The gap between the lecture hall and the film set narrowed significantly at Far Eastern University Manila. Held at the FEU Theater Room, “COMM•PASS 2026: From Classroom to Cinema” transformed regular class discussions into a masterclass on the realities of the film industry.
The alumni film exhibition served as a dynamic intersection for screenings, panel discussions, and mentorship, bridging current students with fellow Tamaraws already making waves in the industry. The event offered a rare, behind-the-curtain look into the creative choices and processes shaping modern Philippine cinema.
COMM•PASS 2026 started with a screening of the short film “Bakit Ako Sinusundan ng Buwan?” written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Richard Soriano Legaspi, followed by an intimate talkback session featuring Jemuel Satumba, FEU alumnus and the film’s lead actor, and Kristin Jor, FEU film educator, production manager, and emerging producer.
Moderated by event organizer Stephen Dela Peña, the discussion dove into the thematic depth and operational grit required to execute a gripping narrative, giving students a 360-degree view of life both in front of and behind the camera.
The film follows Lino (Satumba), a man returning to his small town with a red suitcase after years of wrongful imprisonment abroad. Seeking to reclaim his stolen dreams, Lino is met with the harsh reality that life moved on without him, forcing him to realize that he has become the very void he is desperately trying to fill.
The exhibition also celebrated the distinct voices of FEU Communication alumni from the Digital Cinema track, showcasing three compelling short films.
Josh Van Ulric Campo’s “All the Things Left Unsaid”is a visually imaginative short where a gay son transforms a mundane task, sorting laundry with his mother, into a vibrant, colorful world populated by adorable little fishes.
Euxim Valonzo Garcia’s “Bilanggo ng Kinahinatnan” is a wartime drama centered on a wounded Japanese soldier taken in by an old man, only to discover his new surroundings are deeply peculiar.
Yuan Amandy’s“i am but a small boy”is a poignant tale of a nine-year-old gender-confused boy who uses a terrifying folktale about a tikbalang to process and reveal a tragic reality to a friend.
The event also highlighted the next generation of filmmakers with screenings of the student films “Banggay” by LA Oraza and Hannah Bautista and “Kahel” by Garnet Morilla Llames. “Kahel” recently won Best Film, Best Direction, Best Editing, and Best Music/Score in the All Tamaraws Division of Sinepiyu XVII, and another Best Film accolade at the Tamaraw Media Awards 2026.
The cornerstone of the event was the Industry Talks, which brought established alumni back to their roots to share raw, real-world insights. Moderated by Jor’s fellow film educator Seymour Sanchez, the panel had screenwriter Crystal Hazel San Miguel (“The Hows of Us,” “Hello, Love, Goodbye,” and “Love You So Bad”) and filmmaker Mikko Baldoza (“Haplos sa Hangin” and “The Cheating Wife”) candidly exploring their rigorous transition from communication students to industry professionals.
By anchoring academic theory to professional practice, COMM•PASS 2026 proved that the discourse surrounding cinema doesn’t stop when the credits roll. For the next generation of FEU creatives, the exhibition provided a clear compass to navigate their own artistic journeys, steered by the very alumni who are redefining Philippine cinema today. —Seymour Sanchez
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