Directing

Celeste Lapida

Born November 24, 1999 (age 26)

Celeste Lapida (they/she) is a filmmaker and performance artist from Manila. They are devoted to telling stories of the reimagined queer experience, presenting their characters in situations they best can look out for each other and placing at the center of both their films and performances, gender and the expression of femininity. She has held a passion for visual arts the moment she started list…

Known For

Surface Tension

Surface Tension · 2025

Surface Tension

Competitive swimmer Bulet finds herself drowning on the day of a small town wedding.

Grand Gestures

Grand Gestures · 2020

John flies home to furniture in one corner, the dining table arranged for guests, and their bedrooms removed of its function– he comes home to his father’s funeral. With his mom Leia, they learn how to put together what was removed and rearranged.

MovieFantasyDrama

When an ongoing apocalypse halts the production of Gabby's new film, she escapes to see her artist friend Tona in La Union, a former booming beach town and strategic site for a US military base.

Is this desire?

Is this desire?

Is this desire?

An architect comes to survey a derelict mountain mansion, then finds herself haunted by the presence of two strangers in the house.

Taking my Time to Dance

Taking my Time to Dance · 2024

Taking my Time to Dance

Something seems to be preparing Rana. It appears after spending the day with their grandmother and their friend Saada. In the afternoon, as a hopeful gesture, after getting in drag for the first time. Rana comes home from a night of clubbing (plus getting a new mole), and finally gets to dance.

Somewhere a Destination

Somewhere a Destination · 2021

Somewhere a Destination

There can be glimpses of what feels rewarding. A recognition that something feels right, finally, brings this reward. When a body looks around a space and notices all the wrong things about it, in its rigidness and straight lines, a body starts to desire.

Filmography

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Surface Tension

Surface Tension · 2025

Surface Tension

Competitive swimmer Bulet finds herself drowning on the day of a small town wedding.

Assistant Director

Grand Gestures

Grand Gestures · 2020

John flies home to furniture in one corner, the dining table arranged for guests, and their bedrooms removed of its function– he comes home to his father’s funeral. With his mom Leia, they learn how to put together what was removed and rearranged.

Production Design

MovieFantasyDrama

When an ongoing apocalypse halts the production of Gabby's new film, she escapes to see her artist friend Tona in La Union, a former booming beach town and strategic site for a US military base.

Assistant Director

Is this desire?

Is this desire?

Is this desire?

An architect comes to survey a derelict mountain mansion, then finds herself haunted by the presence of two strangers in the house.

Assistant Director

Taking my Time to Dance

Taking my Time to Dance · 2024

Taking my Time to Dance

Something seems to be preparing Rana. It appears after spending the day with their grandmother and their friend Saada. In the afternoon, as a hopeful gesture, after getting in drag for the first time. Rana comes home from a night of clubbing (plus getting a new mole), and finally gets to dance.

Director

Somewhere a Destination

Somewhere a Destination · 2021

Somewhere a Destination

There can be glimpses of what feels rewarding. A recognition that something feels right, finally, brings this reward. When a body looks around a space and notices all the wrong things about it, in its rigidness and straight lines, a body starts to desire.

Director