SINÉ FILM FEST RETURNS MARCH 5-8 AT TIFF LIGHTBOX WITH CURATED LINEUP AND INDUSTRY CONFERENCE

Canada’s first Filipino film festival returns for its third edition and invites audiences to experience Filipino storytelling on Toronto’s most iconic cinema stage.

TORONTO, ON – The Siné Film Festival (SFF), Canada’s premier film festival dedicated to Filipino cinema, returns for its third year on March 5-8, 2026. The Festival will take place for the first time at the TIFF Lightbox—home of the Toronto International Film Festival—showcasing Filipino stories on one of Canada’s most prestigious cinematic stages.

SFFcontinues its mission to connect artists, industry professionals, and audiences through stories that reflect Filipino lived experiences and perspectives. The Festival is presented by Siné Institute, a Canada-based, not-for-profit organization committed to nurturing Filipino talent in the creative industries. The Festival serves as a vital and growing platform for emerging and established voices alike.

PERCEPTIONS OF LOVE
The 2026 theatrical lineup explores love in its many forms—romantic and familial, fractured and enduring—through stories shaped by migration, identity, and culture. Bringing together new works and rescreenings of cinematic classics, the official selection reflects lived experiences that are deeply specific, yet resonate beyond borders.

THEATRICAL SCREENING: OFFICIAL SELECTION 
Each Feature presentation will be paired with a short film by a Filipino-Canadian filmmaker, a part of the Festival’s commitment to recognizing local talent.

The selected Feature films are: Kent Donguines’Treasure of the Rice Terraces, Mike De Leon’s Kisapmata, Cathy Garcia’s Meet Greet Goodbye, Arjanmar Rebeta’s Lakambini Gregoria de Jesus, and Brillante Mendoza’s Until She Remembers. The Festival will also present Filbert Wong’s Tingga, as part of ARAW: Filipino-Canadian stories brought to light—a SFF selection that recognizes feature-length works by Filipino-Canadian directors in the diaspora.

“These films explore complexities of love, culture and belonging through true to life stories. They reflect the distinct cultural point of view that defines Siné Film Fest,” says Michaelangelo Masangkay, President of Siné Institute.“Each selection offers something uniquely Filipino in the way it understands love, yet the stories resonate universally. As we enter our third year, we continue to expand the way Filipino stories are seen, shared and celebrated on a world-class stage.”

FILM DETAILS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER):
Kisapmata | Mike De Leon
Short film: Desync | Minerva Navasca

Lakambini Gregoria De Jesus | Arjanmar Rebeta
Short film: Galing | Joycelyn David

Meet, Greet, Bye | Cathy Garcia
Short film: Utang Mo Rin | Unsalted Films

Tingga | Filbert Wong
Short film: Awit Natin | Paqui Pascual

Treasure of the Rice Terraces | Kent Donguines
Short film: Queen Mother | King Louie Paloma

Until She Remembers | Brillante Mendoza
Short film: Agapito | Arvin Belarmino

SINÉ INSTITUTE INDUSTRY CONFERENCE
Siné Institute will present the Industry Conference, a series of curated Masterclasses exploringcareer pathways across craft, production, financing, and distribution. Designed for both emerging and established creatives, the Masterclasses focus on how to build long-term careers in film in two essential streams: Creative and Business.

Programming also includes panel discussions with representatives from the Canadian Society of Cinematographers (CSC) and Screen Composers Guild of Canada (SCGC).

CREATIVE MASTERCLASSES
In association with FilCan Creative

The Cinematic Actor: Crafting Performance for the Lens
Catherine McNally, The Apprentice (2024)

Truth in Focus: A Documentary Filmmaking Masterclass
Steven Hoffner, Director The Cannons (2022)

The Cinematic Eye: Crafting Emotion Through the Lens
Gaurav Virkar, CSC, Cinematographer

BUSINESS MASTERCLASSES
In association with Pwrforward

Strategic Development & Capital Acquisition
Avi Federgreen, Owner, IndieCan Entertainment & Director, Home Free (2025)

Path to Global Audiences: Film Marketing & Distribution
Michelangelo Masangkay, Partner, Clever Creature Inc & Producer, Topakk (2024)

Guns, Explosions, Stunts and Insurance
Stephanie Herrera, Reacher (2025) & Commercial Lines Account Executive, HUB International

PANEL TALKS
In conversation with Rise Tribe

Canadian Society of Cinematographers Panel
Moderated by: Rielle Ramos, Producer, A Fermenting Woman (2024)
Panelists: Raymond Tuquero, CSC., Lester Millado, CSC., Angel Navarro, CSC

Screen Composers Guild of Canada Panel
Moderated by: Daniel De Lara, Composer, showdown at the Grand (2023)
Panelists: Diane Vallesteros, SCGC., Abigail Neale, SCGC/DGC Music Editor

For more information on SFF Theatrical Screenings and the Siné Institute Industry Conference, visit the official SFF website and follow Siné Institute on Instagram. Festival tickets go on sale February 9 via Ticketmaster, with tickets for the Siné Institute Industry Conference (including Masterclasses and panel talks) available through Eventbrite on the same day. The 3rd edition of the Sine Film Festival, presented by Siné Institute, runs from March 5-8, 2026.