OAFF × Creative Island Nakanoshima × The University of Osaka
Joint Program: Symposium
Nakanoshima Cinema Summit～Talking Films, Talking Asia!
Special Focus “The Philippines on Screen – Mapping the Present Beyond the Frame”
From Watching to Talking, and to Dialogues that Shape the Future
From Nakanoshima — a crossroads of knowledge and culture — the Osaka Asian Film Festival and the University of Osaka open a platform for discussing Asian cinema. Filmmakers, researchers, students, and audiences from different backgrounds intersect and engage in dialogue, generating fresh perspectives and discoveries. Through the lens of Asian cinema, explore the diverse societies and cultures behind the stories.
Join us as we set off on a new “journey” through Asian cinema from Nakanoshima — this time, heading to the Philippines!
Date & Time
Sunday, September 7, 2025. 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 PM (Doors open 1:00 PM)
Free entry & exit throughout the event
Venue
The University of Osaka, Nakanoshima Center, 3F Studio（4-3-53 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka）
How to apply
Please fill out the registration form below.
https://forms.office.com/r/ybhdsNDV8w
Free Admission. You may also attend without pre-registration, as long as seats are available.
Guest Speakers
Geo Lomuntad(“Sunshine” Producer), RUIZ Frieda Joy Angelica Olay(Graduate School of Humanities, the University of Osaka, Specially Appointed Associate Professor), Leo P Katigbak(Present online／Film Archivist)
*Please note that the guests and program may change due to unavoidable circumstances.
*Interpretation will be provided in Japanese, English, and Tagalog.
Reference
“Sunshine” Screening date / Venue
September 3 (Wed) 13:10 ABC Hall *With guest appearance
September 6 (Sat) 19:10 ABC Hall *With guest appearance
About Ticket
Program Details
Special Focus: The Philippines on Screen – Mapping the Present Beyond the Frame
▶︎Part 1 ※Online talk
Roots and Legacies of Philippine Cinema – Looking Toward the Future
Guest： Leo P Katigbak／Film Archivist
This year’s Osaka Asian Film Festival opened with the restored version of Tracing to EXPO ’70. More than half a century after its original release, the once-deteriorated film has been brought back to life on the very grounds of Expo ’70. We will explore the practice and significance of film restoration, which preserves the past while creating a bridge to the future.
▶︎Part 2
Independent Filmmaking in the Philippines Today
Guest： Geo Lomuntad／“Sunshine” Producer
The competition film Sunshine has been gaining attention at major international festivals such as Toronto and Berlin. Filipino independent cinema is making its mark on the global stage. This session will examine the realities and possibilities of its production environment today.
▶︎Part 3
Through Sunshine: Visualizing Ethical Dilemmas of Religion, Law, and Gender
Guest： RUIZ Frieda Joy Angelica Olay(Graduate School of Humanities, the University of Osaka, Specially Appointed Associate Professor)
Taking Sunshine as our starting point, we will reflect on contemporary Filipino society. With experts, we will unpack themes such as religion, law, and gender, delving into the cultural and institutional contexts behind the film. The session is open to all, including those who have not yet seen the film.
▶︎Part 4
Talking Films, Talking Asia! from Nakanoshima to the World
The program concludes with an open Q&A with our guests, followed by a discussion with the audience. Together, we will share insights into the appeal and potential of Asian cinema, expanding a circle of dialogue from Nakanoshima to the wider world.
Guest Profile
Geo Lomuntad
“Sunshine” Producer
As the founder of the Manila-based production company Super!, he produces original Filipino works with global appeal. He is an alumna of Berlinale Talents, Talents Tokyo, the Busan Asian Film School, and the Rotterdam Lab. His first produced feature, The Missing (dir. Carl Joseph Papa, OAFF 2024), made history as the Philippines’ official entry to the 96th Academy Awards and won Best Animated Feature at the 2024 Asia Pacific Screen Awards. His latest work, Sunshine, which premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and won the Crystal Bear at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival, will be screened in the OAFF EXPO 2025–OAFF 2026 Competition section.
RUIZ Frieda Joy Angelica Olay
Graduate School of Humanities, the University of Osaka, Specially Appointed Associate Professor
Frieda Joy Angelica Olay RUIZ teaches Ilokano, Filipino, Filipino Migrants in Japan, and other Philippine Studies-related subjects. She also teaches Cultural Constructs of Gender courses, both in the undergraduate and graduate school level. Particularly, focusing on Filipino women during pre-colonial times to the present for the spring-summer term, and issues surrounding gender and sexuality of Filipinos for the fall-winter term. She graduated from the University of the Philippines-Diliman with degrees in BA in Anthropology and MA in Anthropology. In 2021, she was conferred a PhD in Human Sciences by The University of Osaka.
Her major publications include “Ilokanogo: World Language Series 20,” the first ever comprehensive Ilokano grammar textbook in Japan which she co-authored with KURIMURA Donald and YAMOTO Kimi and published by Osaka University Press in March 2025.
Leo P Katigbak
Present online／Film Archivist
Leo Katigbak started his career as a freelance writer, editor, producer and director in the mid-80s. He set up the ABS Film Archives in 1994 and subsequently assumed roles in content acquisitions and programming for ABS and Studio 23 broadcast channels. He was Chief of Staff under the office of the President when he launched ABS-CBN Film Restoration. Now a freelance consultant, he most recently oversaw the Sagip Pelikula Advocacy and ABS-CBN’s restoration efforts as well as co-hosted the show/podcast Best 10 Bets.
Co-hosted by
Osaka Asian Film Festival, The University of Osaka (Kaitokudo for the 21st Century and Nakanoshima Art Center), Creative Island Nakanoshima Executive Committee, Committee of Nakanoshima Pavilion Festival 2025
