Golf courses are designed to project order, beauty, and privilege, but something sinister lurks beneath the immaculate greens of “Filipiñana,” the award-winning feature debut from Filipino filmmaker Rafael Manuel.
The film stars Jorrybell Agoto as Isabel, a 17-year-old from the rural north of the Philippines who works at an exclusive country club outside Manila. Surrounded by oppressive heat and a worsening drought, Isabel spends her days lining up golf balls for wealthy and powerful men while cautiously exploring the resort’s luxuries, hidden passages, and rigid social hierarchy.
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Isabel’s curiosity leads her to a misplaced golf club belonging to Dr. Palanca (Teroy Guzman), the club’s patriarchal director. Her attempt to return it gradually draws her into the resort’s most restricted corners, where the country club’s pristine appearance gives way to violent secrets connected to the Philippines, its ruling class, and Isabel’s own past.
Written, directed, produced, and edited by Manuel, the surreal drama expands his acclaimed 2020 short film of the same name. “Filipiñana” won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and is executive produced by Jia Zhangke.
The cast also includes Carmen Castellanos, Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, Isabel Sicat, and Nour Hooshmand.
Kino Lorber releases “Filipiñana” at New York’s Film Forum on August 28, followed by its Los Angeles opening on September 4. Watch the trailer below.
Rodrigo Perez is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Playlist, which he launched in 2007. He has worked in entertainment journalism since 2000, including at MTV, and has written for SPIN, IndieWire, Pitchfork, Complex, Magnet, and various music, film, and entertainment publications over the past two decades.
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