Arjanmar H. Rebeta
Director
Khaye Medina
Producer
Philippines
Country
Logline

In a town on the brink of chaos, where the corrupt sport of cockfighting intertwines with political power, a veteran gaffer embarks on a desperate search for his missing son. As the eruption of a volcano looms, Migo uncovers a dark web of deceit, violence, and manipulation, forcing him to confront his complicity and the brutal truth he’s been avoiding.

Short Synopsis

There Is, There Isn't unfolds in a volatile town on the brink of disaster, with a volcano’s eruption looming. The story follows Migo, a veteran gaffer entrenched in the brutal world of cockfighting, as he searches for his missing son, Maro. Migo sharpens the deadly tari (blades) used in the fights, but his journey of grief and guilt leads him to uncover a dark conspiracy linking his son’s disappearance to a corrupt political system. Migo discovers that Maro was a witness to the abduction and elimination of cockfighters who knew too much. As the authorities and local politicians cover up the truth, Migo embarks on a path to redemption and justice. Alongside him is Karen, Maro’s pregnant wife, torn between grief and anger. The film explores justice, guilt, and corruption, with the discovery of Maro and Migo’s bodies during Karen’s labor, climaxing with the eruption of the volcano, the cry of a newborn, and the crowing of a rooster.

Arjanmar H. Rebeta
Arjanmar H. Rebeta

Arjanmar H. Rebeta is a Filipino filmmaker and photographer from Camarines Sur, Bicol. Growing up in a farming family, his father was a cockfighter and gaffer who worked with blades for game fowls. While Rebeta never entered a cockpit as a child, he often witnessed his father’s silent strength as he left with tools of his trade and returned home tired but providing for the family. His first cinematic memory came from discarded film strips, which he shaped into toy trumpets, sparking his lifelong interest in storytelling. A philosophy graduate, Rebeta’s films are introspective, exploring justice, memory, loss, and human connection. In his film "There Is, There Isn’t”, Rebeta honors his late father while addressing the real-life disappearances of cockfighters in the Philippines. Written during the birth of his son, the story reflects on fatherhood and the fear of being forgotten. Rebeta is an alumnus of the Southeast Asian Film Lab, Cinemalaya Film Lab, and Ricky Lee Scriptwriting Workshop. His films have screened at major international festivals and won awards like the NETPAC Jury Prize at Cinemalaya.

Khaye Medina
Khaye Medina

Khaye Medina is a Filipino producer, entrepreneur, and licensed nurse passionate about storytelling through film. Since 2014, she has produced short films, ads, and cultural projects, with works gaining recognition locally and internationally. As Producer of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Lakbay Sine and Cine Icon since 2022, she promotes film appreciation nationwide and preserves Filipino cinematic heritage. A fellow of the Creative Producers’ Lab and participant of the Taskovski Films Program, she also represented the Philippines at Berlinale Film Festival in 2022. As Co-Founder and COO of Giya Studios, Khaye continues creating impactful narratives on culture, identity, and empowerment.