CinemaBravo

Puregold CinePanalo has officially revealed the Top 15 shortlisted entries for its 2026 full-length film category. The lineup features a mix of trailblazing directors—from promising newcomers to seasoned industry icons—whose works represent the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of Philippine cinema.

This year’s roster highlights a strong variety of creative voices and genres, promising audiences what could be the most competitive and exhilarating Puregold CinePanalo edition to date.

From these 15 outstanding projects, only seven filmmakers will move forward and receive a production grant of PhP 5 million each—the highest in Philippine film festival history.

The top 15 full-length films for the 2026 Puregold CinePanalo are:

1. ‘Ennui’ by Alpha Habon
2. ‘Pasilyo’ by Allen Galindo
3. ‘Gods and Thieves’ by Tyrone Acierto
4. ‘Apol of My Ai’ by Thop Nazareno
5. ‘Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)’ by Rodina Singh CinemaBravo.com
6. ‘And There was Silence’ by Jonathan Jurilla
7. ‘Wantawsan’ by Joseph Abello
8. ‘Stuck on You’ by Mikko Baldoza
9. ‘Mono No Aware’ by BC Amparado
10. ‘Ang Lalakeng Lumuluha ng Perlas’ by Khavn CinemaBravo.com
11. ‘Beast’ by Lawrence Fajardo
12. ‘I’ve Seen Where it Ends’ by JP Habac
13. ‘Aripuen’ by Christopher Gozum
14. ‘Patay Gutom (Dead Hungry)’ by Carl Papa & Ian Pangilinan
15. ‘Catch Me if You Stan’ by Rayn Brizuela CinemaBravo.com

Puregold’s senior marketing manager and festival chair Ivy Hayagan-Piedad spoke on what the Top 15 line up means for the festival as a whole. “The 2026 Puregold CinePanalo line-up is a revelation to us at the festival. Only three years in, we’ve earned the attention and trust of some of the country’s most important filmmakers,” said Hayagan-Piedad. “We are indebted to all the participants who entrusted their best-kept stories to us. We are humbled and extremely excited to make these dream projects a panalo reality.”

Puregold CinePanalo has undeniably developed a reputation for producing internationally acclaimed films. This includes Kurt Soberano’s Under a Piaya Moon, Sigrid Bernardo’s Pushcart Tales, TM Malones’ Salum, JP Habac’s Olsen’s Day, and many more, which have received recognition in Pakistan, Morocco, Singapore, and the United States, among others. Today, the record-breaking production grant and the global prestige achieved by the festival’s past films have enticed even more directors to participate in the biggest Puregold CinePanalo yet.

WINNERS: CinePanalo Film Festival 2025

The Top 15 filmmakers will face one more round of selection before the announcement of the official festival line-up. The shortlisted filmmakers will pitch directly to the festival’s selection committee, which will have the difficult task of curating a final list of seven that will move on to the production phase.

The selected full-length films will screen at the 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival at the Gateway Cineplex 18 on August 7 to 18, 2026.

Meanwhile, applications for the Puregold CinePanalo’s student shorts category continue. Interested applicants may still submit their dream projects to https://tinyurl.com/PCPFFShorts before 11:59 PM on November 25, 2025.

For further inquiries, applicants may email thesecretariat@cinepanalo.com or message its official Facebook page @puregoldcinepanalo.