DAVAO CITY (September 19) — A documentary born from more than three decades of journalism in Mindanao has reached another international milestone, with Beneath the Badge (Sa Likod ng Tsapa) advancing to the Semi-Finalist, First Round of the Brussels World Film Festival for September 2026.
Written, directed and produced by veteran Mindanao journalist and filmmaker Editha Z. Caduaya, the documentary is now undergoing private jury review, with the festival expected to announce its September results by October 10.
The Brussels World Film Festival informed Caduaya that no additional materials are required at this stage. Projects that advance to the second round will receive a monthly festival award and be considered for the festival’s online event.
For a film produced in Mindanao, the Brussels recognition adds another stop to an increasingly wide international journey.
From headlines to the human story
Beneath the Badge grew from Caduaya’s work as a journalist covering conflict, governance, public safety, peacebuilding and communities across Mindanao.
The documentary examines the life and experiences of police officer Hansel Marantan, looking beyond the uniform to the tensions surrounding duty, authority, controversy, personal consequences and the possibility of redemption.
Rather than presenting a conventional police biography, the film explores how a public controversy can reshape the life of the person at its center—and how public judgment, personal sacrifice and the search for a second chance intersect.
The film’s approach reflects Caduaya’s journalistic instinct to move beyond headlines and examine the people and consequences behind a public story.
“Stories born in the regions deserve to be heard beyond our borders,” Caduaya said. “For me, this journey is not only about the film. It is about proving that Mindanao filmmakers can tell deeply local stories in their own voice and still enter conversations with audiences anywhere in the world.”
A growing international trail
The Brussels recognition follows several milestones for the documentary in 2026.
Beneath the Badge received a Special Mention Award at the 24th Dhaka International Film Festival in Bangladesh, where it was included in the Women Filmmakers Section.
It later received an Outstanding Excellence Award in Investigative Documentaries at the Documentaries Without Borders International Film Festival in the United States.
The film was also selected for the Toronto Lift-Off Film Festival 2026, where it was listed among the festival’s Network Round Features.
In Europe, it was recognized as a Finalist at the Director’s Cut International Film Festival and invited to the festival’s Gala Awards Night in Oslo, Norway.
Its international festival record also includes selections or nominations associated with Doc Only in Copenhagen, Doc Edge in New Zealand, the Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival in Washington, D.C., and the Ahmedabad International Film Festival in India, according to the film’s festival records and filmmaker notifications.
The documentary has also reached an academic audience in the Philippines. The University of Southern Mindanao announced a screening for students and faculty, citing its relevance to learners in criminology, communication and the social sciences.
A Mindanao voice on an international circuit
For Caduaya, the growing festival trail is more than a list of awards and selections.
The film represents an effort to bring a distinctly Mindanao perspective into spaces where stories from outside the country’s traditional film centers can find new audiences.
“Being named a Semi-Finalist is already meaningful because the film has moved into the first round of jury review,” Caduaya said. “We will wait for the judges’ decision and respect the process.”
The next Brussels announcement is expected in October.
Until then, Beneath the Badge remains in competition—another Mindanao-produced story being reviewed beyond Philippine shores.
Produced by POP Movie House / Piyu Oceania Produksyon, the documentary is Caduaya’s first major production and follows Marantan’s life and experiences while examining the human cost of duty, authority, controversy, sacrifice and redemption.
