Filipino actor-producer Piolo Pascual and acclaimed director Raymond Red are set to engage with the Filipino American community during a special meet-and-greet gathering on July 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Triad Theater in Manhattan, held on the sidelines of the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF).
The film’s July 22 NYAFF screening at the IFC Center has officially sold out, reflecting strong audience demand. In response, NYAFF has added a second screening scheduled for July 23 at 9 p.m., also at the IFC Center.
Due to these developments and the artists’ official commitments to NYAFF, the originally planned July 23 community screening at the Triad Theater hosted by EdukSine and partner organizations will no longer take place as a film screening.
However, attendees who previously secured tickets will still have the opportunity to participate in an intimate, in-person gathering with Pascual and Red during the scheduled July 23 event at the Triad Theater. The evening will include a live meet-and-greet, along with a talkback and question-and-answer session about the film and its themes.
Organizers emphasized that Pascual and Red’s primary engagement in New York is their participation in NYAFF, where “Manila’s Finest” is part of the festival’s official programming. As such, festival screenings and related commitments take precedence, while community engagements are considered supplementary opportunities to connect with audiences.
Set in 1969, “Manila’s Finest” follows a group of Manila police officers navigating a volatile landscape marked by murder investigations, student protests, and the tightening grip of state power in the years leading up to Martial Law. Directed by Red, a pioneer of Philippine independent cinema and the first Filipino to win the Cannes Short Film Palme d’Or, the film blends historical drama with crime thriller elements.
The film emerged as a major winner at the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival, earning eight awards and drawing attention for its cinematography and storytelling. Pascual leads an ensemble cast that includes Enrique Gil, Joey Marquez, and Rica Peralejo.
Widely regarded as one of the Philippines’ most enduring screen figures, Pascual has built a decades-long career spanning film, television, and music, while also producing films through his company, Spring Films. His collaboration with Red marks a notable pairing of mainstream star power and auteur filmmaking.
The July 23 gathering is spearheaded by Filipino social entrepreneur and filmmaker Karen Jane Salutan-Krukover, founder of EdukSine, a hybrid platform that combines streaming with grassroots screenings focused on socially relevant and independent cinema.
EdukSine also emphasizes accessibility by integrating Filipino Sign Language into its programming and bringing films to underserved communities in the Philippines and abroad. Salutan-Krukover was recognized as a TOFA Awards honoree in 2025 in Las Vegas.
The event is co-presented by several community and cultural organizations, including The Outstanding Filipino Awards (TOFA), which recognizes Filipino achievers globally; the Concerned Artists of the Philippines New York chapter, an advocacy-driven collective supporting socially engaged art; Ladies for Rizal New York, which promotes the ideals and legacy of national hero José Rizal; BANTAWAN Productions, a group focused on Filipino American artists and performers and on community and cultural presentations; and Pinoy Pride Global Services, a logistics provider specializing in the shipment of balikbayan boxes.
The event is also supported by tofanews.com, a digital platform covering Filipino American stories, entertainment, and community milestones.
Organizers said the gathering remains an opportunity to foster dialogue around Philippine history and cinema while strengthening ties within the diaspora, despite the change in format.
Pascual, who attended the TOFA Awards in Hawaii as an honoree in 2024, is expected to join Red for the in-person discussion with attendees.
For event updates and coordination, ticket holders are advised to contact Karen Krukover of EdukSine at 212-999-7854.
