Nine titles spanning multiple genres anchored the debut Gala Night of Kikoman Films (KMF), staged August 23, 2026, at a well-known Dubai hotel roughly nine years into the outfit’s existence. About 150 guests turned out for the black-and-gold cocktail affair.
The lineup drew from KMF’s catalog: Tilamsik Sa Dakilang Apoy (Embers of the Great Fire), Alimbukay (Nausea), Batingaw (The Bell), Nelia, Okay Ka Pa Ba? (Are You Okay, Nelia?), 100 Uploads of Aling Turing, Malen, Malignant, Spectrum, Tahan-Tahanan (Hush Now My Home), and Your Turn.
Guiding the night’s Question and Answer portion was Director and Founder Francis L. J. Gacer, known to many as Direk Kiko, who brought forward the casts of each film. Fielding the questions was a panel of media practitioners and vloggers who probed the actors and filmmakers on their characters, storylines, on-set experiences, and creative approaches.
The proceedings had opened earlier on a red carpet, where artists and attendees posed at the KMF Gala Night backdrop as KMF performers and the 13-piece choir Koro Ducere provided the music.
A high point came with Direk Kiko’s original piece, In the UAE, Everyone Is Emirati. Koro Ducere delivered the choral arrangement while UAE flags were handed out, and the room waved them in unison and sang along in a shared display of belonging and culture.
Looking ahead, Direk Kiko used his closing remarks to signal expansion, telling the crowd that the next edition would be larger still, with twelve new films slated for release. He also thanked the supporters who have stood by Kikoman Films over the years.
