The Cinemalaya Institute (Institute) is the training arm of the Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc. (CFI). It is focused on providing education, training, and accreditation of practitioners in key aspects of film production.

The Institute was born in 2015, Cinemalaya’s 11th year, out of the need to train new filmmakers to ensure the growth and sustainability of Cinemalaya as the leading independent film festival in Asia.

The Institute offers five (5) master classes: Basic Filmmaking: The Silent Film; Screenwriting; Production Management; Film Editing; and Cinematography.

Its faculty were members of New York University’s (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts Asia’s M.F.A. program in film in Singapore, headed by film director Carlos Siguion-Reyna. Eventually, Filipino film experts who participated in the Institute programs were recruited into or given key responsibilities in the Television and Film Industries. A few graduates have also produced, written and directed films for Cinemalaya.

In 2020, because of the COVID 19 Pandemic, the Institute was not able to offer its courses. This year however, it plans to open some courses within the limitations of the pandemic to continue pursuing its commitment as a training institute. Filmmaking had significantly changed but at the same time, the challenges brought by these changes are enormous opportunities to be more creative in all aspects of film production.

Thus, we see the Institute to be an avenue for putting into effect such considerable possibilities. The planned Program will be implemented through virtual classes, following the “new normal” arrangements.