iACADEMY

A Filipino film about how imagination is encroached by social realities is drawing international attention at the Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF) 2026. iACADEMY’s iNDIEGENIUS Batch 1 Finalist Shane David’s film titled Muli Na Ka, Merlie (Merlie, Go Home), represents the Philippines in the International Shorts lineup, bringing with it a deeply human narrative rooted in childhood, community, and survival.

The film follows Merlie, a playful girl whose vivid imagination allows her drawings to come alive. Beneath its whimsical surface, however, lies a sobering reality: her home and community face imminent demolition. As displacement looms, Merlie’s creativity transforms into courage, pushing her to make a heartbreaking but brave decision in a world that often overlooks the vulnerable.

The film reflects a growing trend in Southeast Asian cinema that foregrounds grassroots struggles, urban poverty, forced relocation, and the resilience of marginalized communities, through intimate storytelling. By centering the narrative on a child’s perspective, the film avoids political rhetoric while delivering an emotional impact that resonates universally.

Shane David is a product of the iNDIEGENIUS Project Lab of iACADEMY and is one of the two first grantees. The iACADEMY iNDIEGENIUS program aims to support voices in the Philippines with strong regional perspectives by providing young filmmakers with development opportunities to strengthen their concepts and increase their chances of producing short narrative, animation, and documentary projects.

Shane David’s inclusion among 21 international short filmmakers from 31 countries underscores the strength of contemporary Filipino filmmaking on the global stage. In every frame, it reminds audiences that even the smallest voices can carry the weight of an entire community’s story.