BAKUNAWA FEST is the first fantastic and genre film festival in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia, currently presented by E Unlimited, Sentro Rizal, UP Film Institute, and Negros Museum. It is driven entirely by volunteer filmmakers and artists. The festival takes its name from the Bakunawa, a mythical creature in Philippine folklore known for devouring moons. As a genre-bending celebration, we reclaim the myth, turning the Bakunawa into a symbol of the creative monsters that live inside us.
Rather than following a strict annual calendar, Bakunawa Fest unfolds in “seasons,” shaped as much by our deep commitment as by the reality of our pockets after hard-earned work. Since the pandemic lockdowns, the festival embraced a hybrid form. With little press coverage and minimal recognition from mainstream media, we remain proud to be among the very first film festivals in the world to stage a full edition during the first year of the pandemic.
During its first three years in Bacolod City, Bakunawa Fest (then called Bakunawa Young Cinema) opened with a film camp, a series of workshops designed for first-time young filmmakers. These workshops culminated in a competition where participants premiered their very first genre films, competing for our handmade Bakunawa toy trophy. By the third edition, the festival began welcoming films beyond the camp, celebrating each year’s wave of genre cinema through both online and in-person screenings, with competitive and curated sections. From the seventh edition onward, Bakunawa Fest closed its season with a broadcast on Primetime Philippine Cable TV, capped by a pre-recorded Awards Show aired on SolarFlix TV, bringing our films, artists, and stories to millions of Filipino households.
Bakunawa was founded on a simple principle: new visions, new voices. That principle continues to guide us. We champion unknown yet promising filmmakers, artists, and musicians who may not have access to costly workshops or the visibility to enter larger festivals. At Bakunawa, your film is your face value. No need for big names or prestigious pedigrees: if we connect with your work, whether you’re a star or a newbie, we will program it.
Most of Bakunawa’s film camps and screenings are outreach-driven, built with film education in mind, which is why they are almost always free. Participants are supported through scholarships funded by the festival and its partners, and the events are often hosted by different cities and municipalities across the Philippines (1st-3rd, Bacolod City; 4th, San Carlos City; 5th, Bayawan City; 6th, back to Bacolod; 7th-8th, Online; 9th, Manila and Bacolod; 10th, Manila; 11th in Manila, Bacolod, Alaminos, QC and now, the 12th edition, in Bacolod City and Iloilo Cit. In this way, Bakunawa remains a festival and a shared journey carried by communities, for communities.
[ Please note that, since we are an artist and volunteer-ran filmfest, we can't fund filmmakers to come physically and we don't pay screening fees. ]
We are a fantastic film fest. Our festival is interested in: Horror or Thriller Films / Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Adventure / Fantastic-themed Experimental Films, New Media, Expanded Cinema / Genre-Bending Films / Fantastic-themed Music Videos / Fantastic-themed Documentaries / Contemporary Art / Photography.
