‘ENJOY YOUR STAY’ OFFICIALLY OPENS CINEMALAYA 22

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), in collaboration with Be For Films (Belgium), proudly presents ‘Enjoy Your Stay', the latest feature from director Dominik Locher, with a screenplay from Honeylyn Joy Alipio. Fresh from its world premiere in the  Berlinale Panorama section of the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival, the  film is set to open the 22nd Cinemalaya Filipino Independent Film Festival.

Audiences can catch the film’s Philippine Premiere on August 6, 2026, at 7:30 PM at Red Carpet Cinemas 1 & 2, Shangri-La Plaza.

Leading the cast is internationally acclaimed Filipino actress Mercedes Cabral joined by Anna Luna, Irma Adlawan, Donna Cariaga, Hasmine Kilip, Madeleine Nicolas, and an ensemble of international performers.

Set in the Swiss Alps, ‘Enjoy Your Stay' tells the story of Luz, an undocumented Filipina employed at a luxury ski resort. As she navigates the demands of her work and the uncertainty of her circumstances, the film reveals the often unseen realities faced by migrant workers beneath the veneer of privilege and luxury tourism.

‘Enjoy Your Stay’ resonates with this year’s festival theme, ‘Cinemalaya 22: Reel Reflections’, which explores cinema as a reflection of lived experiences and a means of deepening our understanding of the human condition.

Since its world premiere at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival, the film has garnered praise for its timely examination of migrant labor, economic inequality, as well as Mercedes Cabral’s compelling lead performance.

“To witness a primarily international audience burst in applause in unquestionable affirmation of the talent of the Filipina in a prominent festival like the Berlinale leaves one stunned,” said FDCP Chairman and CEO Jose Javier Reyes, recalling the film’s warm reception during its Berlin  premiere.

Cabral gained local and international attention through her collaborations with acclaimed filmmaker Brillante Mendoza in ‘Serbis’ (2008) and ‘Kinatay’ (2009). She has since built an impressive body of work that continues to showcase  her remarkable versatility and enduring presence in Philippine cinema. ,

Emphasizing the widely-recognized natural talent of Filipinos in the field of entertainment, Chairman Reyes continued, “But the fact is there: our actresses – when given the chance – can prove that they are nothing short of being world class.”

Following its Philippine premiere during the Cinemalaya opening,  ‘Enjoy Your Stay’ will also be featured in the next edition of FDCP Presents: A Curation of World Cinema, bringing another highly-acclaimed title closer to local audiences.

Admission to ‘Enjoy your Stay’ screening is free.

For more details and updates, stay tuned on the official social media pages of Cinemalaya, or visit Cinemalaya.org.

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