De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde film alumnus Kylechandler Bigay is bringing his short film Gandang Lola (Gorgeous Grandmother) to international audiences, with screenings at the 40th Leeds International Film Festival in the United Kingdom and the 14th QCinema International Film Festival in Metro Manila.
The film follows Dolores “Amor” Concepcion, a 67-year-old beautician running a quiet, declining beauty parlor. Through her close relationship with her grandson, Biboy, and her unexpected participation in a lively neighborhood beauty pageant, Amor confronts the realities of aging, personal insecurities, and the path toward self-acceptance.
Gandang Lola will first screen at the Leeds International Film Festival as part of the Louis le Prince International Short Film Competition, an Academy Award- and BAFTA-qualifying category. Screenings are scheduled for the first week of November at Everyman Cinema Leeds, with the festival’s awards ceremony set for November 8.
The short film will then make its Asian premiere in the QCShorts International lineup of the 14th QCinema International Film Festival, which runs from November 13 to 22.
The cast includes veteran actress Peewee O’Hara as Amor, Zed Xyrus Martin as Biboy, Susan Africa, and Yani Villarosa.
The production team includes producer Diokko Manuel Dionisio, associate producer Weia Chelsea, and line producer Dominic Rivera, with Alec Berame, Wanggo Gallaga, and Bene Mendoza serving as supervising producers. Vince Cenon handled cinematography, while Migo Morales served as production designer. Enzo Agra designed the sound, Hans Rivera composed the score, and Patrick Pangan edited the film.
Other key creatives include assistant director Franz Ojeda, production manager Yna Abiño, casting director Air Salazar, and script continuity supervisor Kimberly Acosta. The production also brought together artists and crew members across camera, lighting, art direction, set decoration, props, hair and makeup, costume design, prosthetics, color grading, and visual effects. The film was produced under Malaking Mata and Gilid Studios.
For Bigay, a Laguna native, Gandang Lola is a deeply personal project. His previous short film, Papa Xerox, was an official selection at Pelikultura: The CALABARZON Film Festival 2025 and was named one of Rolling Stone Philippines’ Best Filipino Short Films that year.
Describing the inspiration behind his latest work, Bigay called the film a “heartfelt love letter to every grandparent who has faced life’s challenges and has given us the gift of unconditional love.”
He added that the story celebrates “the women who raised me, loved me, and taught me to see beauty not in perfection, but in perseverance and love.”
Beyond filmmaking, Bigay has earned recognition for his work in production design. He won Best Production Design at the 10th Nabunturan Independent Film Exhibition for Public Enemy Number One and at CineBedista 2023 for Bata, Bata Ka Lang. His film Blooming Love competed for awards at the 10th Cinemandirigma and the Manila Student Film Festival 2025. He was also selected as one of the Filipino delegates to Platform BUSAN 2025.
With its exploration of aging, family bonds, and the meaning of beauty, Gandang Lola brings a personal Filipino story to two film festivals connecting local filmmaking with international audiences.
