As the Philippines continues to grapple with conversations on youth mental health, gender identity, and intergenerational relationships, a timely film series at the Instituto Cervantes de Manila places female adolescence at the center of the cultural dialogue.
This March, in celebration of Women’s Month, the Intramuros branch of Instituto Cervantes de Manila presents a new edition of Espacio femenino, its annual showcase dedicated to cinema made by and about women. Curated by Filmtopia, the 2026 program explores adolescence not as a cliché of romance or rebellion, but as a complex territory of transformation, vulnerability, and self-definition — themes that strongly resonate with Filipino audiences navigating similar social and familial pressures.
Through four acclaimed films from Spain and Latin America, the series highlights the emotional intensity and contradictions that mark the passage from childhood to adulthood. From grief and first love to caregiving and inherited trauma, these stories mirror universal experiences familiar to many Filipino families: close intergenerational bonds, migration and separation, illness within the household, and the search for one’s voice amid tradition.
Rather than reducing youth to simplistic narratives, the films approach adolescence as a space of negotiation — between desire and duty, individuality and family, instinct and expectation. In a country where family ties remain central to identity formation, these nuanced portrayals offer a meaningful cross-cultural exchange.
Film Programme
Sica (Spain, 2023 – 91 min)
March 3 – 2:00 p.m.
Directed by Carla Subirana
Languages: Galician and Catalan | Not recommended for children under 7
Set along Galicia’s rugged Costa da Morte, Sica follows a young girl grappling with grief after her father disappears in a shipwreck. As she searches the cliffs and forms a bond with a mysterious boy who chases storms, the film becomes a meditation on loss and resilience — themes that echo in many Filipino coastal communities shaped by the sea.
Jone, a veces (Spain, 2025 – 87 min)
March 10 – 2:00 p.m.
Directed by Sara Fantova
Languages: Spanish and Basque | Not recommended for children under 12
Against the backdrop of Bilbao’s Semana Grande festival, Jone experiences first love while facing her father’s worsening Parkinson’s disease. The film delicately captures the intersection of youthful discovery and family responsibility — a dynamic deeply familiar in Filipino households where children often mature early amid caregiving roles.
L’edat imminent (Spain, 2024 – 74 min)
March 17 – 2:00 p.m.
Directed by Colectivo Vigilia
Languages: Catalan and Spanish | Suitable for all audiences
This tender portrait examines the bond between a grandmother and her teenage grandson as he navigates work, youth, and the difficult decision to place her in a public care facility. The film raises timely questions about elder care and generational duty — issues increasingly relevant in the Philippines as families confront changing economic realities.
Tengo sueños eléctricos (Costa Rica/France/Belgium, 2022 – 103 min)
March 24 – 2:00 p.m.
Directed by Valentina Maurel
Languages: Spanish and English | Not recommended for children under 16
In this award-winning debut, adolescence unfolds as a storm of desire, anger, and artistic awakening. Eva, caught between her divorced parents, seeks her own voice while confronting the emotional volatility she inherits from her father. The film speaks powerfully to young people wrestling with identity, creative ambition, and fractured family structures.
“Espacio femenino” is presented by the Instituto Cervantes de Manila in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, AECID, and the Intramuros Administration. All screenings will be in original version with English subtitles.
The Instituto Cervantes de Manila (Intramuros branch) is located at 385 Calle Real, Plaza San Luis Complex, Intramuros. Advance registration is recommended through the institute’s official channels.
For Philippine audiences, the series offers more than international cinema — it opens a reflective space where stories of young women across cultures reveal how adolescence, in all its fragility and force, remains a universal language.