Get ready for a new set of diverse stories to watch this October as new Filipino movies and series hit the cinema, television, and streaming services!
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The year 2023 has seen plenty of Filipino excellence make waves both locally and internationally. From Maria Clara at Ibarra to A Very Good Girl, local productions have been present, diverse, and well-received—as they should! Filipino filmmakers and stars are raring to tell unique stories and share them with the world, proving that Philippine TV and cinema are well and alive as new genres, stars, and stories make their way to local and international screens. There’s no slowing down, much less stopping, for the art and these artists, and there’s no shortage of people wholeheartedly willing to champion Philippine cinema and production.
If you haven’t had enough of local media, or if you’re looking for something new to love, these seven upcoming and highly-anticipated Filipino movies and series will fill your October with enough drama, horror, comedy, and romance to tide you over.
SPARKLE U (OCTOBER 1)
GMA’s new youth-oriented anthology series features the freshest and up-and-coming young stars of GMA’s talent agency Sparkle Center. Sparkle U, set in the fictional Sparkle University, touches on the problems and issues faced by the youth of today, from social media to school hierarchies. The series’ first installment, #Frenemies, stars Shayne Sava as Bekang, a teenager who, along with other average students, save Yazzi (Roxie Smith) the popular girl at their school. Sparkle U airs October 1 on GMA’s Sunday Grande sa Gabi.
KEYS TO THE HEART (OCTOBER 4)
Starring Zanjoe Marudo, Dolly de Leon, Elijah Canlas, and more, Keys to the Heart is a Philippine adaptation of 2018 Korean dramedy of the same name. Marudo stars as Joma, a washed-up boxer who comes home to his long-lost family and finds out he has a gifted pianist brother, Jayjay, on the autism spectrum. The film will be released on Netflix on October 4.
LINLANG (OCTOBER 5)
Linlang is an upcoming ABS-CBN drama series starring Paulo Avelino, Kim Chiu, JM De Guzman, and Maricel Soriano. The series revolves around dirty lies, secrets, jealousy, and betrayal in relationships. Linlang airs on Prime Video starting October 5.
IN MY MOTHER’S SKIN (OCTOBER 12)
This folk horror film written and directed by Kenneth Dagatan is set in World War II and features a young girl, Tala, who tries to save her troubled family by turning to a suspicious, flesh-eating fairy for help. In My Mother’s Skin premiered at Sundance Film Festival and has since appeared in more than 10 international film festivals. Lauded for its macabre horror and unique story, this film is worth a watch on Prime Video starting October 12.
CAN’T BUY ME LOVE (OCTOBER 13)
DonBelle’s much-awaited first primetime teleserye Can’t Buy Me Love stars Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano as Bingo and Caroline, respectively, who come from very different backgrounds but are brought together when Bingo saves Caroline from a kidnapping attempt. The series airs October 13 on Netflix, October 14 on iWantTFC, and October 16 on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, Jeepney TV, TFC, A2Z, and TV5.
FIVE BREAKUPS AND A ROMANCE (OCTOBER 18)
Superstars Julia Montes and Alden Richards show off chemistry and their well-honed acting chops in their first romantic drama together, Five Break-Ups and A Romance. In the film, Montes plays the driven Justine Royales across Richards’ optimistic Lance Sandoval. Tackling the complexities of relationships in this day and age, Five Breakups and a Romance is coming to cinemas October 18 and promises an emotional rollercoaster of a love story with a large heaping of charm.
ROOKIE (OCTOBER 19)
Hit WLW film Rookie directed by Samantha Lee and starring Pat Tingjuy and Aya Fernandez made waves at Cinemalaya Film Festival 2023 for its depiction of a volleyball-themed love story where queerness is the norm. Rookie tells the story of Ace, a new student in a Catholic school, who’s encouraged to try out for the school’s volleyball team, where she meets Jana, the team captain. They form a friendship and find love in this sweet coming-of-age rom-com.
Continue Reading: 6 Movies From 2023 That You Should Have Seen by Now
