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AGAPITO
by Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Romeo

15min | Philippines/France | 2025

It's the last day of the month. Bowlers flock to the lanes
of a bowling alley that has seen better days. Mira, the manager, decides to close early. She's awaiting the arrival
of a special visitor.
​
​Year of production 2025
Length 15'
Country Philippines/France
Shooting Format Digital 4K
Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
Dialogue Tagalog

Director ​Arvin Belarmino, Kyla Romero
Producers Jon Galvez, Carlos Ortiz, Mick Quito
Production Companies 901 Studios, Astral 88
Co-Producers Kristine De Leon, Dominique Welinski, Alemberg Ang
Executive Producers 
Carlos Ortiz, Nathan Galvez, Abijah Bautista
Production Associates Quiel Dela Cruz, Camille Tan, Jaed Ababao, Sandei Barrera
Writers Arvin Belarmino, Kyla Romero​
Cinematographer Geia De Vera
Editor John Rogers
Production Designer Isha Dalabajan
Art Director Gon Labudahon ll
Sound Post Monoxide Works
Music Gelo Diamos
Line Producer Stephen Dela Pena
Production Manager Angel Benjamin
Assistant Director Ryanne Murcia
Choreographer Jeremy Mayores
Cast Nour Hooshmand, Andre Miguel, Anton Nolasco, Jeremy Mayores, Veronica Reyes, Joel Garcia, Bullet Dumas, Rhon Mercene, Zee Narciso 

Festival selections
Cannes Film Festival 2025, France - World Premiere
​Concorto Film Festival 2025, Italy
​Toronto International Film Festival 2025, Canada -Honorable Mention
​Macao International Shorts Film Festival 2025
Orvieto Cinema Fest 2025, Italy
Kaohsiung Film Festival 2025, Taiwan
​​Bangkok International Film Festival​ 2025, Thailand
​
El Gouna Film Festival 2025, Egypt - Golden Star Award for Best Short Film ​
Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur 2025, Switzerland
Stockholm International Film Festival 2025, Sweden
QCinema International Film Festival 2025, Philippines​
UK Film Festival 2025, UK
Zinebi - Bilbao International Festival of Documentary and Short Film 2025, Spain
​
Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival 2025, Indonesia
​​BOGOSHORTS - Festival de Cortos de Bogotá 2025, Colombia - Best International Short Film Award
​Zubroffka Short Film Festival 2025, Poland
Festival Séquence Court-Métrage 2025, France
Festival International du Court Métrage de Clermont-Ferrand 2026, France
​
​Flickerfest International Short Film Festival 2026, Australia
​
Minimalen Short Film Festival 2026, Norway
​
Muestra de Cine Internacional de Palencia 2026, Spain
Siné Film Fest 2026, Canada
Landshut Short Film Festival 2026, Germany -International Dräxlmaier Short Film Award
Aspen Shortsfest 2026, USA
Filmfest Dresden 2026, Germany
Brussels Short Film Festival 2026, Belgium
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2026, USA  -Golden Reel, Best Narrative Short Award
Festival Internacional de Cine de Lanzarote 2026, Spain
Dieciminuti Film Festival 2026, Italy
​​Mecal - Festival Internacional de Cortometrajes y Animación de Barcelona 
2026, Spain
​

Director's Statement
This film is a letter to our loved ones. For Kyla, it is a profound dedication to her father — a man who balanced the weight of parenthood while running a multi-sport facility in Cavite, Philippines. To her, that sports hall was more than a place of business.
​It was a second home, a training ground not just for athletes but for a daughter — a woman, learning strength, resilience, and grace. For Arvin, it is a tribute to his younger brother, named Agapito Jr. — a person with special needs. Though they have shared happy moments, Arvin sometimes thought that, without his limitations, Agapito would probably join him in the filmmaking world.
However, he finds contentment, knowing that Agapito’s way of seeing the world defied convention but overflowed with a different kind of wonder. The duckpin alley, for us, echoed with stories and memories from years past. It preserves its charm, in the way that it is untouched and unchanged by the rush of modern life. The workers there, albeit in unglamorous stations, were former duckpin athletes, who move with amazing precision and passion for the sport they love.
We build worlds with those we love, in reality or in fantasy, wherever we go — even within the confines of a bygone
duckpin alley.
​This is our love letter. To our family. To memories.
To the spaces where our passions and connections live on.
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