Arvin Belarmino

Arvin Alindogan Belarmino (born 1987) is a Filipino filmmaker. His debut feature project Ria was selected for the 2022 Festival de Cannes Cinéfondation La Résidence where it received the CNC Pitch Award. His short film Radikals was selected for La Semaine de la Critique (Critic's Week) competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival and in the following year, the short drama Agapito (film) premiered in the Short Film Palme d'Or competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival while the film Ali, written by him, got a special mention award during the latter. Career Belarmino began his filmmaking career with short films including Nakaw (2016) and The Death of Pablo (2016).

He directed the experimental shorts Hinakdal in 2023 and Radikals in 2024.

In 2025, he co-directed with Kyla Danelle Romero the short drama Agapito (film), which premiered in the Short Film Palme d'Or competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. In the same year, the film received an honorable mention in the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival for the Best International Short Film award.

In June 2026, Belarmino was invited by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, organizer of the annual Academy Awards, as a member of its Short Films Branch, becoming one of 529 artists and executives worldwide selected for the Academy's 2026 membership class.

Early life

Belarmino was born in Masbate but spent most of his years in Manila. He developed an interest in films at the age of eight after his father began taking him to video stores.

Education

Belarmino took up information technology in De La Salle University – Dasmariñas at Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Festival participation Belarmino has participated in these film programs: Festival de Cannes: Cinéfondation residency (2022), short film selection (2025) Talents Tokyo Locarno Filmmakers Academy Kristine De Leon – Producer of Agapito John Angelo Diamos – Composer for Agapito Adnan Al Rajeev – Director Ali

Recent work Belarmino's short film Agapito premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. He participated in the 2024 Quinzaine des Cinéastes Factory Programme.