Every October, a tradition unfolds that I always look forward to. Together with a few friends, I head to Greenbelt 3 in Makati to immerse myself in Pelikula: The Spanish Film Festival, where we spend entire days hopping from one screening to another. Rather than simply watching a movie or two, we challenge ourselves to experience as many films as possible, allowing Spain’s language, history, humor, and social realities to come alive on the big screen.
Likewise, I never miss the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival whenever I get the chance. Independent cinema has a way of telling stories that mainstream productions often overlook. It shines a spotlight on ordinary lives, unheard voices, and communities that deserve to be seen. Consequently, every screening feels less like entertainment and more like a meaningful conversation with another culture.
Films as Windows to the World
Travelers often say that the best way to understand a destination is to walk its streets, taste its food, and meet its people. While I completely agree, I also believe that cinema offers another remarkable gateway. A well-crafted film captures the rhythm of everyday life, the emotions of its people, and even the smallest cultural nuances that guidebooks sometimes miss.
Because of this, watching foreign films has become part of the way I travel, even when I’m still at home. Every movie transports me somewhere new. One evening I might be wandering through the narrow streets of Madrid, while the next I could be exploring a quiet Japanese village or witnessing the bustling markets of Morocco. In many ways, cinema allows me to collect passport stamps in my imagination before I eventually experience those places in person.
Dreaming of the World’s Great Film Festivals
Perhaps that is why one of my biggest travel dreams extends beyond visiting famous landmarks. Someday, I hope to attend some of the world’s most prestigious international film festivals.
Imagine watching world premieres at the Cannes Film Festival along the French Riviera, discovering emerging filmmakers at the Toronto International Film Festival, or soaking in centuries of cinematic history during the Venice International Film Festival. Each festival is more than a glamorous red carpet event. Instead, they are celebrations of storytelling, creativity, and the universal language of film, where audiences from different cultures gather to appreciate perspectives from around the globe.
As someone who loves both travel and writing, attending these festivals would be the perfect combination of my passions. I can already picture myself watching films from countries I’ve never visited, interviewing filmmakers, and wandering through historic cities between screenings before sharing those unforgettable experiences here on my blog.
Meeting Brillante Mendoza
Although I have yet to attend an international film festival abroad, life has already given me a memorable glimpse into that dream.
Recently, acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza visited the City of Smiles to promote the films Dukit and Lola during the Brillante Mendoza Film Festival at SM Bacolod. It was a privilege to hear one of the country’s most celebrated directors speak about filmmaking, storytelling, and the inspirations behind his work.
I later learned that it was already the third time SM Bacolod had invited Mendoza to the city. That realization made me appreciate how fortunate Bacolod film enthusiasts are to have opportunities like this without having to travel far.
As he stood before us, generously sharing his experiences and creative process, I found myself imagining what it would be like to sit in a packed theater halfway around the world, listening to internationally renowned directors discuss their craft after a premiere. For a brief moment, that dream didn’t seem quite so distant.
A Journey Worth Waiting For
Travel is not always measured by the number of countries visited. Sometimes, it begins with stories that inspire us to see the world differently. Films have done exactly that for me. They have introduced me to unfamiliar cultures, broadened my understanding of people, and fueled my desire to explore beyond my own borders.
One day, I hope to find myself in the audience of one of those legendary international film festivals—not simply as a spectator, but as a traveler eager to learn, a writer eager to document every experience, and a lifelong movie lover grateful for every story that unfolds on and off the screen.
Until that day comes, I’ll continue discovering the world one film at a time, believing that every great journey begins with a story.
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