Nigel Santos’ latest film Open Endings is set to premiere at Cinemalaya 2025, offering audiences a heartfelt, funny, and deeply relatable exploration of love, friendship, and the ties that bind us.
The full-length feature follows Hannah, Charlie, Kit, and Mihan, four queer women in their early 30s who are exes-turned-best-friends. Their lives are deeply intertwined, marked by first loves, heartbreaks, ghosting, and everything in between. Though their romances ended, their friendship remains a constant, becoming their chosen family.
When Hannah is suddenly pulled into deep grief, the group rallies together without hesitation. Through breakups, family drama, and personal struggles, they continue to choose one another. But just as life begins to stabilize, Hannah faces a decision that could change everything, forcing them all to ask if their friendship can withstand what comes next.
Tender, funny, and full of yearning, Open Endings is a celebration of queer friendships and the resilience of love that takes many forms.
Nigel Santos, who works as a copywriter while pursuing passion projects as a freelance screenwriter and director, marks her first Cinemalaya entry with this film. A literature graduate from the University of Santo Tomas, Santos has been a fellow in several prestigious writing workshops, including Ricky Lee’s Gawad Plaridel Masterclass in Scriptwriting. Her debut feature Yours Truly, Shirley (2019) premiered at the CinemaOne Originals Film Festival. With Open Endings, Santos continues her exploration of women’s stories, focusing on the emotional depths of their relationships and the choices that define them.
The screenplay is written by Keavy Eunice Vicente, known for her works Distance (2018), Unforgettable (2019), and the digital series Pearl Next Door (2020). Open Endings marks her second Cinemalaya entry.
The film stars Janella Salvador, Klea Pineda, Leanne Mamonong, and Jasmine Curtis-Smith, with cinematography by Martika Ramirez Escobar and production by Tin Velasco.
Open Endings screens as part of Cinemalaya 2025, running from October 3 to 12, 2025. Audiences can catch screenings at Red Carpet Cinemas in Shangri-La Plaza, Ayala Malls Cinemas, and Gateway Cineplex.
Other full length entries include Child No. 82 by Tim Rone Villanueva, Cinemartyrs by Sari Dalena, Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan by Dustin Celestino, Padamlágan by Jenn Romano, Paglilitis by Cheska Marfori and Raymund Barcelon, Bloom Where You Are Planted by Noni Abao and Keavy Vicente, Republika ng Pipolipinas by Renei Dimla, Raging by Ryan Machado, and Warla by Kevin Alambra.
Meanwhile, the short film competition features entries such as Ascension from the Office Cubicle by Hannah Silvestre, Figat by Handiong Kapuno, Hasang by Daniel de la Cruz, I’m Best Left Inside My Head by Elian Idioma, Kay Basta Angkarabo Yay Bagay Ibat ha Langit by Marie Estela Paiso, Kung Tugnaw ang Kaidalman sang Lawod by Seth Andrew Blanca, Please Keep This Copy by Miguel Lorenzo Peralta, Radikals by Arvin Belarmino, The Next 24 Hours by Carl Joseph Papa, and Water Sports by Whammy Alcazaren.
