Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil, a Filipino filmmaker, director, and producer, has made a significant impact in Philippine cinema through her advocacy-driven storytelling and unwavering commitment to social justice.
A cum laude graduate in Broadcast Communication from the University of the Philippines Diliman, Ongkeko-Marfil's artistic journey began with the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA),where she witnessed the transformative power of the arts in community empowerment.
Throughout her career, she has worked alongside renowned filmmakers such as Ishmael Bernal, Mike de Leon, and Lino Brocka on iconic films that have deeply shaped her social consciousness as a filmmaker. Her award-winning works have tackled a range of pressing issues, including gender, human rights, climate change, and child protection.
Early notable films include Is Your Gender an Issue?, Angels, and Walang Bakas, which received accolades from the Asian TV Festival and Catholic Mass Media Awards. Her film production company, Erasto Films, has produced and directed acclaimed titles such as Mga Pusang Gala, Lakbay2Love, and Boses, which has been endorsed by UNICEF and various institutions.
Beyond her work in filmmaking, Ongkeko-Marfil is the founder of Pelikulove, an online platform offering theater and film writing classes in collaboration with Ricky Lee and Rody Vera. She has also led the Shout Out Festival (2022) and ShoutPinas 2022, an anthology that won Best Social Message at the 2024 Global India Film Festival.
Her latest film, Lakambini Gregoria de Jesus (2025),further solidifies her position as a powerful voice in Philippine cinema, consistently using the arts to inspire dialogue and promote social justice.
Through her body of work, Ongkeko-Marfil has demonstrated her unwavering commitment to using the arts as a tool for social change, inspiring a new generation of filmmakers and artists to follow in her footsteps.
