Following a rigorous selection process, eight winning finalists have been chosen to receive a production grant of three million pesos (PHP3,000,000) each. These talented filmmakers will have the opportunity to present their films at the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival.
The 2025 Puregold CinePanalo lineup of filmmakers consist of the following titles:
- “Co-love,” Jill Singson Urdaneta
- “Fleeting,” Catsi Catalan
- “Food Delivery,” Baby Ruth Villarama
- “Journeyman,” Christian Paolo Lat & Dominic Lat
- “Olsen’s Day,” JP Habac
- “Perlas sa Silangan,” TM Malones
- “Sepak Takraw,” Mes De Guzman
- “Tagsibol,” Tara Illenberger
Although the festival initially set the number of finalists at seven, the selection committee decided to add one more due to the exceptional quality of the entries. As a result, an additional finalist was awarded the PHP3,000,000 production grant.
This decision was wholeheartedly supported by Puregold and its President, Vincent Co, who view the CinePanalo Film Festival as a vital platform for fostering the growth of Philippine cinema.
“Giving the opportunity to eight (8) full-length stories to be official entries in Puregold CinePanalo 2025 is a reflection of the significant talent and craftsmanship of Filipino filmmakers,” Vincent stated. “We are committed to showcasing the vision of these young directors. And we are confident that supporting their films will enrich Philippine cinema.”
The inclusion of an eighth entry may also be credited to the Festival’s partners, including CMB Film Services Inc., Terminal Six Post, Mowelfund Film Institute, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), and Gateway Cinemas, where the eight films will debut.
To be selected, each filmmaker had to compete against multiple applicants from all across the country. Following the initial screening, sixteen filmmakers were selected to go through a face-to-face pitch. From this choice list, only half were chosen to participate in the second-ever Puregold CinePanalo.
“These applicants went through a tough selection process,” said Puregold Senior Marketing Manager Ms. Ivy Hayagan-Piedad. “Just getting this far in the film festival is a testament to their dedication to their craft and to the brilliance of their ideas.”
Hayagan-Piedad was one of the six that comprised the Selection Committee, which included festival director Chris Cahilig, renowned directors Jeffrey Jeturian and Emmanuel Dela Cruz, and representatives of Republic Creative Creations, Inc. Sonny Bautista and Lyle Gonzales.
“Last year’s Puregold CinePanalo was a massive success and sent this festival on the road to becoming one of the country’s most prestigious film competitions,” said Cahilig. “This drove us to be incredibly meticulous in choosing which films to display in next year’s festival. The Puregold CinePanalo is here to tout only the best that Filipino filmmaking offers.”
The eight feature films will now have the chance to compete for the Puregold CinePanalo’s selection of awards, including:
- Pinakapanalong Mahabang Pelikula (Best Picture);
- Panalong Direktor (Best Director);
- Panalong Aktres (Best Actress);
- Panalong Actor (Best Actor);
- Panalong Karangalan Mula sa Mga Hurado (Special Jury Prize);
- Panalo sa mga Manonood;
- Panalong Pangalawang Aktres (Best Supporting Actress);
- Panalong Pangalawang Aktor (Best Supporting Actor);
- Panalong Kwento (Best Screenplay);
- Panalo sa Cinematography;
- Panalo sa Production Design;
- Panalong Awitin;
- Panalong Ensemble;
- Panalo sa Musical Scoring;
- Panalo sa Editing; Panalo sa Sound Design; and
- Panalo sa Film Poster.
These will also get a chance to receive the Always Panalo Film Award for the film that best encapsulates the festival’s theme of celebrating uplifting stories of the Filipino condition.
Apart from the awards at the CinePanalo event proper, the eight films now have one more platform in which to display their films on the world stage.
Last year’s CinePanalo had three of its entries recognized in foreign film festivals, namely “Road to Happy” (Jagran Film Festival, India); “One Day League” (Exposures Montreal Trans Film Festival, Canada); and “A Lab Story” (Jagran Film Festival, India, and Asian Film Festival Barcelona, Spain.)
In addition to the eight feature films, Puregold CinePanalo 2025 will also host a student shorts competition. Twenty-five student filmmakers will each receive a grant of one hundred and fifty thousand pesos (PHP150,000) to produce their film projects for public viewing.
All eight feature films, along with the 25 student short films, will be showcased at the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival, which will take place at Gateway Cinemas from March 14 to 25, 2025.
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