Elian Idioma’s I’m Best Left Inside My Head is set to screen at Cinemalaya 2025 under the Short Film Category, running from October 3 to 12, 2025. The film will be shown at Red Carpet Cinemas in Shangri-La Plaza, Ayala Malls Cinemas, and Gateway Cineplex.
The 20-minute dark comedy claymation (clay animation) follows Alec Dominguez, a multi-talented, award-winning “golden boy” who was adopted by a pair of wealthy philanthropists. When Alec returns to the Dominguez Orphanage for a long-awaited reunion with his childhood friends, he is met with a flood of nostalgia, complicated emotions, and unsettling revelations. What begins as a warm night of laughter turns into a confrontation with guilt, judgment, and the ghosts of a past he left behind.
The film delves deep into themes of belonging, shame, and reconciliation, as Alec struggles to face his friends’ resentment and the haunting image of Jeppilon, a figure embodying the orphanage’s neglect and the emotional weight of his departure.
Elian Idioma, who also stars in the film, is a sound editor and head of the Atmos Music Department at Narra Post Productions. He has earned accolades for his work, including Best Sound Design at the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival for Dela Cruz, Juan P. His cinematography on The World We Left won Best Film at ALT-R Film Festival and was screened at SinePop during YearnFest Night. Idioma’s previous directorial work Tawa Na Lang Tayo was part of Cinemalaya 2023’s Next Gen Short Film Selection.
The film features voice performances from Elian Idioma, Lau Cortes, Aj Prudenciado, Glemuel Rigo, Romnic Calosor, and Andrea Idioma. Key production members include producer and production designer Gielian Matti, editor Hansel Jimenez, and composer Zoilo Tolentino.
I’m Best Left Inside My Head promises to be an intimate yet surreal exploration of memory, resentment, and the complicated ties that bind found families.
Other Cinemalaya 2025 short film entries are Ascension from the Office Cubicle by Hannah Silvestre, Figat by Handiong Kapuno, Hasang by Daniel de la Cruz, 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.
Meanwhile, full length entries include Bloom Where You Are Planted by Noni Abao, Cinemartyrs by Sari Dalena, Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan by Dustin Celestino, Child No. 82 by Tim Rone Villanueva, Paglilitis by Cheska Marfori and Raymund Barcelon, Open Endings by Nigel Santos and Keavy Vicente, Padamlágan by Jenn Romano, Raging by Ryan Machado, Republika ng Pipolipinas by Renei Dimla, and Warla by Kevin Alambra.
