The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival returns this year with a mix of films by established industry names and young, emerging filmmakers. Now in its third year, the film festival sees seven full-length films compete in the feature category, while 19 short films, screened in four sets, compete in the student shorts category.
In August 2025, Puregold announced that it would award the biggest grants in the festival’s history to its finalists: P5 million for each full-length project and P200,000 for each student short. On Thursday, September 17, Puregold unveiled the CinePanalo 2026 finalists.
Puregold CinePanalo 2026 Finalists
Competing in the full-length category are Thop Nazareno’s Apol of My Ai, Lawrence Fajardo’s Beast, BC Amparado’s Mono No Aware, Rodina Singh’s Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa ‘Yo), Carl Joseph Papa and Ian Pangilinan’s Patay Gutom, Mikko Baldoza’s Stuck on You, and Joseph Abello’s Wantawsan.
Students from all over the country are also set to showcase their short films in their own category. Set A of the student shorts includes Starfish by John Clite Apolinar; Kun Hain, Bisan Diin by Jomarie Reyes; Kanibal by Michael Baylon; Sa Mga Nagdaan at Lumipas by Ezaldea Carla Fernandez; and Limlim by Samantha Beatriz Acoja Palaje. In Set B: Alumahan by Christian Melvin M. Arejola, When Heaven Inched Towards Earth by Vinh Marco, No Mad is an Island by Carl Geronimo, Tingi by Rowan De Aro, and Ang Huling Banlaw ni Susan by Hezekiah M. Estorque.
Set C includes the shorts Pulis Dunggab by Maxine Dela Bajan, The Sound of K by Jay Gabriel A. Cañada, Nakabinbin by Carlo Gula, and Nang Matakasan ang Tagay by Giancarlo Santiago. And in Set D: Teks Battle: Shoot Pati Pato! by John Russel Capule, Kapag Tapos Na Ang Umpukan by Justine Lee Estinor, 12 Shots by Minnesota Flores, Bumtak Sara ti Nuangen (The Carabao’s Horns Have Cracked) by Lloyd Pereira, and Miss Intrams by Henri Marie C. Belimac.
CinePanalo 2026 runs from September 23 to October 4 at Gateway Cineplex 18, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, Ayala Malls, Feliz, Ayala Malls Circuit, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, and Market! Market! Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on September 30.
A P2,000 festival pass allows audiences to see the full lineup, while regular tickets are priced at P250. PWDs, senior citizens, students, national athletes, and Puregold’s Aling Puring and Perks cardholders qualify for P200 discounted tickets.
Frequently Ask Questions
Puregold CinePanalo is a Philippine film festival now in its third year. Its 2026 lineup has 26 finalists: seven full-length features and 19 student shorts across four sets.
Seven films are competing in the full-length category: Thop Nazareno’s Apol of My Ai, Lawrence Fajardo’s Beast, BC Amparado’s Mono No Aware, Rodina Singh’s Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa ‘Yo), Carl Joseph Papa and Ian Pangilinan’s Patay Gutom, Mikko Baldoza’s Stuck on You, and Joseph Abello’s Wantawsan.
The finalists for the full-length category received a grant of P5 million each, while short film finalists received P200,000 each.
CinePanalo 2026 runs September 23 to October 4 across these Metro Manila cinemas: Gateway Cineplex 18, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, Ayala Malls, Feliz, Ayala Malls Circuit, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, and Market! Market!
Regular tickets cost P250, while a full-access festival pass costs P2,000. PWDs, senior citizens, students, national athletes, and Puregold cardholders get P200 discounted tickets.
Recommended Video
