Far Eastern University Department of Communication student filmmakers continue to make waves in Philippine independent cinema as short films “Kahel” and “Lily” were named official selections for the FAMAS Short Film Festival 2026.
Organized by the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences in partnership with REMS Entertainment, led by festival director Gabby Ramos and FAMAS president Francia Conrado, the festival selected the films from hundreds of submissions across the country. The event now awaits the Nomination Night on October 9, followed by the Awards Night on November 11.
Directed by Garnet Morilla Llames, BA Communication Batch 2026, under the Kuwerdas production team, “Kahel” is a musical short centered on Elias (Justin Abalos), a 9-to-5 worker who leaves his job to pursue music in the city. When a sudden jeepney breakdown leaves him stranded with his longtime musical hero (Brylle Parzuelo), his journey hits a turning point.
“Kahel” won Best Film, Best Direction, Best Editing, and Best Music/Score in the All Tamaraws Division at Sinepiyu XVIII. It was also a finalist in the Narrative Category of the 38th CCP Gawad Alternatibo and recently headlined the CCP Lakbay Sine program at the 6th Hundred Islands Film Festival in Alaminos, Pangasinan.
We in Kuwerdas gave birth to ‘Kahel’… As filmmakers, we can only set it free and hope it reaches fellow dreamers – those who are tired, losing hope, and need a little fire to dream again, Llames shared.
“Kahel” was made by Llames together with key student members, namely producer Joharra Embalzado, line producer Rafael Beltran, cinematographer/editor Regine Mae Manuel, screenwriter/musical director Justin Niccolo Mariano, co-writer/script continuity supervisor Sai Salazar, 2nd AD Rayanne Kabigting, production designer Irish Jundaye Macatangay, location manager/camera operator Ritch Matias, and sound recordist/boom operator Franz Juanillo.
On the other hand, “Lily” follows John (Karl Medina), a mysterious photographer driving through Manila, who intersects with Lily (Joyce Macalia), a shrewd sex worker.
Directed by Luke Salazar, BA Communication Batch 2025, under The Yellow Bus Pictures, the short film took home Best Narrative Film, Best Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Editing, and Best Performance by a Male Actor for Medina at Sinepiyu, on top of winning Best Film at the Tamaraw Media Awards.
“It started as a poem molded in the style of Charles Bukowski, exposing the weaknesses and shortcomings of a man,” Salazar shared.
It then evolved into a screenplay shaped by conversations surrounding the realities of sex work in the Philippines.
The film also bagged Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Musical Score at the Prime Series SineMulat Tres (Interschool Category), organized by the Multimedia Arts Circle at the University of Batangas-Lipa Campus, and Best Cinematography at Adamson University’s Realifilm, an annual intercollegiate and senior high school filmmaking competition and festival hosted by Silip@Lente-AdU film and photography organization.
“Lily” was brought to life by Salazar together with a dedicated student crew, including producer Krizha Helena Vebora, line producer Janrez Margarette San Jose, production manager Justine Alexandra Rael, location manager/casting director Patricia Mae Aquilizan, 1st AD Migo Morales, 2nd AD Vien Simbre, and script continuity supervisor/talent coordinator Julianne Cruz.
The visual and technical team included director of photography Randell John Bautista, camera operators Jan Dendiego and Gwyneth Mendoza, camera assistants Reigne Enriquez and Ron Barlan, lighting director Drey Coros, gaffers Ej Muñoz and Barlan, sound recordist CJ Bravo, logger/clapper Jayson Briboneria, production designer Maxine Mendoza, art director/intimacy coordinator Mar-ian Ejandra, set dressers Miguel Dabu and Chloe Cantonjos, and wardrobe head/hair and makeup artist Maxene David with assistant Venn Rod.
The crew was rounded out by master editor, colorist, and marketing video editor Jan Dendiego, sound designer/musical scorer Paolo Miguel Saclayan, production assistants Aice Dela Paz, Sebastian Quilaton, Kevin Mar Guerrero, Harry Corpuz, and Kimberly Peñaranda, marketing creatives Vebora and Rael, behind-the-scenes photographers Jetro Benitez and Tep Rodriguez, and creative consultants/FEU faculty members Seymour Sanchez, Gio Potes, and Jet Leyco.
Both “Kahel” and “Lily” were final projects under Sanchez’s Directing and Film Production class.
