Check Out These 7 New Local Titles Hitting Screens This October

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Settle in for a month of local excellence.

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!

Related: Can’t Buy Me Love’s Full Trailer Got Us Even More Excited for DonBelle’s First Teleserye

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

How You Can Watch Award-Winning Filipino Films For As Low As ₱50 This September

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For the love of Filipino films.

Watch any of Sine Singkwenta’s showings of award-winning films for only ₱50 this September, or watch beloved Filipino comedy films for free with Sine Halakhak!

Related: What the Success of Rookie Means for Samantha Lee and Pat Tingjuy

This September, celebrate Philippine Film Industry Month and Philippine Creative Industries Month by partaking in Sine Singkwenta and Sine Halakhak, the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ grand showcase of Asian and Filipino film excellence. And the best part is that you don’t need to break the bank to do so.

Watch six films from the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan for only ₱50 from September 11 to 17 at cinemas in SM Southmall, TriNoma, and Robinsons Galleria. Or, watch comedies for free at Cinematheque Centres nationwide!

A STACKED LINEUP

Sine Singkwenta features 6 acclaimed films spanning different genres. Filipino crime thriller films Honor Thy Father (2015) and On the Job (2013), and independent dramas Respeto (2017) and John Denver Trending (2019) front the lineup, along with South Korean blockbuster Train to Busan (2016) and Japanese animated fantasy romance Your Name/Kimi No Na Wa (2016).

These lauded films have everything, from heart-racing action to heartbreaking emotion.

Honor Thy Father won five awards at the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival in 2015, On the Job won six FAMAS awards at the 62nd Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards in 2014, Respeto won five awards at the 13th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival in 2017, and John Denver Trending won all of its six nominations at the 15th Cinemalaya Film Festival in 2019. Clearly, it’s worth it to experience these exemplars of Filipino filmmaking on the big screen. And at only ₱50? It’s a steal.

CELEBRATING LOCAL CINEMA

As digital and streaming rose in popularity over the pandemic, the Sine Singkwenta Initiative is a celebration of local cinema and the communities formed within theaters. It’s FDCP’s initiative to “encourage Filipino viewers to go back to the cinemas and enjoy once more the communal experience of watching a film on the silver screen, along with other moviegoer[s].”

There truly is no other experience like watching a movie in a theater with other people. The ambiance, the social aspect of it, the science and artistry behind it, and of course the snacks are just a few reasons why cinemas are are such a benchmark of culture.

BUT WAIT…THERE’S MORE!

Sine Singkwenta isn’t the only initiative by that makes cinema accessible to Filipinos this month! In line with the Philippine Film Industry Month’s theme of “Tuloy Pa Rin ang Tawanan,” celebrating the cinema of comedy, the FDCP launched Sine Halakhak, where beloved Pinoy comedy films are screened for free at Cinematheque Centres nationwide from September 6 to 28. From Praybeyt Benjamin (2011) to Yaya and Angelina: The Spoiled Brat Movie (2009), these comedy films are guaranteed to give you hours of fun.

Given that many local films are unavailable online or not as easily accessible as, say, international productions, these initiatives and endeavor to promote local movies and cinema and foster greater appreciation for the rich art and filmmaking culture we have as Filipinos.

So what are you waiting for? Head on over to SM Southmall, TriNoma, Robinsons Galleria, or a Cinematheque Centre near you and settle in—you’re in for a treat.

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