Filmmaker Miguel Lorenzo Peralta brings an experimental and visually striking short to Cinemalaya 2025 with Please Keep This Copy, screening under the Short Film Category. The festival runs from October 3 to 12, 2025, with screenings at Red Carpet Cinemas in Shangri-La Plaza, Ayala Malls Cinemas, and Gateway Cineplex.
The 6-minute and 30-second experimental documentary unfolds across a stark white void, where old pages, mementos, and documents spring to life, narrating the story of rebellious youth growing up in an elite private all-boys Catholic high school during a turbulent political era. As archival voices clash and merge, the students resist control, find humor in rebellion, and carve out their own voices amid a backdrop of authority and chaos.
Peralta, an independent filmmaker and graduate of the UP Film Institute, is known for his work as a freelance film editor, sound designer, and musical scorer. His passion for experimental documentary stems from his interest in memory, history, and identity, often using personal archives and unique approaches to sound to craft immersive storytelling. He previously participated in AsiaDoc, a Southeast Asian creative documentary workshop, where he developed a project inspired by his personal experiences with flooding in Marikina.
The film features the Class of M2017 and their teachers, with Peralta serving as director, cinematographer, editor, sound designer, and producer, alongside sound designers Enzo Pisig and Poch Querijero.
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, I’m Best Left Inside My Head by Elian Idioma, Kung Tugnaw ang Kaidalman sang Lawod by Seth Andrew Blanca, Kay Basta Angkarabo Yay Bagay Ibat Ha Langit by Maria Estela Paiso, 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.
