Before Adrian Alarilla had an international film lineup to consider, there was a loft at Seattle Center to fill. Organizers of the Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival—part of the Festál series—wanted to expand their arts programming and make better use of the Armory’s upstairs space. A friend suggested adding movies and recommended Alarilla to lead the effort.

“The first edition was basically just films my friends made and I just asked them for permission to screen them,” Alarilla says.

Alarilla, who grew up in Metro Manila and has lived in Seattle for about a decade, drew on his experience with the Seattle Asian American Film Festival and began putting out calls for submissions. Over the years, organizers also began looking at new venues and ways to formally organize and secure funding. Diwa Filipino Film Festival gained fiscal sponsorship through Shunpike and support from a 4Culture Sustained Support grant, which helped it launch its first standalone festival at Wing Luke Museum last year while continuing to participate in Pagdiriwang.

The Diwa Filipino Film Festival returns to Wing Luke Oct. 3-4 for its 12th edition, with 42 films. Alarilla builds the programs around themes that emerge from each year’s submissions. “We usually feature serious films and documentaries, but this year we had a good number of laugh-out-loud and absurd films that we just had to share,” Alarilla says. This year’s six are programs are Thicker Than Water, Kwentong Migrante (Migrant Stories), You Can Only Laugh, The Specters Within, The Struggle Continues, Kung ’Di Man (If Not).

One of Alarilla’s picks is Ang Kahimayáang Matúod (The Real Glory) by Adrian William Lo. Set in 19th-century Mindanao, the historical drama explores imperialism and settler colonialism in the Philippines. The film won best screenplay at the 2026 Kisapmata: Sine Pelikula festival.

He also points to Steven Soria’s The Unfortunate Side Effects of Drinking with a Crippling Want, a romance that Alarilla says bears a heavy Wong Kar Wai influence. He calls it “poetic and visually striking.”

The festival’s centerpiece, No Room for Love, follows a group of Filipino American artists navigating work, relationships, and their creative ambitions in Los Angeles. Filmmakers Randal and Malou Kamradt drew on experiences within their own community of artists for the story. “It’s funny, wistful, and insightful,” Alarilla says.

Washington filmmakers are part of the lineup, too. Shea Formanes’ Diwata stars Filipino singer and actress Rachel Alejandro, while Xandra Yugto’s Mahal is a tribute to her parents. Bellingham-based Muymuy Gregorio’s Lenora uses speculative and supernatural storytelling to grapple with neocolonialism and racism. Mike Talplacido’s Finding Filipinotown is a short documentary about the Filipino Community of Seattle.

All the Things I Leave You (Patawid) by Jade Castro, Diwa Filipino Film Festival’s closing night film.

“I want audiences to learn more about Filipino culture, history, and filmmaking,” Alarilla says. “But most of all, I hope audiences get to discover what the Filipino spirit feels like. Diwa means ‘spirit’ in Tagalog. It can connote an individual’s essence or life force, but it can also connote a collective spirit. I wanted the film festival to celebrate the Filipino spirit wherever it resides, so I decided to name our film festival ‘Diwa.’”

Diwa Filipino Film Festival runs Oct. 3-4 at Wing Luke Museum’s Tateuchi Story Theatre.