A Filipino short film tackling disinformation has earned a spot on the international stage, competing at the Grifo International Film Festival in Italy.
Selected from more than 1,800 entries worldwide, Richard Soriano Legaspi’s film “Panulukan” (Crossroads) was screened at the Teatro Comunale Tullio Giacconi in Chiaravalle, Ancona, in Italy’s Marche region.
The story follows four strangers on their way back to Manila who realize they stand on opposing sides of a deeply divided reality. Two are paid online trolls defending the government’s controversial anti-drug campaign, while the other two openly challenge the violence surrounding it.
Through this narrative, Legaspi examines the growing polarization among Filipinos online and how digital platforms are used to spread disinformation.
He described the film as a reflection of society, encouraging audiences to consider the consequences of their actions in the digital space. He also emphasized cinema’s power to inspire social change and promote digital rights when used responsibly.
Starring Kelvin Vistan, Reiner Grospe, Jeremy Mayores, and Maricel Manuntag, the film was developed under EngageMedia’s Tech Tales: Films about Digital Rights in the Asia-Pacific grant program in 2021.
Legaspi said the film aims to help viewers navigate an era shaped by misinformation and distorted narratives, serving as a guide for moral clarity amid uncertainty.
The selection marks the film’s return to Italy after being featured in the Ways of Becoming Exhibition at UNIDEE 2024. Legaspi, a former UNESCO Laureate scholar and resident artist at Università delle Idee, has maintained strong ties to the country.
He also underscored the responsibility of artists to speak the truth, expressing hope that the film will inspire others to use their creative platforms to highlight what is real and just.
In addition to “Panulukan,” Legaspi is developing a full-length project titled “The Legend of the Wild Rose Mallow,” which has been named among the top 20 semifinalists of the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ inaugural ISAPELIKULA program and was further developed through its CreatePH Scriptwriting Lab.
Produced by Red Room Media Productions in partnership with EngageMedia, “Panulukan” has also competed at the 15th EDUKINO-Empowering Film Festival in Poland, known for featuring socially driven films.
An interdisciplinary artist, Legaspi focuses on community-centered themes and social transformation. A graduate of the University of the East Caloocan and a fellow of the Asian Film Academy in Busan, his works have been exhibited in galleries across France, Peru, Germany, and Taiwan.
