Philippine independent cinema has picked up another international recognition as Filipino short film KABABATA: The Way We Became earned a Best Director honor at the 17th Ahmedabad International Film Festival (AIFF) in India.
The recognition places the Filipino production among films honored at the 2026 edition of the international festival, held from September 29 to October 2 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
This year’s AIFF brought together filmmakers and productions from across the world, with organizers reporting more than 4,700 entries representing 150 countries.
The festival provides a platform for both established and emerging filmmakers and recognizes work across various forms of cinema, including short and feature films, documentaries, animation and other audiovisual productions.
For KABABATA, the directing recognition gives the Philippine short a notable international distinction in a festival field drawing thousands of submissions.
The honor also comes amid continued international exposure for Philippine independent cinema, where short films in particular have become an avenue for Filipino filmmakers to bring locally produced stories to audiences beyond the country.
The Ahmedabad International Film Festival describes its mission as promoting emerging talent, inclusion and international artistic exchange while bringing filmmakers from different countries together in India.
Based in Ahmedabad, the festival also positions the historic city as a meeting point between local Gujarati cinema and filmmaking communities from overseas.
Publicly available information on KABABATA: The Way We Became, however, remains limited. As of October 6, complete details on the film’s creative team, cast, storyline and upcoming screenings have yet to be widely released or independently documented online.
Its Best Director recognition in India nevertheless gives the Filipino production an early international credential—and another entry for the Philippines on the global festival circuit.