The upcoming Filipino drama Once Upon a Time in the Philippines has surfaced at the 2026 Asian Project Market (APM) in Busan, presenting a narrative that reframes the traditional role of the bystander in political cinema. Directed by E del Mundo, the film moves beyond the “innocent witness” trope to explore how survival and circumstance can transform an observer into an accomplice during a national tragedy.
The story follows Sam, a 19-year-old worker at a petrol station who transitions from an unwilling witness to an accomplice in a political massacre. Her journey leads her into the orbit of a violent political event inspired by the 2009 Maguindanao massacre—historically recognized as the single deadliest event for journalists, claiming 58 lives, including 32 members of the press. Rather than remaining a secondary figure to the carnage, Sam’s character arc explores the moral gray areas of participation and complicity in the face of overwhelming political force.
Challenging the ‘Innocent Witness’ Narrative
Director E del Mundo, who previously won Best Director at the 2017 Cinemalaya Film Festival for Manong ng Pa-aling, intends for the protagonist to represent more than just a fictional victim. Del Mundo has stated that Sam serves as an archetype for Filipino women navigating a male-dominated political landscape, where fighting for a place often involves understanding and surviving gendered violence.
The film’s aesthetic is designed to match its gritty, historical context. The production plans to shoot on Super 16mm film to provide a period-authentic texture that complements the 2009 setting. This visual choice aims to ground the narrative in the specific atmosphere of the late 2000s Philippines, distancing it from the polished look of contemporary digital cinema.
Production Status and International Co-Production
Currently seeking final production financing, the project is a centerpiece at the Asian Project Market during the Busan International Film Festival, which runs from October 10 to 13, 2026. The film has established a total budget of $825,000, with approximately $508,000—roughly 60% of the required funding—already secured.
The film is a multi-national collaboration involving several production houses. Key figures include producers Kyle Nieva of Screen Asia and Gian Carlo Librojo, with international support from France’s Piano Sano Films and Norway’s DUOfilm. This co-production structure reflects the project’s ambition to bring a specific moment of Filipino history to a global audience while maintaining the local specificity of the Maguindanao massacre and its aftermath.
As Once Upon a Time in the Philippines moves through the APM, the focus remains on securing the remaining financing to begin principal photography. The film represents a growing trend in Southeast Asian cinema that looks back at recent political history not through the eyes of heroes or villains, but through those caught in the middle of systemic violence.
