Fresh from winning Best Short Film at the Gawad Urian Awards 2025, filmmaker Maria Kydylee Torato offers an unexpected answer to the question of what comes next: she has no immediate plans to make another film. In an industry that often measures worth by constant output, Torato, a Capizeña filmmaker who champions regional stories, believes the value of women's work in cinema goes beyond awards and ticket sales.
The Value of Rest
For Torato, rest is a form of protest. 'Especially if you choose it intentionally, without the pressure of producing again in mind,' she said. 'We are currently living in a society where hustling and producing more is being rewarded, while resting is seen as being stagnant. As filmmakers, we should reverse our fear of being left behind. It is okay to be left behind because that can also mean staying in a place where you can finally hear yourself again.'
This perspective aligns with the growing movement popularized by Tricia Hersey, author of 'Rest is Resistance.' Hersey frames rest as a deliberate act of reclaiming worth from systems that demand productivity. For women filmmakers, embracing rest pushes against cultures that equate exhaustion with hard work and burnout with success.
Representation and Regional Stories
Torato emphasizes the importance of celebrating female filmmakers because of the many roles they play in society. 'They still choose to tell stories that matter,' she said. 'Their contribution to the landscape of cinema goes beyond the screen. It normalized how society should respect women, laws were formed to protect women, and little girls were inspired to become more than what they are being told.' Representation at the local and regional level is crucial, as female filmmakers have much to say about their lived experiences and struggles intersecting with femininity and freedom.
She hopes that struggling creatives can carve ways to nourish their bodies, minds, and spirits. 'Maybe, just maybe, prioritizing ourselves can be our way to reclaim our freedom and autonomy in this society that continues to commodify us and our creativity,' she said.
From Journalism to Filmmaking
Torato's love for storytelling started early. In Grade 5, she joined campus journalism and declamation, eventually winning at the national level. In high school, she joined Kasanag, the official student publication of Capiz National High School, where she discovered visual storytelling as a layout artist. Twice, she represented her school in collaborative desktop publishing at the National Schools Press Conference, learning the discipline of creative work.
These early years were less about competition and more about discovering many ways a story could be told. The journey of finding one's voice through text and images later led her to filmmaking.
Award-Winning Film 'Bisan Abo, Wala Bilin'
Her award-winning film 'Bisan Abo, Wala Bilin' reflects her mission to highlight local narratives. The story grew out of listening to local faith healers in Capiz. It follows a little girl who fears their healing tree might vanish when needed most, as an unfamiliar skin disease spreads through their village. The film earned 2nd Best Short Film at the Sinag Maynila Film Festival and Best Ngilngig Philippine Short at the Ngilngig Asian Fantastic Film Festival, and was an official selection of the Blue Chair Film Festival.
For Torato, these recognitions point back to the people and stories that shaped her. 'I do not want to be defined by my awards and recognitions, but I want to be remembered for how I lived my life and the values I carry,' she said. 'Humility and empathy are very important to me. My trophies remind me of the responsibility I have to my community in Capiz and the stories they entrust me to tell.'
Redefining Success
Torato believes that what makes a story deserving of the big screen is not complexity but truthfulness and honesty. 'Even a simple story can unpack many layers of social issues that have been swept under the rug for many years. As a filmmaker, it is our role to shed light on this and spark conversation among our audiences,' she said.
By choosing rest and intentional pauses, Torato hopes to inspire others to redefine success on their own terms. 'Eventually, you will get bored, and you will have the urge to move forward again. But this time, with a different perspective about life and everything around you,' she said.
