The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival has announced seven finalists from more than 200 entries for its biggest edition yet.
The seven films selected for this year’s are Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo) by Rodina Singh, Apol of My Ai by Thop Nazareno, Stuck on You by Mikko Baldoza, Beast by Lawrence Fajardo, Mono No Aware by BC Amparado, Patay Gutom (Dead Hungry) by Carl Papa and Ian Pangilinan, and Wantawsan by Joseph Abello, were awarded P 5 million grant by the festival organizer.
“Unlike other festivals, full script submissions namin. Ang call for entries namin is two weeks, and we got 203 full scripts. Sa susunod na sasali, magsulat na kayo ngayon,” festival director Chris Cahilig said.
CinePanalo releases 33 shortlisted full-length films
Cahilig said the team was more particular about casting choices for this year’s roster.
“We want to bring good traffic. Unlike the first two years— lalo na sa commerical films. Isa yun sa primary consideration. Para hindi ma sacrifice ang story sa execution ng cast,” he explained.
“Minsan talaga it is the execution of the cast. We imposed heavier damand sa casting because mas malaki budget this year.
Cahilig shared they leaned more toward fictional scripts this year, noting that many of the submissions carried strong political messages.
“Marami ring political films this year ang mensahe. May limitasyon kami. Mas gusto namin fiction kaysa based on real life,” he said.
“Bilang festival, ‘yung mga karanasan namin sa past defines who we are. Gusto namin ng mga kuwentong tatatak sa tao.”
CinePanalo announces no theme, genre restrictions for 2026 edition