Independent Filipino short film Dear Tala, Love, Lola Odesa continues to gain international recognition after being officially selected for The Second Spring, a film program under the Cinemata Community Curators Programme curated by Indonesian curator Raslene.
The film will be showcased on October 11, 2026, at Rumah dalam Gang in Jakarta, Indonesia, as part of The Second Spring, an international community screening and dialogue initiative that brings together regional Asian films to foster cultural exchange and meaningful conversations through cinema.
Prior to its international selection, Dear Tala, Love, Lola Odesa was an official selection and finalist at the 7th Navoteño Film Festival (2025), further cementing its place among promising works in Philippine independent cinema.
The film is co-directed by Rachelle Magalona, a Far Eastern University Communication Arts (Digital Cinema) alumna, and Clarence Barruga, an 18-year-old Navoteño filmmaker and graduate of Filemon T. Lizan Senior High School who is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Filipino at Philippine Normal University.
Starring Gemma Masas as Lola Odesa, alongside Nathania Ical and Rona Blancaflor as Tala, the short film bridges generations through a poignant story about memory, love, and the quiet struggle of holding on to what slowly slips away.
The film follows the story of Lola Odesa, a cheerful woman who faithfully records even the smallest details of her day in a notebook. As her journal grows, what begins as ordinary observations gradually reveals a deeper emotional journey, asking whether she is simply documenting life or desperately preserving memories that are beginning to fade.
Curated by Raslene, The Second Spring uses public-facing formats, including community screenings, watch parties, and open dialogues, to situate regional Asian cinema within its social and cultural contexts while encouraging meaningful exchanges between filmmakers and audiences. The 114-minute program concludes with an interactive post-screening discussion featuring participating filmmakers.
For Pelikulaya Productions, the invitation to participate in The Second Spring marks an important milestone in bringing Navoteño talent and Filipino storytelling to the international stage. The selection underscores the growing global appreciation for grassroots cinema and stories that celebrate the richness of local communities and universal human experiences.
