A massive month-long cultural programme called Balik Bayan is taking over London and three other UK cities this July. Organised by the award-winning community group MilkTea, the festival marks the 80th anniversary of the independence of the Philippines from the United States.
The phrase Balik Bayan translates to “return home” in Tagalog. Londoners will get to experience a packed line-up of film premieres, live theatre, folk dancing, family workshops, and fine art. This is the first time an event of this scale has focused entirely on British-Filipino identity, history, and creative talent.
Curators Graciela Mae Chico and Gabby Lauren have gathered artists from across the global diaspora. The events show how modern creatives are rethinking their heritage while living in the UK.
Here is everything you need to know about the festival, including how to grab tickets and where to find the best street food.
The Big Film Premiere and Regional Tour
The festival kicks off with a major cinematic event. Yellow Rose, directed by Diane Paragas, is getting its official UK theatrical premiere. The 2019 musical drama stars Eva Noblezada as an undocumented Filipina teenager in Texas who wants to become a country music star. She has to choose between leaving her family or giving up her home. Sony Pictures distributed the movie, making it the first Filipino-American film backed by a major Hollywood studio.
The London screening happens at the Soho Hotel on 4 July. Director Diane Paragas is travelling to the capital for an in-person Q&A session. Paris Zarcilla, the British-Filipino director behind the award-winning thriller Raging Grace, will host the talk.
If you live outside London, you can catch the film on a regional tour supported by the BFI and National Lottery funding. These regional screenings include a recorded version of Paragas’s interview.
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London: Soho Hotel – 4 July at 2pm (Live Q&A)
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Glasgow: Glasgow Film Theatre – 8 July at 6pm
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Manchester: King Street Townhouse Hotel – 12 July at 1pm
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Birmingham: Mockingbird Cinema – 17 July at 7:30pm
Tickets for all screenings cost £5.
Live Music and One-Man Theatre
On Saturday 11 July, the action moves to Centre 151 in Hackney. The festival is staging a double-bill performance day divided into two distinct halves.
The afternoon session begins at 6pm. It focuses on traditional music and dance. The Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Company will perform regional folk dances. They have been active since 1994, working to teach younger generations about ancestral traditions. They are sharing the stage with the Haraya Choir. Haraya is the most awarded Filipino choir outside of the Philippines. Many of its singers work full-time as healthcare professionals in the NHS. This part of the day is open to all ages.
After a short break, the second half introduces English Ako, which translates to I’m English. This is a one-man comedy-drama written and performed by Jules Chan. The play comes directly from a run at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It tells the story of Boy, a young man searching for his missing brother while dealing with the tension between his British upbringing and his Filipino roots. Parents should note that this play contains mature themes and is strictly for audiences aged 14 and over.
The food trucks from Turo Turo will cook traditional street food during the event. They offer Halal, vegetarian, and vegan options. Outside food is not allowed in the venue.
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Venue: Main Hall at Centre 151, 151 Whiston Road, London E2 8GU
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Timeline: Doors open at 5:30pm. Dance and choir start at 6pm. Intermission is at 6:30pm. Jules Chan takes the stage at 7pm. The event ends at 8pm.
Tickets: £15 for an all-rounder pass, £10 for a single half, or £5 for children.
Free Art Exhibitions in Dalston
From 21 July to 25 July, the festival moves to the BSMT Gallery in Dalston for a group art exhibition titled Buhay, which means life. Admission is free for the entire week.
The exhibition marks the first time that UK audiences can view works by Hannah Reyes Morales. She is an internationally acclaimed photographer, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and a regular contributor to the Nobel Peace Prize projects. Her images capture daily life and community survival.
The gallery space also features a solo installation by curator Graciela Mae Chico called Kwentong Kahon. This project investigates the history of the balikbayan box. These are large cardboard boxes filled with clothes, food, and gifts that overseas workers mail back to their families in the Philippines. The exhibition uses archival objects and oral histories to show the emotional cost of working abroad.
Featured Artists and Exhibited Works
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Hannah Reyes Morales: Photographs from the series Home Holds Still
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Graciela Mae Chico: Kwentong Kahon installation
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Lynda Lorraine: Portrait series titled Filipino Faces
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Chelsea Pineda: Photo essay titled Barako
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Daryl Rainbow: Illustrations titled Kalayaan
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Paris Zarcilla: Behind-the-scenes photography from Raging Grace
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Chelsea Laylo: Paintings titled Whose House Is This?
The public launch evening takes place on Tuesday 21 July. The gallery stays open daily until 25 July.
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Venue: BSMT Gallery, 529 Kingsland Road, London E8 4AR
Tickets: Free entry, no booking required.
Family Storytelling Workshops and New Film Shorts
Children under ten have their own dedicated slot on Saturday 18 July. Children’s author Candy Gourlay is running an interactive storytelling session at Centre 151. Gourlay grew up in the Philippines under a dictatorship before moving to London. Her novels Tall Story and Wild Song have received nominations for the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize.
The workshop lets families work together to create drawings and short comic strips. Parents must remain in the room to supervise their children. You can buy signed copies of Gourlay’s books after the session finishes.
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Venue: Tea House at Centre 151, 151 Whiston Road, London E2 8GU
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Timeline: Arrival at 11am. The workshop runs from 11:30am to 12:30pm.
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Tickets: Free, but you must reserve a space via Eventbrite.
The entire festival concludes on 28 July at Picturehouse Hackney with MilkTea Mixtape: Filipino Edition. This is a curated screening of short films directed by up-and-coming British-Filipino filmmakers. Ray Roberts will host a panel discussion with the directors immediately after the final credits roll. The night finishes with an industry networking session inside the main cinema bar.
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Venue: Picturehouse Hackney, 270 Mare Street, London E8 1HE
- Timeline: Arrival at 7pm. Screenings start at 7:30pm. Q&A panel begins at 8:15pm. Networking runs from 9pm onwards.For more information see Milktea Films
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