Joselito Altarejos

Joselito Altarejos
Joselito Altarejos
Born	Ticao Island, Philippines
Other names	Jose Altarejos, Jay Altajeros
Occupation(s)	Film director, film producer, screenwriter
Years active	1998–present

Joselito Altarejos is an acclaimed Filipino filmmaker known for his contributions to New Queer Cinema and socially conscious filmmaking. His works delve into themes of identity, sexuality, and social struggles, earning him recognition in both local and international film circles. Altarejos has received numerous prestigious awards, including Gawad Urian and honors from international festivals.

He is celebrated for pioneering openly gay-themed films, including The Man in the Lighthouse (Ang Lalake sa Parola, 2007), Antonio's Secret (Ang Lihim ni Antonio, 2008), The Game of Juan’s Life (Ang Laro ng Buhay ni Juan, 2009), Pink Halo-Halo (2010), The Commitment (Kasal, 2014), Memories of Forgetting (2020), and The Revolution Knows No Gender (2021). His 2017 film Tale of the Lost Boys, shot in Taiwan, further showcased his narrative versatility.

As founder and creative director of 2076 Kolektib, Altarejos strives to create multimedia content that educates, inspires, and challenges audiences, tackling pressing socio-political issues. With decades of experience, he aims to awaken social consciousness and cultivate what he calls the "Great Filipino Audience."

In addition to his film work, Altarejos has directed popular Filipino television series and anthologies, often credited as Jose Altarejos, including Legacy on GMA Network.

Career

Key Career Highlights:

Antonio’s Secret (2008) won Best Feature Film at Festival de la Luna (Valencia) and Festival del Mar (Ibiza).
The Game of Juan’s Life (2009) received an Honorable Mention in the Narrative Category at the Chicago Reeling Film Festival.
Pink Halo-Halo (2010), the first feature film in the Bicolano Tigaonon language, won Best Editing and Jury Prize for Film for Children at Cinemalaya, emphasizing the effects of war on Filipino families.
Unfriend (2014) premiered at the Berlinale Panorama Section, gaining international attention for its exploration of social media's dangers. It was distributed globally by Fortissimo Films.
The Commitment (Kasal) (2014) was critically acclaimed at Cinemalaya, winning Best Feature Film, Best Music, and Best Cinematography for its nuanced portrayal of a gay couple's relationship. It also received the Special Jury Prize for Best Film at Gawad Tanglaw.
T.P.O. (2016), addressing domestic violence, earned Best Screenplay and Best Sound at Sinag Maynila.
Tale of the Lost Boys (2017), Altarejos' first international feature, won Best Film at Romanian Gay Film Nights and multiple awards at Sinag Maynila. It was screened at major festivals, including NewFest and the Taiwan International Queer Film Festival. in 2018 The film was adjudged Best Film and Best Editing at Sinag Maynila.
Jino to Mari (2019) swept the FACINE International Film Festival (California, USA), winning numerous awards, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor/Actress. It also won Best Screenplay and Best Actress at Sinag Maynila.
Memories of Forgetting (2020) garnered multiple awards, including Best Editing, Best Production Design, and Best Supporting Actress for Dexter Doria, at Gawad Urian, FAMAS, and Gawad Tanglaw.

· In 2021, Altarejos finally released The Revolution Knows No Gender (Walang Kasarian ang Digmang Bayan ) online on November 30 as a tribute to Andres Bonifacio on National Heroes Day. The film earned him Best Editing at Gawad Tanglaw and at Gawad Urian, where it also garnered multiple nominations, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.

Guardia de Honor (2024), a film on police brutality, premiered at the Moscow International Film Festival and competed at Da Nang and Barcelona Asian Film Festivals.

Other Notable Achievements:

Altarejos directed several television series for GMA and TV5 under the pseudonym Jay Altarejos. His works include the youth-oriented POSH, the long-running Legacy, and the popular dramas My Lover, My Wife and Blusang Itim.

Altarejos' career is defined by his fearless storytelling, artistic innovation, and unwavering dedication to using cinema as a platform for social commentary.

Awards and nominations

Awards and Recognitions

2009 Chicago Reeling Film Festival:
- Honorable Mention, Narrative Category (The Game of Juan’s Life)
2010 Festival de la Luna, Valencia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival:
- Best Film (Antonio's Secret)
- Best Actor (Kenjie Garcia for Antonio's Secret)
2010 Festival del Mar, Mallorca, Spain:
- Best Film (Ang Lihim ni Antonio)
- Best Actor (Kenjie Garcia for Ang Lihim ni Antonio)
2010 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival:
- Best Editing (Chuck Gutierrez for Pink Halo-Halo)
2014 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival:
- Best Film - Director's Showcase (Kasal, directed by Joselito Altarejos)
- Best Cinematography - Director's Showcase (Mycko David for Kasal)
- Best Production Design - Director's Showcase (Harley Alcasid for Kasal)
- Best Original Music - Director's Showcase (Richard Gonzales for Kasal)
2015 Gawad Tanglaw:
- Jury Prize for Best Film (Joselito Altarejos for Kasal)
2016 Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival:
- Best Screenplay (Joselito Altarejos and Archie del Mundo for Temporary Protection Order)
- Best Sound Design (Andrew Milallos for Temporary Protection Order)
2017 Serile Filmului International Film Festival:
- Best Film (Tale of the Lost Boys)
2018 Sinag Maynila International Film Festival:
- Best Film (Tale of the Lost Boys)
- Best Screenplay (May delos Santos for Tale of the Lost Boys)
- Best Editing (Diego Marx Dobles for Tale of the Lost Boys)
- Box Office Film (Tale of the Lost Boys)
2019 Sinag Maynila International Film Festival:
- Best Screenplay (Joselito Altarejos and John Bedia for Jino to Marī)
- Best Actress (Angela Cortez for Jino to Marī)
- Best Music (Richard Gonzales for Jino to Marī)
2019 FACINE International Film Festival:
- Gold Best Film (Jino to Marī)
- Gold Award for Direction (Joselito Altarejos for Jino to Marī)
- Gold Award for Screenplay (Joselito Altarejos and John Bedia for Jino to Marī)
- Gold Award for Performance by a Lead Actor (Oliver Aquino for Jino to Marī)
- Gold Award for Performance by a Lead Actress (Angela Cortez for Jino to Marī)
- Gold Award for Editing (Joselito Altarejos and Diego Marx Dobles for Jino to Marī)
- Gold Award for Production Design (Jay Altarejos, Robert Haba, and Xander Alih for Jino to Marī)
- Gold Award for Aural Design (Andrew Milallos and Richard Gonzalez for Jino to Marī)
- Gold Award for Performance by a Supporting Actor (Perry Escaño for Jino to Marī)
- Special Mention for Performance by a Supporting Actress (Ruby Ruiz for Jino to Marī)
2021 Gawad Urian:
- Best Editing (Joselito Altarejos for Memories of Forgetting)
- Best Supporting Actor (Dexter Doria for Memories of Forgetting)
- Best Production Design (Darrel Manuel for Memories of Forgetting)
2021 Gawad Tanglaw:
- Natatanging Pelikulang Filipino (Memories of Forgetting)
- Best Supporting Actress (Dexter Doria for Memories of Forgetting)
- Best Editing (Joselito Altarejos for Memories of Forgetting)
2022 Gawad Urian:
- Best Editing (Joselito Altarejos for The Revolution Knows No Gender)
2022 FACINE International Film Festival:
- Silver Best Performance by a Lead Actor (Oliver Aquino for Love and Pain in Between Refrains)
- Special Mention for Performance by a Lead Actress (Elora Españo for Love and Pain in Between Refrains)

Nominations

2008 Philippines FAP Awards:
- Best Production Design (Ma. Asuncion Torres and Anna Carmela Manda for The Man in the Lighthouse)
2008 Philippines Golden Screen Awards:
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama, Musical, or Comedy (Justin De Leon for his role as Jerome in The Man in the Lighthouse)
2009 Philippines Golden Screen Awards:
- Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actor (Kenjie Garcia for Antonio’s Secret)
- Best Performance by a Supporting Actress (Shamaine Buencamino for Antonio’s Secret)
2010 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival:
- Best Film - Directors Showcase (Joselito Altarejos for Pink Halo-Halo)
2014 Berlin International Film Festival:
- Nominated for Teddy Award (Unfriend at the Panorama Section of the Berlinale)
2014 Gawad Urian:
- Best Actor (Arnold Reyes for Kasal)
2016 Sinag Maynila:
- Best Film (Temporary Protection Order)
- Best Director (Joselito Altarejos for Temporary Protection Order)
- Best Actor (Mengui Cobbarubias and Oliver Aquino for Temporary Protection Order)
- Best Actress (Mara Lopez for Temporary Protection Order)
2018 Sinag Maynila:
- Best Director (Joselito Altarejos)
- Best Actor (Oliver Aquino and Su Da for Tale of the Lost Boys)
2019 Sinag Maynila:
- Best Film (Jino to Marī)
- Best Director (Joselito Altarejos for Jino to Marī)
- Best Actor (Oliver Aquino for Jino to Marī)
- Best Editing (Joselito Altarejos and Diego Marx Dobles for Jino to Marī)
- Best Sound (Drew Milallos for Jino to Marī))
2020 Gawad Urian:
- Best Editing (Joselito Altarejos for Jino to Marī)
- Best Actor (Oliver Aquino for Jino to Marī)
2020 FAMAS:
- Best Actress (Angela Cortez for Jino to Marī)
2021 Gawad Urian:
- Best Director (Joselito Altarejos for Memories of Forgetting)
- Best Screenplay (Joselito Altarejos for Memories of Forgetting)
- Best Actor (Noel Escondo for Memories of Forgetting)
- Best Cinematography (Nix Bagaoisan, Onin Estrella, Manuel Garcellano for Memories of Forgetting)
2021 FAMAS:
- Best Film (Memories of Forgetting)
- Best Editing (Joselito Altarejos for Memories of Forgetting)
2022 Gawad Urian:
- Best Film (Walang Kasarian ang Digmang Bayan)
- Best Director (Joselito Altarejos for Walang Kasarian ang Digmang Bayan)
- Best Screenplay (Joselito Altarejos for Walang Kasarian ang Digmang Bayan)
- Best Supporting Actor (Sandino Martin for Walang Kasarian ang Digmang Bayan)
- Best Music (Arbi Barbarona for Walang Kasarian ang Digmang Bayan)
- Best Sound (Andrew Milallos for Walang Kasarian ang Digmang Bayan)
- Best Actress (Elora Españo fro Love and Pain in Between Refrains)

Filmography

Director

Films and features

(all in Philippines, except Tale of the Lost Boys in Taiwan)

2007: The Man in the Lighthouse (Ang Lalake sa Parola)
2008: Antonio's Secret (Ang Lihim ni Antonio)
2008: Change Gears (Kambyo)
2009: Little Boy Big Boy
2009: The Game of Juan's Life (Ang Laro ng Buhay ni Juan)
2010: Pink Halo-Halo
2010: Censored Dreams
2014: Unfriend
2014: The Commitment ( Kasal)
2016: T.P.O. (also known as Temporary Protection Order)
2017: Tale of the Lost Boys
2019: Jino to Mari (Gino and Marie)
2020: Memories of Forgetting
2021: The Revolution Knows No Gender (Walang Kasarian Ang Digmang Bayan)
2021: Love and Pain in between Refrains
2022: Memories of a Love Story
2024: Guardia de Honor

TV series

1998: Ganyan Kita Kamahal (TV series)
1998: Halik sa Apoy (TV series)
2011: The Weakest Link
2006: POSH (TV series) (credited as Jay Altarejos)
2008: Dear Friend (TV series)
2011: My Lover, My Wife (TV series) (as Jay Altajeros)
2011: Blusang Itim (TV series)
2011: Kung Aagawin Mo ang Langit (TV series)
2012: Legacy (TV series) (98 episodes) (as Jay Altarejos, co-directed with Andoy Ranay)
2014: Obsession (TV series) (as Jay Altarejos)
2014-2015: Wattpad Presents series (all as Jay Altarejos):
- 2014: Wattpad Presents: Mr. Popular Meets Miss Nobody (5 episodes)
- 2014: Wattpad Presents: Poser (5 episodes)
- 2014: Wattpad Presents: Mr. Popular Meets Miss Nobody: Still In Love (5 episodes)
- 2015: Wattpad Presents: BitterElla
- 2015: Wattpad Presents: Heartbreaker
- 2015: Wattpad Presents: Marry You

Producer

2007: Ang Lalake sa Parola (The Man in the Lighthouse) (line producer)
2008: Ang Lihim ni Antonio (Antonio's Secret) (line producer)
2008: Kambyo (line producer)
2010: Pink Halo-Halo (producer)
2010: Laruang Lalake (Boy Toys (co-producer) (credited as Joselito Altarejós)
2013: Unfriend (producer)
2014: Kasal (The Commitment) (executive producer / producer)
2016: T.P.O. (producer)
2017: Tale of The Lost Boys (producer)
2019: Jino to Marī (producer)
2021: The Revolution Knows No Gender (executive producer / producer)
2021: Love and Pain in Between Refrains (executive producer / producer)
2022: Memories of a Love Story (producer)
2024: Guardia de Honor (producer)

Writer

2007: Ang Lalake sa Parola (The Man in the Lighthouse) (story)
2008: Ang Lihim ni Antonio (story)
2008: Kambyo (story)
2009: Ang laro ng buhay ni Juan (screenplay)
2010: Pink Halo-Halo (screenplay)
2014: Kasal (The Commitment) (story and screenplay)
2016: T.P.O. (story and screenplay)
2019: Jino to Marī (screenplay)
2021: The Revolution Knows No Gender (story and screenplay)
2021: Love and Pain in Between Refrains (story and screenplay)
2022: Memories of a Love Story (story and screenplay)
2024: Guardia de Honor (story and screenplay)