From acclaimed filmmakers to queens of the universe, Filipinos showed up and showed out at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
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The 2025 Cannes Film Festival has wrapped and rolled up its red carpet, but it leaves behind iconic moments, epic looks, and anticipation for movies that have yet to reach our screens. What was also highlighted this year was Filipino excellence and impact, both on the red carpet and inside the cinemas. From beauty queens to filmmakers to content creators, Pia Jauncey to Lav Diaz to Abi Marquez, check out the Filipinos who did their big one at Cannes 2025, whether they walked the carpet or showcased their craft, making—as overused the sentiment may be—Filipinos everywhere proud.
CHELSEA MANALO
Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo was a vision in a bright yellow Michael Cinco structured piece, making her Cannes Film Festival debut in a vibrant way.
MARINA SUMMERS
Icons making history! Marina Summers’ Cannes debut makes her the first Filipino drag artist to walk the famed festival carpet. She slayed every look, repping Filipino designers like Mark Bumgarner and Rajo Laurel. She also met Angelina Jolie in another example of how so, so many dreams are coming true for the queen.
ABI MARQUEZ
The film festival also celebrated shortform content, and a Filipino content creator added another accolade to her shelf! At the 2025 World Influencers and Bloggers Awards, Abi Marquez won Food Influencer of the Year, awarded to creators who take creativity in cuisine to the next level.
PIA JAUNCEY
Miss Universe 2015, actress, and model Pia Jauncey is always dripping in jewels, sparkling like the queen she is, and she definitely didn’t disappoint with her appearance at this year’s Cannes. All her outfits were elite!
KYLIE VERSOZA
Model, entrepreneur, and beauty queen Kylie Versoza returned to the Cannes red carpet for the third time this year, attending the premiere of Isabelle Huppert-starrer The Richest Woman in the World. Whether in butter yellow for L’Oreal or in bejeweled black for Campari, Kylie dazzled in every look.
LAV DIAZ
This is a proud moment for Filo Film Maker!🇵🇭 What a great return for Lav Diaz at #CannesFilmFestival! I can’t wait to watch #Magellan 🇵🇭🇪🇸🇵🇹👏#Cannes2025 #LavDiaz #GaelGarciaBernal pic.twitter.com/ast4HcvT5Q
— Jamie (@jamiegurl38) May 20, 2025
Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz’s much-awaited Magalhães (Magellan) had its world premiere at the Cannes Première Selection and received plenty of applause and acclaim. On the Cannes website reads, “Ever faithful to his commitment, Lav Diaz gives a voice to those who have been forgotten by history and confirms his status as an uncompromising filmmaker.”
FILIPINO FILMMAKING EXCELLENCE
REINA BONTA
Reina Bonta attended the festival for the sweetest reason! The football athlete and filmmaker premiered her short film Maybe It’s Just The Rain at the Cannes Marché du Film. The short documentary film about sports, family, and personal journeys is a “love letter” to her lola and the Philippine national football team.
THE FILMMAKERS BEHIND AGAPITO
Speaking of Filipino filmmaking excellence, Agapito co-directors Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Danelle Romero and producer Kristine de Leon, and their entire Pinoy cast and crew emerged with a W as the short film became one of the 11 finalists in the Official Short Film section of the festival.
ARVIN BELARMINO, KYLA DANELLE ROMERO, KRISTINE DE LEON, ALI
Besides their Agapito win, Arvin Belarmino, Kyle Danelle Romero, and Kristine de Leon also earned a win shared with Bangladeshi filmmakers including director Adnan Al Rajeev for film Ali. The short film won the Special Mention Award in the Short Film Category.
DEMIE DANGLA
Filmmaker Demie Dangla also made her way to Cannes for the first time, screening her short film Magnetic Letters at the Marché du Film. The documentary short told stories about overseas Filipino workers of the late 1980s to 1990s and the impact of labor migration on families back in the Philippines.
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