Cinephiles with a penchant for the macabre are in for a treat as Ngilngig Asian Fantastic Film Festival screens films from October 25 to 29, 2019 in Davao City. With a lineup of 57 short films, the audience can look forward to stories of interesting themes, from those on childhood fears, preserving town tales and superstitions, and archiving dreams and imaginations.

The Ngilngig Festival is an annual showcase of films which was organized in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). From what used to be a horror-genre festival, this has evolved into the first fantastic film festival of its kind in Southeast Asia. The Festival explores the many meanings of the “ngilngig,” a common Bisaya term for something that is “kuyaw” (fantastic) or for something that induces horror.

This year, Ngilngig Festival boasts of an extraordinary selection of short films from all over the world consisting of five exhibition short films, 11 international short films, 18 Asian short films, 13 short films from all over the Philippines, and 10 Ngilngig films from its annual Film Camp.

To aid in creating connections and building networks for future fruitful collaborations among filmmakers, FDCP organized the Filmmaker's Night last October 28, 2019 at Suazo. Spill Harbour and Jon Game played live music during the event.

A film criticism workshop was also conducted as part of the Festival and was attended by guest speakers, including John Bengan, a professor from the University of the Philippines-Mindanao and a member of the YCC Film Desk, alongside workshop director and festival programmer, Jay Rosas. There was a talk on the Horror and the Fantastic in Cinema and TV by Ed Cabagnot, film professor at the De La Salle University-Manila and University of the Philippines-Diliman.

The Ngilngig Asian Fantastic Film Festival Davao 2019 runs at the Cinematheque Centre Davao, selected schools, universities, and alternative spaces. The festival is organized by Pasalidahay with Balud Art Network, Micromedia Digital Video Productions, Timewrap Film Productions and The Panagtagbo, Green Windows Dormitel, Hager Travel & Tours and Cinedashery. It is also co-organized by Holodeck Productions, Road Map Series, PUKAW, Track, and Davao Graphic Designers Community.