Sometimes, a mall cinema just doesn’t cut it. Maybe it’s the long lines queueing at Snack Time, or the loud crowds swarming every seat, or even the staleness that comes with watching yet another film in the same predictable setting. Whatever the reason, if you’re craving a movie experience that feels a little more special, these four alternative spots around Manila deliver something different.
Basta Café
Basement, K-Juan Building, T. Gener St., Quezon City
Basta Café is a fresh addition to Manila’s café scene, blending director Antoinette Jadaone’s signature wit with a cozy, minimalist atmosphere. But besides quickly cementing itself as one of QC’s favorite coffee spots, Basta Café also doubles as a quiet haven for film lovers, regularly hosting screenings that highlight the works of local filmmakers. Recently, the café hosted a month-long screening program titled #BastaMayGanap, which included screenings of the 2023 drama Gitling and the 2019 high school comedy Cleaners.
Cinema ’76 Film Society
T. Morato Ave. cor. Sct. Borromeo St, Quezon City
Drawing inspiration from intimate theaters like the Film Society of Lincoln Center, Bleecker Street Cinema, and Carnegie Hall Cinema, Cinema ‘76 Film Society is TBA Studios’ ode to the golden spirit of communal film-watching. This 60-seater microcinema blends the best of both worlds, showcasing the most talked-about local titles alongside global blockbusters. Recent screenings range from Final Destination: Bloodlines, the newest addition to the franchise, to the Filipino rom-com starring love team Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino, My Love Will Make You Disappear. The microcinema also recently screened the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ annual program, A Curation of World Cinema, which featured selections of widely acclaimed international films. You can regularly check the screening schedules on their Facebook page.
VS Cinema
Victoria Sports Tower, South Triangle, 799 Epifanio de los Santos Ave, Diliman, Quezon City
VS Cinema at Victoria Sports Tower is a premier micro-cinema in Quezon City, offering an intimate and luxurious movie-watching experience. Equipped with 55 plush La-Z-Boy seats and a Dolby Atmos 5.1 digital sound system, it ensures comfort and immersive audio-visual quality. The cinema showcases a curated selection of films, including international blockbusters like Karate Kid: Legends and the selected local entries of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Science (FAMAS) Short Film Festival.
Sine Pop
14 St Mary, Cubao, Quezon City
Sine Pop is a boutique theater housed in a restored 1948 home surrounded by a serene bamboo garden, featuring a 48-seat cinema equipped with a 7-meter screen and 7.1 surround sound system. Sine Pop is known for its curated screenings of independent Filipino films, documentaries, and special events. The theater recently hosted a screening of No Other Land, a gripping Israeli-Palestinian documentary that took home an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
