LOVE AND VIDEOTAPES

Ryan Machado is a university instructor, filmmaker and playwright whose plays have been staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and won him a national award for literature. He was born and raised in Romblon, an island province he holds dear and is always the setting of his creative works. Growing up in a laidback and quaint town, he was captivated by the narratives of radio dramas and the flickering images on VHS screens that took him to various worlds outside his. Venturing into the world of literature and cinema during his college years, he discovered a profound love for storytelling. It was a late but transformative entry into filmmaking that marked a turning point, sparked by a summer film camp and directing workshop. The result was his debut short film, 'Engkwento,' about a boy growing up in a world of absence and profound longing. His first full-length film, Huling Palabas' is a homage to his hometown and a testament to his enduring love for cinema. He currently teaches language, theatre, and creative writing at the University of the Philippines-Manila while completing his MFA in Creative Writing at the De La Salle University-Manila.