JP Habac, Jill Urdaneta, and Christian Lat. Handout photos.
MANILA — Puregold CinePanalo officially announced its 8 official finalists for the full-length film category with a P3-million production grant.
The finalists will showcase their masterpieces at the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival.
Here’s the lineup of filmmakers:
- “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 had just 7 finalists at first, the selection committee decided to have one additional finalist. Hence, one more P3-million grant recipient was necessary due to the excellent caliber of the entries.
Puregold and its president Vincent Co completely supported this choice, seeing the CinePanalo Film Festival as a means of promoting the development of Philippine cinema.
"Giving the opportunity to 8 full-length stories to be official entries in Puregold CinePanalo 2025 is a reflection of the significant talent and craftsmanship of Filipino filmmakers," said Co.
“We are committed to showcasing the vision of these young directors. And we are confident that supporting their films will enrich Philippine cinema,” he added.
The inclusion of an 8th 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, and Gateway Cinemas, where the films will debut.
Each filmmaker had to compete against multiple applicants nationwide in order to be chosen. After the initial screening, 16 filmmakers were chosen to proceed with an in-person pitch. Just half of the candidates on this list were selected to take part in Puregold CinePanalo's second edition.
“These applicants went through a tough selection process,” shared the brand’s senior marketing manager, Ivy Hayagan-Piedad.
She added, “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 6 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 8 feature films will have the chance to compete for CinePanalo’s selection of awards, including Pinakapanalong Mahabang Pelikula (Best Picture), Panalong Direktor (Best Director), Panalong Aktres (Best Actress), Panalong Actor (Best Actor), and Panalong Karangalan Mula sa Mga Hurado (Special Jury Prize), among others.
These will also get a chance to receive the Always Panalo Film Award for the movie 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 8 entries 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.)
Alongside the 8 features, CinePanalo 2025 will also hold its student shorts competition.
Twenty-five student filmmakers will receive a grant of P150,000 each to create their film project for the world to see.
The 8 films will all be presented at the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival, which takes place at Gateway Cinemas from March 14 to 25, 2025, together with the 25 student short films.