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Cinemalaya tips for first-time goers

As a decade-long attendee

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The Cinemalaya Film Festival is an event that is so dear to me – it has been my longest commitment yet.

I have been attending the renowned film fest since I started in the university, and my biggest influence then were my college professors and schoolmates. It started my passion for filmmaking and storytelling.

More than a decade later, going to Cinemalaya as a professional is like retreating from my busy world. It feels like coming home.

If it’s your first-time going to the festival, no worries, the cinephile community is very vibrant and welcoming. You’re guaranteed to come back again and again until it becomes an annual habit.

Here are some tips to make your first Cinemalaya experience one for the books:

Mingle around.

The best part about Cinemalaya, at least for me, is the vibe. It’s like a convention of film enthusiasts and a reunion of some sort, like homecoming week. I come across people from my university days, and it’s a fun way to catch up. Of course, that depends on my social battery.

You will see a lot of filmmakers, writers, and even actors casually roaming around the area and if you’re lucky, you get to have a chit-chat with them. National Artist Ricky Lee attends every single year!

Watch the gala screenings.

The gala screenings are the red carpet days where you get to watch the film with the cast and crew. Cinemalaya releases the full festival schedule ahead of time, so you’ll know the schedule of gala screenings and you can plan accordingly. There’s no dress code for this, so you just come to the cinema just as you’d like.

In case you miss the gala and you’re deeply interested in the film, I highly recommend the Talkback screenings. The filmmakers will have a Q&A after the film, and if you’re lucky, some of the cast will also be there.

Visit the gallery.

Every year, there’s a museum-like display featuring the items used in the full-length films. During the Cinemalaya CCP days, this “gallery” is usually located below the beautiful, brutalist stairs leading to the ticket booth.

This year, the gallery will probably be somewhere in the halls of Ayala Malls Manila Bay, and while it’s going to look different (and we’re excited to see the new look!), it’s something not to miss.

Buy the merch.

Apart from the visual treat from the films and displays, Cinemalaya also sells merch like shirts, bags, caps and a lot more. They also partner with independent artists so you might fancy some artsy merch along the movie hall. One of my timeless favorites is the Taga-Indie merch – which is there almost every year.

If you have very limited budget for a merch, take home a printed festival schedule. It has all the details you need – from the film schedule to the synopsis. Cinemalaya gives them out for free. I collect this every year as mementos.

Know the existing promos.

Cinemalaya partners with various brands like Grab, so don’t forget to follow their social media accounts for some promos!

Bring your rain gear.

Lastly, since the film fest is always held in August a.k.a. typhoon season, be prepared for the rain. There is an inside joke within the community that goes, “it’s not Cinemalaya week if it’s not raining” and I think it is really part of the whole experience, whether we like it or not.

View the full Cinemalaya screening schedule here.

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Entertainment

BINI, KATSEYE among top worldwide Google Searches ahead of Coachella

Coachella to kick off this weekend

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April 10, 2026

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Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

BINI and KATSEYE topped recent Google Search trends ahead of their Coachella performances this month.

It’s clear that Coachella attendees are curious about the popular Philippine pop girl group, as well as the Los Angeles-based global girl group.

That’s aside from dedicated BLOOMs who are eager to see Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna, and Sheena take part in the legendary California music festival on Friday, April 10.

According to Google Trends data, global searches for the term “BINI Coachella” hit a perfect
score of 100 on April 8.

This indicates that the search term briefly became the highest-ranking search trend.

Meanwhile, “KATSEYE Coachella” scored 98 on April 7 on Google Trends, followed by a perfect 100 on April 8.

The timing of KATSEYE’s new single, “PINKY UP” couldn’t have been better as it dropped just a day before their Sahara stage set.

At the same time, the Filipino octet has also released “Blush” as their new comeback song — just hours ahead of KATSEYE.

As such, EYEKONS have also been scouring the interwebs for the global girl group.

And as these are worldwide search data, the recent Google Search trends somewhat prove these artists are effectively breaking through the global mainstream, and introducing their respective cultures to the global stage.

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Entertainment

Metal Gear Solid is getting a film adaptation

It will be directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein.

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April 10, 2026

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Metal Gear Solid

Videogame adaptations are so hot right now. After the mainstream success of The Super Mario Bros. duology, several other franchises have committed to seeing their favorite characters on the big screen. Now, Metal Gear Solid is the latest to make the jump. Sony has confirmed that a film adaptation about the stealth franchise is in the works.

Though the game’s movie announcement is a big deal on its own right, it’s attached to an even bigger announcement: Sony has signed the up-and-coming directing duo Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein to direct a number of its upcoming projects.

The deal’s first confirmed project, via Hollywood Reporter, is an adaptation of Metal Gear Solid, produced by Avi and Ari Arad.

Spanning multiple decades, the Metal Gear series is a stealth-based franchise that often goes off the rails with its supernatural elements. Naturally, it’s all thanks to series creator Hideo Kojima, notoriously known for his unconventional storytelling. When Kojima left Konami, the franchise has since been shelved but still enjoys a lot of hype, thanks to the occasional remake.

Right now, it’s unknown how much of the film will lean into the craziness of the franchise. It should still be a crazy ride to see, though.

SEE ALSO: Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.2 launches August 27 on PS5

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Entertainment

LE SSERAFIM Chaewon flexes Galaxy S26 Ultra Privacy Display

She says the feature is cool

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March 31, 2026

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Collage. Galaxy S26 Ultra Privacy Display | Edited image of Chaewon holding a Galaxy S26 Ultra
Galaxy S26 Ultra Privacy Display | Edited image of Chaewon holding a Galaxy S26 Ultra

LE SSERAFIM’s Kim Chaewon didn’t set out to show off a feature. But somewhere in the middle of a Weverse live, she ended up doing exactly that. It’s a pretty good flex.

In a clip that’s now making the rounds online, Chaewon shared that she recently switched to the Galaxy S26 Ultra and has been enjoying one specific feature in particular:

“I just changed my phone lately to Galaxy S26 Ultra. And it has a privacy screen feature, right? It’s so cool. You really can’t see anything from the side. I show this to everyone I meet and make them jealous.”

It’s just someone genuinely impressed by a feature — and casually flexing it.

A feature that makes sense instantly

The feature Chaewon is referring to is Privacy Display, one of the headline additions on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

When enabled, it limits the viewing angles of the screen. That way. only the person holding the phone can clearly see what’s on it. Anyone looking from the side gets a dimmed or obscured view.

If you’ve ever used a privacy screen protector, the concept is similar. The difference here is that it’s built directly into the phone and can be toggled on or off, or even set to activate only for specific apps.

It’s a small addition on paper, but one that solves a very real, very common problem — especially if you’re using your phone in public spaces.

Samsung contract renewed?

It’s worth noting that LE SSERAFIM has been using Galaxy smartphones for a while now. That’s likely due to a partnership with Samsung and/or Google.

The music video for their track “Come Over” heavily features the smartphone, along with Google Gemini features integrated into the experience.

Another member, Sakura, also mentioned to fans recently that she has switched phones — from a Galaxy Z Flip to now also using a Galaxy S26 Ultra.


Whether this points to a renewed partnership or just continued preference isn’t something officially confirmed. But moments like Chaewon’s certainly keep Galaxy devices in the spotlight.

It’s easy to imagine the same scenario playing out anywhere — on a commute, in a café, or sitting next to someone who’s just a little too curious about what you’re doing on your phone.

It’s also something we’ve explored ourselves.

In one of our reels, we showed a straightforward demo of how Privacy Display works. We tilted the phone to show how the screen becomes unreadable from the side. In another, we leaned into a more playful skit: someone trying (and failing) to peek at what’s on the screen of the person beside them.


The result is the same. From certain angles, the display practically disappears.

The kind of feature you show off

Privacy Display isn’t the flashiest feature on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. But it’s the kind of feature you end up showing people. Not because you have to — but because it’s surprisingly satisfying to see in action.

If Chaewon’s experience is anything to go by, it’s also the kind of feature that makes people just a little bit jealous.

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