Watching JP Habac’s ‘Ex-Ex Lovers’ in the cinema feels like reliving a childhood memory — almost as if I was watching the same Marvin and Jolina on my grandparents’ sofa from years past.

The Manila Film Festival showcased four new short films from some of the most talented directors in the industry today: Pepe Diokno (fresh from his Metro Manila Film Festival success with GomBurZa), JP Habac (known for I’m Drunk, I Love You and the recent Love You Long Time), Dwein Baltazar (whose Third World Romance became a streaming and festival favorite), and Sigrid Andrea Bernardo (famed for Kita Kita and whose short film Pushcart Tales has been acclaimed by us as one of her best).

Here are their latest offerings, as reviewed by our staff writers.