The changing landscape of family businesses and the unspoken bonds between father and son take center stage in Silkscreen, the latest short film from filmmaker Rey Anthony Villaverde, selected as one of the finalists in the Cinemalaya 2026 Short Film Competition.
Set inside a modest, aging silkscreen shop, Silkscreen follows Roy, a struggling shirt printer determined to keep his family’s once-thriving business alive despite dwindling opportunities. While juggling mounting orders to sustain the shop, Roy also grapples with a strained relationship with his aging father, the former owner whose silence has long lingered between them.
When an unfinished design is finally given the chance to be printed, father and son unexpectedly reconnect through the craft that has shaped both their lives. As ink settles onto fabric, long-buried memories begin to surface, leading Roy to confront truths that reshape his understanding of his father, their shared passion, and the legacy embedded in every print.
More than a story about preserving a livelihood, Silkscreen reflects on how craftsmanship can become a bridge between generations, exploring themes of family, identity, reconciliation, and the quiet dignity of labor.
The film marks another milestone for Villaverde, a visual artist, writer, and filmmaker from Zamboanga del Norte whose works often examine identity, coming-of-age, and the struggles and beauty of creating art.
Villaverde began making films at the age of 12 through school projects before developing a body of work rooted in regional storytelling and independent cinema. His debut short film, Tingog (2022), was selected for Cinema Rehiyon 15, while his metacinema comedy Ambot Wa Ko Kabalo Unsay I-Title Ani (2024) became a finalist in the 20th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.
Earlier this year, Silkscreen received the Silver Award in the Narrative Category at the 6th Montañosa Film Festival, further cementing Villaverde’s growing reputation as one of the country’s promising young filmmakers. The film also marks his second appearance in the Cinemalaya Short Film Competition.
Silkscreen stars Justine Lawrence Lopez, Nonoy Barbaso, and Mariel Barbaso. Villaverde serves as the film’s director, screenwriter, editor, and producer, with El-el Barinaga as cinematographer.
Silkscreen joins the finalists in the Cinemalaya 2026 Short Film Category, alongside Elenita Elena Elaine, Honey, My Love, So Sweet, Hoy, Hoy, Ingat!, kung paano kakalas., Para-Paraan, Runo!, Sorbetes, The Keeper, and The River Flows in Different Places.
Meanwhile, the finalists in the Cinemalaya 2026 Full-Length Category are A.ni.mál, 2 Valid IDs, Ganggang, Mag-iina, Hand of God, Kaka sa Yawan, Status: Rejected, Tayo Lang ang Nakakaalam, and Tirik.
The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2026 runs from August 6 to 18, with screenings at Red Carpet Cinemas at Shangri-La Plaza, selected Ayala Malls, and Gateway Cineplex, continuing its tradition of showcasing the finest in Philippine independent cinema.
