Rafael Manuel is a Filipino filmmaker currently based between Amsterdam, London, and Manila. His short film 'Filipiñana' won the Silver Bear Jury Prize at the 70th Berlinale International Film Festival and was nominated for the Best British Short Film at the British Independent Film Awards 2020. Its feature-length adaptation won the Special Jury Award for Creative Vision at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and was selected as the Philippine entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards.