Migrant Workers Film Festival showcases decades of Filipino diaspora stories

The 2026 Migrant Workers Film Festival held its Philippine leg, screening a curated selection of films spanning nearly forty years of cinema focused on labor, displacement, and the experiences of the Filipino diaspora. Following an initial run in Hong Kong, the festival moved to various locations across the Philippines, including university auditoriums, cultural centers, and film labs.

Organized by the Concerned Artists of the Philippines with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the program featured landmark works such as the 1987 documentary ‘Migrante’, ‘Modern Heroes, Modern Slaves’ (1997), and Nawruz Paguidopon’s ‘Rhose’ series. Other featured titles included ‘Ang Walang Kapagurang Paglalakbay ng Pulang Maleta’ and ‘Gusto Nang Umuwi ni Joy’.

The festival included screenings and talkback sessions at several institutions, including the UPFI Film Center Videotheque, UP Cebu’s Lawak Sinehan, the Ateneo Art Gallery, and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. These events provided spaces for students, artists, and migrant advocates to engage with audiovisual heritage and discuss the enduring challenges faced by overseas workers.