Record-breaking grants fuel a new era of Philippine cinema at Puregold CinePanalo 2026

The full-length competition showcased seven diverse features, sparking what festival director Chris Cahilig announced via livestream as one of the fiercest acting races yet, pitting acclaimed veterans against fearless newcomers.

Far and away the most awarded film was the Japan-set drama Mono No Aware. Represented at the mediacon by director BC Amparado, producer Patricia Salic and lead actor Juan Karlos Labajo, the film follows a Filipino kodokushi cleaner in Japan who meets an elderly widower asking for one final favour before his death, exploring themes of grief, family and life’s impermanence. The picture secured nine awards, including Pinakapanalong Pelikula, Panalo sa International Jury and Best Ensemble.

Amparado won Panalong Direktor, while Labajo took home Panalong Aktor, besting a formidable field of nominees that included his co-star Perry Dizon, Joross Gamboa for Wantawsan, John Arcilla for Beast, Ian Pangilinan and Khalil Ramos for Patay Gutom and Joao Constancia for Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo). Momoko Kobayashi won Panalong Pangalawang Aktres, while Paolo O’Hara earned a nomination for Panalong Pangalawang Aktor. Mono No Aware also swept the technical categories, winning Panalo sa Cinematography for TM Malones, Panalo sa Editing for Edmund Telmo and Panalo sa Sound Design for Willie Apa Jr.

Apol of my Ai, a coming-of-age film about a young boy whose transition to adolescence is tested when he falls in love with his choir teacher and his father Poli makes a dividing decision, took home four awards. Directed by Thop Nazareno and starring Zanjoe Marudo, Zion Cruz and Rochelle Pangilinan, the film secured the Panalong Karangalan mula sa Hurado. Marudo won Panalong Pangalawang Aktor, defeating O’Hara and Roger Naldo, while Cruz secured the Panalong Child Performer award over Ruslan Jacob from Beast and his own dual nomination for Wantawsan. Emerzon Texon earned Panalo sa Musical Scoring, and Pangilinan secured a nomination for Panalong Pangalawang Aktres.

Sharing the Puregold Always Panalo Film honour were Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo) and Patay Gutom, which both ended the night with four awards each.

Directed by Rodina Singh, the supernatural and proudly queer “Multwoh” follows a deceased college queer who returns as a ghost to finally say “I love you”. The film, featuring a cast that includes Sassa Gurl, Joao Constancia, Phi Palmos, Gaia Poly and Inah Evans, won Panalo sa Mga Manonood, Panalo sa Production Design for Rodrigo Ricio and Panalo sa Brand Intrusion. Sassa Gurl earned a nomination for Panalong Aktres, while Constancia was nominated for Panalong Aktor.

Patay Gutom, co-directed by Carl Joseph Papa and Ian Pangilinan, explores the otherworldly romance of a grumpy shut-in whose third eye opens after eating an offering meant for a lonely ghost. Starring Khalil Ramos, Ian Pangilinan, Agot Isidro, Cris Villanueva and Alwyn Uytingco, the film won Panalong Kwento for Papa and Yvonne Garcia, Panalo sa Visual Effects for its Animation Team and Panalong Poster for Denver Balbaboco. Both Ramos and Pangilinan were nominated for Panalong Aktor, while Isidro received a nod for Panalong Pangalawang Aktres.

Stuck on You, a romantic comedy with a deadly twist directed by Mikko Baldoza, left with two awards. Following a heartbroken manicurist who accidentally takes a hitman’s job, the film won Panalong Awitin for Reyna ng Quezon City by Juana. Lead star Xyriel Manabat won Panalong Aktres, triumphing in a head-to-head battle against Sassa Gurl, while co-star Roger Naldo was nominated for Panalong Pangalawang Aktor. The film also featured River Joseph.

The comedy Wantawsan, directed by Joseph Abello, tackles political dilemmas as a cash-strapped father embarks on a comical adventure after receiving money from a newly elected mayor. The film earned acting nominations for Joross Gamboa (Panalong Aktor), Rita Daniela (Panalong Pangalawang Aktres) and Zion Cruz (Panalong Child Performer).

Rounding out the full-length tier was the fantastical Beast by director Lawrence Fajardo and producer Meg Bryan Bermudez. Following a farmer and his loyal carabao on a magical road trip to Manila to chase the ghost of a niece, the film starred John Arcilla, who earned a Panalong Aktor nomination, alongside Candy Pangilinan, Karl Medina, Ruslan Jacob (nominated for Panalong Child Performer) and Dax Alejandro.

The future of Philippine cinema was equally celebrated through the 19 student shorts, divided into four exhibition sets. These emerging talents proved formidable, engaging in a neck-and-neck race.

In Set A, Limlim secured the top honour of Pinakapanalong Maikling Pelikula. Directed by Samantha Beatriz Acoja Palaje, the short tells the story of a girl and her mother moving to an old chicken farm to confront their grief. Palaje tied for Panalong Direktor alongside Jomarie Corro-Reyes of Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.

Limlim also won Panalo sa Cinematography for Geia de Vera and Panalong Child Performer for Zoey Madison Lim, who starred alongside Panalong Pangalawang Aktres nominee Angela Salga.

Kun Hain, Bisan Diin. (Anywhere and Everywhere), directed by Corro-Reyes, follows a young lawyer returning to Samar to find her activist mother. It won Panalong Karangalan mula sa Hurado, Panalong Kwento for Corro-Reyes and William Roberts and Panalo sa Editing for Brian Spencer Reyes, while lead star Pau Baluyan earned a Panalong Aktres nomination. The cast also included Carla Zarcal and Anton Nolasco.

Set A also featured Starfish by John Clite Apolinar, where a male sex worker confronts his estranged family. Nour Hooshmand won Panalong Pangalawang Aktress, while Junelle Bacho Tecson and Luis Martin Mañalac won Panalo sa Visual Effects. VR Relosa received a Panalong Aktor nomination, acting alongside Jake Ulan, Floyd Tena and Dads Valencia. The set was completed by Michael Baylon’s Kanibal, starring Rowen Jean Ledesma, Roselle Lao and Ma Lourdes Maculada, and Ezaldea Carla Fernandez’s Sa Mga Nagdaan at Lumipas, a queer archiving story starring Darelle Tiu, Aly Torres and Karla Dipasupil.

In Set B, Alumahan by Christian Melvin M Arejola won Panalo sa International Jury, Panalo sa Brand Intrusion and Panalong Poster for Keith Ian Serfino. The film, which follows a grieving fish port helper seeking gang belonging, earned acting nominations for Don Rishmond Cerbito, Jeremy Mayores and Ma. Christina Simon. When Heaven Inched Towards Earth by Vinh Marco, a tale of a farm boy and a sacristan, won Pinakapanalong Promosyon ng Pelikula, with nominations for actors André Miguel and Kaleb Ong. Ang Huling Banlaw ni Susan by Hezekiah M Estorque took home Panalo sa Mga Manonood, while Jonalyn Mateo won Panalong Aktres for her portrayal of a fantastical labandera. Her co-stars included Ian Laczi, Chayl Flores and Jeffrey James. Set B was rounded out by Carl Geronimo’s No Mad is an Island, which earned nominations for Arjhay Mangulabnan and Vic Romano, and Rowan De Aro’s Tingi, starring Jero Andrey Marcelino and Evangeline Argete Gigante.

Set C featured Pulis Dunggab by Maxine Dela Bajan, a tale of childhood make-believe turning real, which won Puregold Always Panalo Film and earned nominations for Van Jordan Gacayan and Elj Seth Tababa. The cast included Richel Ann Basiga. The Sound of K, directed by and starring Jay Gabriel A Cañada, saw the actor win Panalong Aktor for his portrayal of a boy burdened by the fear of speaking. Nang Matakasan ang Tagay by Giancarlo Santiago won Panalong Poster for Eidan Maninang and earned a nomination for Chino Alfonso, who starred alongside Jovic Gabriel Cardano. Carlo Gula’s Nakabinbin featured veteran Soliman Cruz, who earned a Panalong Aktor nomination for his role as a widowed father fighting the law to bury his daughter.

Finally, Set D showcased 12 Shots by Minnesota Flores, winning Panalo sa Production Design (Jim Flores, Minnesota Flores, Sol Samodio) and securing a Panalong Pangalawang Aktor win for Nor Domingo. The film earned nominations for Kyrie Samodio and Karla Pambid, alongside cast member Ethan King. Miss Intrams by Henri Marie C Belimac won Puregold Always Panalo Film and Panalo sa Musical Scoring (Lenard Kent Villanueva), while earning nominations for Mariella Cuerpo, Mika Hamajo and Diana Palma. Bumtak Sara ti Nuangen by Lloyd Pereira won Panalo sa Sound Design (Hannah Gagalac) and earned nods for Belle Francisco and Alfredo Montano. The set also included Teks Battle: Shoot Pati Pato! by John Russel Capule, which won Panalong Awitin for Game Na! and secured a nomination for Kenneth Mendoza, alongside Kapag Tapos na ang Umpukan by Justine Lee Estinor starring Oz Kenshin Rodas.

Additionally, the festival’s newly minted Panorama Section awarded its Pinakapanalong Maikling Pelikula to acclaimed filmmaker Zig Dulay for The Other Side of Reality.

The festival ran from September 23 to October 4 at Gateway Cineplex 18, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, Ayala Malls Feliz, Ayala Malls Circuit, Ayala Malls Manila Bay and Market! Market!.

The massive undertaking of the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026 was made possible by an expansive roster of sponsors, including Alaska, Angel, Argentina, Ariel, Bingo, Birch Tree Fortified, Bear Brand, C2, Century Tuna, Champion, Chuckie, Coca-Cola, Colgate, Cream Silk, Datu Puti, Downy, GoodNom Fresh, Great Taste, Del Monte, Jack 'N Jill, Knorr, Lucky Me!, Maggi, Magnolia Real Mayonnaise, Milo, Monde, MY San, Nestea, Nissin, Nivea, Palmolive Naturals, Pantene, Purefoods, Rebisco, Royal, Safeguard, Sprite, Surf, Wilkins and Zonrox.

By combining unprecedented financial grants with a deeply engaged audience, the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival has cemented its legacy as a vital engine for the ongoing flourishing of the Philippine film industry.

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