Panalo sa Husay

 Fab turnout at Cine Panalo 2026 film festival

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

Since opening last Sept 25, the 3rd edition of the annual Cine Panalo film festival has gathered droves of young moviegoers to watch both student short films and full-length features.

Seven full-length films and 19 student shorts are showcased in this year’s edition. Cinephiles and avid moviegoers have observed that this year brought a treasure trove of entries, especially in the short works from participating student filmmakers from all over the country.

“This year’s Panalo sa Husay theme showcases excellence of the entries in all its forms. We lifted the gender restriction in this edition, as it is exciting to see the different generations flock to tbe theated to watch the film entries,” enthused festiival chairman Ivy Zharisee Hayagan-Pieded during her speech at last night’s awarding ceremonies in Gateway Cinema 5 of Araneta City.

BC Amparado’s film on life and death, “Mono no Aware, “ shot entirely in Japan, with an English-written screenplay translated to Nihongo, and some parts of the dialogue delivered in Cebuano and Tagalog, made an almost clean sweep victory by winning most of the categories it was nominated in; receiving a total of nine awards!

It won for its writer-director the Best Director award. It also won Best Actor for JK Labajo and Best Supporting Actress for Momoko Kobayashi. It also won Best Editing (Edmond Telmo), Best Cinematography (T.M. Maloles), Best Sound Design (Willie Apa Jr.) and Best Ensemble, aside from winning Best Picture, and the International Jury’s Choice.

Thop Nazareno’s ode to the kundimam won as Jury’s Choice Awardee, aside from winning Best Musical Score (Emerzon Tecson), Best Supporting Actor (Zanjoe Marudo) and Best Child Performer (Zion Cruz).

Samantha Palaje’s short film on abortion, “Limlim,” won as Best Student Shorts. It also won Best Director and Best Child Performer for Zoey Lim.

Student entry “ Kung Hain Bisan Diin” was proclaimed as Jury’s Choice Awardee, aside from winning Best Director and Best Story. On the other hand, Zig Dulay’s “Other Side of Reality” won as Best Panorama Short.

Xyriel Manabat won Best Actress for her role as manicurist Sheryl Bunga in Mikko Baldoza’s rom-com “Stuck on You. The film also won Best Song for the upbeat tune, “Reyna ng Quezon City.”

The Best Actor for the Student Shorts went to Jay Gabeiel Tañada for “The Sound of K” while the Best Actress went to Jonalyn Mateo for “Huling Banlaw ni Susan.”

The Best Brand Intrusion went to Rodina Singh’s queer love story, “Multwoh: Patay na Patay Sa ‘Yo.” It also won Best Production Design (Rodrigo Ricio), Viewer’s Choice, and as Always Panalo film.

The short film brand intrusion winner was “Alumahan,” aside from being named Best Poster. While “When Heaven Inched Towards Earth” won Best Promotion. 

Ian Pangilinan and Carl Papa’s inter-dimensional love story, “Patay Gutom,” won Best Visual Effects (for its 92-man animation team), Best Story (Carl Joseph Papa & Yvonne Garcia), Always Panalo film, and Best Poster.

Lone Mindanaoan student entry “Miss Intrams” won Best Musical Score and Always Panalo film, while lone Cebuano entry “Pulis Dunggab” won as Always Panalo film for tackling the issue of extra-judicial killings.

Nour Hooshmand won Best Supporting Actress for “Starfish.” The film also won Best Visual Effects. While Nor Domingo won Best Supporting Actor for ‘12 Shots” aside from the short flick winning Best Production Design.

The other short film winner was “Teks Battle” that received the Best Song award for “Game Na.”

This year’s Short Film selection committee was comprised of Wango Gallaga, Philbert Dy, Raymond Red, and Sonny Bautista; while Nick Deocampo, Jeffrey Jetturian, Mae Cruz Alviar, and Jerrold Tarog were part of the Full Length feature jurors.

Festival director Chris Cahilig and festival chairman Ivy Zharisse Hayagan-Pieded, as well as Sonny Bautista, were all part of the selection committees.

Cine Panalo 2026 film festival runs until Oct 4 at Gateway Cinepex 18 and in all Ayala Cinemas in Metro Manila.