Filipino Youth Shine a Light on Displacement and Hope at the 3rd UNHCR Refugee Film Festival

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Amid rising global conflicts and crises that continue to displace millions, a powerful wave of storytelling surged from the heart of Manila as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Philippines held its 3rd Refugee Film Festival. The event, hosted at San Beda University-Manila's Abbot Lopez Hall, was more than just a cinematic celebration—it was a resonant call for empathy, inclusion, and hope, crafted by the voices of the Filipino youth.

With the stirring theme “Strengthening Spaces of Resilience and Hope,” the festival became a sanctuary of stories that matter. From a highly competitive pool of 39 entries, three standout films emerged, shaking audiences with raw emotion and unflinching honesty.

Championing the Voiceless: “Sa Simula ng Wala”

Taking the coveted first prize was “Sa Simula ng Wala” by Daghili Pictures from the University of Makati. This short documentary follows the journey of an adult foundling navigating life without legal identity—an invisible soul in a bureaucratic world. It lays bare the harrowing limbo faced by many undocumented individuals in the Philippines, exploring themes of abandonment, survival, and the human hunger for belonging.

The film was brought to life by an inspired team of 4th year Bachelor of Multimedia Arts students—Edward John Louis Factes and Ysamae Yrrah Carelo as directors, alongside Amariah Cajuday, Pauline Nicole Castillo, Maria Cris De Dios, Jefford Leigh Trajano, and Jaklyn Marie Segaya. Guided by their mentor Prof. Eduard Riparip, the team dared to speak for those who are too often silenced.

Echoes of the Displaced: “Wala’y Dagat Dinhi”

Claiming second place, “Wala’y Dagat Dinhi” (“There is No Sea Here”) by Pelikulang Daluyong of Laguna University, helmed by director Ken Bryan Delizo and fellow BA Communication students, delves into the harrowing existence of internally displaced persons. Told through haunting visuals and poignant storytelling, the film portrays how the absence of home can drown the soul even in the absence of water.

A Taste of Memory: “Akong Paboritong Pastil”

Rounding out the top three, “Akong Paboritong Pastil” (“My Favorite Pastil”) by Duwende Films from Davao, directed by Ingrid Silfverberg and co-produced by Franky Arrocena, serves a humble yet powerful narrative. Using the regional delicacy pastil as a symbol of identity, the film navigates themes of displacement, culture, and memory—a sensory journey into what it means to be uprooted and yet resilient.

Global Stories, Local Voices

The festival opened with a screening of “We Dare to Dream” by Waad Al-Kateab, chronicling the lives of refugee athletes chasing Olympic glory—a poignant reminder that ambition and hope thrive even in exile. The audience was then transported to Nova Scotia through “Peace by Chocolate”, a Canadian film based on the real-life story of a Syrian refugee family who found healing and purpose through the art of chocolate-making.

These international screenings were followed by heartfelt talkback sessions featuring refugees, advocates, professors, and experts, allowing for meaningful dialogue and deeper understanding of the refugee crisis both globally and within the Philippines.

Judging Stories That Matter

The gravity and grace of these youth-produced films were evaluated by a distinguished panel:

Atom Araullo, broadcast journalist and UNHCR Philippines Goodwill Ambassador

Ditsi Carolino, award-winning documentary filmmaker

Prof. Gregorio Borja III, Chairperson of Marketing Management at San Beda University

State Counsel Angelica Rose Dimalanta of the DOJ’s Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit

Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo, Head of the National Office, UNHCR Philippines

Their combined experience in journalism, law, education, and film brought depth and compassion to the selection process.

Collaboration for Compassion

Behind the success of the Refugee Film Festival is a collaborative tapestry of organizations: UNHCR Philippines, DOJ-RSPPU, Pathways Pilipinas, San Beda University-Manila, and Uniqlo Philippines. Together, they made this platform possible—not just to screen films, but to build bridges between displaced communities and those privileged to have a place to call home.

Beyond the Screen: Toward Action and Awareness

Held in celebration of World Refugee Day, the festival did more than award excellence in film—it illuminated truths often ignored. Through the eyes of the youth, these stories brought urgency and empathy to the challenges faced by refugees and stateless persons, reinforcing UNHCR’s core mission: to protect rights, save lives, and create a future for all those forced to flee.

As the final credits rolled and applause echoed through Abbot Lopez Hall, one truth stood tall: When given the space to speak, the youth do not merely tell stories—they ignite movements. And through film, they’ve begun to rewrite the narrative of displacement into one of resilience, justice, and hope.

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