Far Eastern University student films receive FAMAS nominations

Two short films produced by students at Far Eastern University, “Kahel” and “Lily,” have earned multiple nominations at the 2026 Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Short Film Festival. The festival is organized by FAMAS in partnership with REMS Entertainment to highlight independent voices in the Philippines.

“Kahel,” directed by Garnet Morilla Llames under the Kuwerdas production team, follows a corporate worker named Elias, played by Justine Abalos, who pursues a music career after a chance encounter with a musical idol during a jeepney breakdown. The film has previously received accolades at Sinepiyu XVIII and was a finalist at the 38th Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Gawad Alternatibo. At the FAMAS festival, “Kahel” is nominated for Best Short Film, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design, and Best Actor.

The student projects originated as classroom requirements and have since been screened at various regional festivals, including the Hundred Islands Film Festival and Cinemagis 16.