Rising filmmaker Ryan Machado keeps his cinematic lens on challenging subjects. After exploring queerness through a bittersweet nostalgic lens in his previous feature film, Huling Palabas, which premiered in 2023 in Berlinale’s Generation section, the Philippine director returns to the festival with a visceral, tonally dark drama. Set in the 90s on a provincial Philippine island, Raging touches upon the taboo subject of sexual assault experienced by young men. Just before the festival closes, Machado takes time to talk with Lidanoir about the true events that fueled Raging, its creative risks, and why he believes audiences are ready for stories that confront raw, uncomfortable, but necessary subjects.