Manila, Philippines, 18 September 2025 – Global mobility platform inDrive is transcending its core business of ride-hailing to emerge as a leader in cultural and technological empowerment. Revealing the Southeast Asian Alternativa Film Festival and the Aurora Tech Award, the company underscores its commitment to elevating underrepresented narratives and advancing women innovators whose work is redefining industries and catalyzing transformative social change worldwide.
Filipino Filmmaker Joins Alternativa Film Festival
Set to return to Colombia in 2026, the Alternativa Film Festival shines a spotlight on films that push the boundaries of creativity while amplifying the voices of marginalized storytellers. By having a Filipino representative in its committee, the festival strengthens cross-cultural collaboration between Asia and Latin America, underscoring the power of filmmaking to inspire dialogue and broaden perspectives.
With the announcement of the Alternativa Film Festival; 2026 Selection Committee, acclaimed Filipino filmmaker and producer Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala. Kara joins an esteemed panel of global industry leaders tasked with curating works that showcase independent cinema from underrepresented regions and communities.
‘It’s a true honor to return as a Selector for Alternativa — a festival that pulsates with artistic innovation and a fierce sense of community. I’m excited to encounter the bold visions, daring forms, and urgent voices of filmmakers who reimagine the world through their craft. To stand alongside them, as both witness and co-creator, in this evolving, collective space of art and advocacy is a privilege I embrace with gratitude and anticipation,” shared Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, Documentary & Impact Producer, Oscars Jury & AMPAS Member, President of Filipino Documentary Society, and a Selection Committee member from Philippines.
For a full list of the 2026 Selection Committee, click [THE SELECTION COMMITTEE OF THE ALTERNATIVA FILM FESTIVAL 2026].
“At the Bogotá Audiovisual Market (BAM), Alternativa, in partnership with founding partner inDrive, hosted the session ‘Festival-Ready: 5 Ways to Boost Your Film’s Visibility and Impact.’ Speakers Natalia Pylaeva, Anna Gudkova, and Marcela Lizcano shared strategies on helping filmmakers reach audiences and drive social change, underscoring Alternativa’s commitment to giving local storytellers global visibility.
Alternativa also introduced a new Residency for Impact Campaigns, led by regional partner Nodo Sur, which will support six Latin American films in building outreach strategies. ‘This partnership is a powerful opportunity to strengthen Latin American cinema and foster collaboration across the region’s impact film ecosystem,’ said Lizcano.”
Aurora Tech Award 2026 Opens Call for Women-Led Startups
Meanwhile, in the sphere of entrepreneurship, inDrive has unveiled the Aurora Tech Award 2026, a prestigious global accolade dedicated to advancing women founders at the helm of technology startups. Since its inception in 2021, the award has distinguished itself as a transformative platform, amplifying women-led ventures that marry innovation with profound social impact, while challenging the structural inequities that continue to pervade the capital landscape.
Applications close on November 12, 2025 at www.auroratechaward.com. Eligible startups must be founded and led by women, no more than five years old, and at the pre-seed or seed stage.
Winners will receive $50,000, $20,000, and $15,000, respectively, alongside access to global investors, strategic partners, and inDrive’s mentorship network. Beyond capital, the award provides visibility and structural support to scale internationally.
“Through initiatives like our filmmaking festival, inDrive is giving Filipino storytellers the opportunity to showcase their creativity on a global stage, strengthened further by the presence of a Filipino jury that highlights the country’s growing excellence in the arts. In the same spirit of elevating local talent, we are also championing women entrepreneurs through the Aurora Tech Award,” said Shaerine Irwina Kaur, inDrive Communications Manager SEA.
For women entrepreneurs in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia, the Aurora Tech Award provides a rare platform to rise above the glass ceiling, gain international visibility, and secure the funding and mentorship needed to scale tech ventures that can reshape local and global markets.