos aside, sometimes scenes in films and shows geared towards children can be creepy, and can only be truly appreciated when you’re grown up. Case in point, the Disney classic Pinocchio. When I watched this as a kid, I took it as an entertaining yet cautionary tale about a marionette who wants to become a real boy. As an adult, the story remains the same, but it’s a lot darker than I originally thought.

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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is an important film in the Disney canon. Not only is the lead character Snow White a Disney Princess, she is the first Disney Princess, with her film seeing the light of day in 1937. Walt Disney had to fight to get this movie made, but it paid off, with its earnings going to build a studio in Burbank, which eventually became the Walt Disney Studios that exists to this day.

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