Many of us have turned to the arts to cope with the pandemic. With another hard lockdown hovering above us, the art industry is giving us another reason to feel less miserable and a little more hopeful.

Well, 13 reasons to be exact.

Out of more than 200 entries, the 17th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival has selected 13 shorts to compete for the Balanghai trophies, including the Best Film award. As it did last year, this year’s edition excluded full-length features from the main competition due to the pandemic, although it extended the screening by one week to give more time for virtual movie-goers to see the films.

Where and How to Watch

Cinemalaya 2021 is streaming films on a pay-per-view basis via KTX.ph, ABS-CBN’s digital venue, from Aug. 6 to Sept. 5, 2021. The 13 shorts vying for the main awards are divided into two sets, with ticket prices at P150 each. Once you’ve picked your set, you’ll be given 24 hours to stream the films from a specified date and time.

Here are the 13 short films competing for the awards:

The Dust in Your Place by David Olson

Out of Body by Enrico Po

Namnama en Lolang by Jonnie Lyn P. Dasalla

Maski Papano by Che Tagyamon And Glenn Barit

Kawatan sa Salog by Alphie Velasco

Crossing by Marc Misa

Ate O.G. by Kevin Mayuga

Ang Pagdadalaga ni Lola Mayumi by Sheri De Leon

Ang Mga Nawalang Pag-asa at Panlasa by Kevin Jay Ayson

An Sadit na Planeta by Arjanmar Rebeta

Beauty Queen by Myra Aquino

Looking for Rafflesias and Other Fleeting Things by James Fajardo

Kids on Fire by Kyle Nieva

Aside from the short films, Cinemalaya 2021 is showcasing Indie Nation, a line-up of non-competing indie shorts and full-length features, with tickets ranging from P150 to P200 per set.

Other categories include Retrospective, which features the best short films from 2020: “Tokwifi” by Carla Pulido Ocampo, “Ang Pagpakalma sa Unos” by Joanna Vasquez Arong, and “Living Things” by Martika Ramirez Escobar.

Debut Films

Four films by award-winning directors are also premiering at Cinemalaya 2021: “Highest Peak” by Arnel Barbarona, “He Who Is Without Sin” by Jason Paul Laxamana, “Love and Pain In Between Refrains” by Joselito Altarejos, and “Tao Po” by Mae Paner or popularly known as Juana Change. Tickets go for P250 per title.

Movie Under the Stars

Missing the feeling of stepping into a movie theater? We can relate. Although enjoying movies from the big screen seems like a distant memory now, Cinemalaya 2021 wants to bring us the closest thing possible: “Cinema Under the Stars.”

This is an al fresco movie experience where you can either watch select films in your car or have a picnic-style set-up at the Liwasang Ullalim, Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex. Daily screenings will be held from Sept. 2 to 4 every 4 PM, 7 PM, and 9 PM. Prices are at P250.