Tokyo Nights
Kara (mid-20s, a young Filipina) and Max (early 30s, a successful civil engineer) embark on a honeymoon trip to Tokyo, Japan, looking forward to a romantic getaway. However, their lives take an unexpected turn when they bump into Kenji (mid-20s), Kara's ex-boyfriend from Manila. Kenji, who was once Marvin, changed his name after being adopted by his Japanese stepfather and now works as a "Man For Hire" in Tokyo. Throughout the film, the characters reflect on love—both emotional and physical—in documentary-style interviews. They discuss their thoughts on relationships, past loves, and the ideals of perfect love. Kara speaks about the tension between passion and stability, Max talks about the complexity of loving someone who might not fully share your emotional or physical desires, Kenji wrestles with his past and the confusion of intimacy through his work, and Tanya confronts the nature of commitment and trust.
The film plays with the idea of love as a spectrum, questioning the idea of monogamy, fidelity, and the boundaries of emotional connection. Kara and Max’s honeymoon becomes a journey of self-discovery, with both learning more about each other, their relationship, and their true desires. The tension between love and lust forces each character to challenge their assumptions about what it means to love someone.
Director Joey Cruz Manalang
Pierre West
One day Pierre's TV breaks down, what at first seems like another setback will soon take him down a new road. Pierre West is a drama about hope and darkness, filmed over 17 years.
Through Pierre’s isolated life and his unjust struggle with trauma, the film explores emotions that arise when the light at the end of the tunnel seems so very far away
A character-driven portrayal balancing hardships and inner demons with humor and longing.
In an existence without compassion – how long can Pierre endure?
Directed by Henrik Larsson, Jakob Arevärn
