The Puregold CinePanalo Awards Night, held on March 16 at Gateway Cineplex 18, marked a momentous occasion for Philippine cinema. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as both seasoned filmmakers and bright new talents received well-deserved recognition for their captivating works.
Kurt Soberano’s directorial debut, “Under a Piaya Moon,” emerged as the night’s biggest winner in the full-length category, securing a remarkable six awards. This included the coveted Pinakapanalong Pelikula (Best Picture) along with accolades for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. Following closely behind was Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s poignant film, “Pushcart Tales,” which garnered four awards, including Best Director and a Special Jury Prize.
The night also celebrated the brilliance of student filmmakers. Ronjay-C Mendiola’s “Last Shift” stole the show in the short film category, taking home five awards, including Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. Dizelle C. Masilungan’s “Kung Nag-aatubili” also impressed with a total of four wins, including Best Director and a tie for Best Supporting Actor.
A distinguished panel of judges, including industry veterans Victor Villanueva, Emmanuel dela Cruz, Lito Zulueta, Jeffery Jeturian, Mae Cruz-Alviar, and June Kim, meticulously selected the awardees. Festival directors Ivy Hayagan-Piedad and Chris Cahilig, alongside Republic Creative’s Lyle Gonzales, lent their expertise to both juries.
The celebration extended beyond the competitive spirit. Representatives from festival partners MTRCB and Mowelfund presented special recognitions to outstanding films. “Under a Piaya Moon” impressed them in the full-length category, earning the MTRCB Responsableng Paglikha award for its responsible storytelling. Meanwhile, “Smokey Journey,” “Tiil ni Lola,” and “Kung Nag-aatubili” secured the top three spots in the same category’s short film division. Mowelfund further contributed by awarding special citations to “Ka Benjie” (short film) and “Under a Piaya Moon” (full-length) while nurturing future talents by providing scholarships to ten promising student filmmakers who participated in the festival.
The Puregold CinePanalo journey doesn’t end here. To allow more audiences to experience the magic of these films, an extended screening run will take place at Gateway 2 Cinemas starting on March 20th. This is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the power of Filipino storytelling and witness the birth of cinematic legends.
