Tyrone Acierto
Director
Wilfredo Manalang
Producer
Philippines
Country
Logline

As a devastating brain disease wipes memories from victims of all ages, a couple and their chronically ill daughter fight to stay sane, clinging to pain, memory, and one another as they search for what remains of their humanity.

Short Synopsis

In the aftermath of a global collapse, a mysterious brain disease erases memory and unleashes violent behavior. Society falls, and the infected, known as “The Lost,” roam in a state of fear and rage. In the Philippine wilderness, an American expat, his Filipina wife, and their chronically ill daughter take shelter in a forest bunker, clinging to survival and to one another. When they discover that physical pain can briefly preserve memory, it becomes a desperate ritual. But as the mother’s mind deteriorates, her final act of love fractures the family. Scattered by violence, father and daughter struggle to find each other. Their bittersweet reunion, marked by loss, leads to one final journey toward a place of promised sanctuary. But not both of them make it. Washed ashore, the girl is found. When asked for her name, she says nothing, only her stare remains, unforgettable.

Tyrone Acierto
Tyrone Acierto

Tyrone Acierto is a Filipino-American filmmaker, artist, and comic creator who’s bold, genre-driven storytelling continues to earn acclaim across international and Philippine film circuits. In 2024, he showcased his multidisciplinary artistry by winning Art64, a live painting competition, while also expanding into cross-media storytelling with Pumpkinomicon, an original horror comic anthology praised for its originality, craftsmanship, and immersive fan engagement.
 

Acierto’s most recent feature, Watch Me Kill (2019), solidified his reputation as a fearless storyteller. Starring Jean Garcia, the psychological thriller swept major awards at the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, including Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing. It went on to screen at the Warsaw International Film Festival and Cinequest in Los Angeles, won Best Film at the Asian Cinematography Awards, and earned nominations at both the FAMAS and Gawad Urian Awards. Distributed internationally by Viva Films, the film exemplifies his mastery of morally complex narratives and striking visual language.
 

He first gained recognition with his debut feature, The Grave Bandits (2012), which premiered at the Metro Manila Film Festival’s New Wave section, winning Best Full-Length Feature and Best Director. It later screened at festivals such as the New York Asian Film Festival and achieved distribution in territories including Malaysia, Japan, and Germany. The success of the film led him to establish his own production company, CineBandits Entertainment.

Beyond his features, Acierto has directed acclaimed works including The Viewfinder, Among All Creatures, and Entrance, all of which highlight his signature fusion of genre experimentation, compelling narratives, and cinematic ambition. His films have reached global audiences through theatrical runs, streaming platforms, and international distribution, affirming his presence in both Asian and diaspora cinema.
 

Born and raised in the Philippines, Acierto moved to Chicago at 21 to pursue filmmaking. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Directing from Columbia College Chicago, specializing in Film Studies and Cinematography, as well as a Fine Arts Degree in Photography from Wilbur Wright College, graduating with honors.
 

Today, Acierto continues to push boundaries across mediums while remaining deeply rooted in Filipino sensibilities, telling stories that transcend cultural borders and cementing his reputation as one of the bold contemporary voices in Philippine and international cinema.

Wilfredo Manalang
Wilfredo Manalang

Wilfredo Manalang, founder of FUSEE, is a key player in Asian film and television. His company co-produced PLAN 75, a Japan-France-Philippines film that premiered at Cannes 2022 and won a Camera d'Or Special Mention. Other credits include the Venice Critics' Week Grand Prize winner DON’T CRY, BUTTERFLY (Vietnam), the Berlinale short THROUGH YOUR EYES (Singapore), and the upcoming ELSEWHERE AT NIGHT (Canada). He also produced local titles like BLUE ROOM (now on Netflix), TOPAKK (which premiered at Locarno and is distributed by Raven Banner), and JOURNEYMAN, which won the 2025 CinePanalo International Jury Prize. Manalang is an alumnus of EAVE Ties That Bind (Taipei/Udine), APOSTLAB (Luxembourg), Docs by the Sea (Indonesia), Ji.hlava New Visions (Czech Republic), and the Asia Producers Network (Singapore). He previously served as Managing Director for International Production at ABS-CBN, where he worked on ALMOST PARADISE, the first Hollywood series filmed entirely in the Philippines. He also served as Executive Director of the Film Development Council of the Philippines and was a board member of the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines. Through FUSEE, he continues to champion Asian stories, working across borders to develop compelling, internationally recognized cinema.