Spotlight On: The Top 15 Shaping Puregold CinePanalo 2026
The much-anticipated Top 15 of CinePanalo 2026 has been unveiled, once again marking the biggest and most thrilling part of the competition.
Words Rica Mae Labbao
Photo courtesy of Puregold CinePanalo
October 23, 2025
Still from Multwoh Movie Teaser via Multwoh’s Instagram (@multwohmovie)
Puregold CinePanalo 2026 spotlights the official Top 15 shortlist for the full-length category, once again moving to support Filipino filmmakers and champion the creative industry and local talent in the Philippines.
For this edition, a wide variety of genres assures diversity and quality that makes this year’s list the most competitive and exciting one.
Top 15 Finalists
Ennui - Alpha Habon
Pasilyo - Allen Galindo
Gods and Thieves - Tyrone Acierto
Apol of My Ai - Thop Nazareno
Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo) - Rodina Singh
And There was Silence - Jonathan Jurilla
Wantawsan - Joseph Abello
Stuck on You - Mikko Baldoza
Mono No Aware - BC Amparado
Ang Lalakeng Lumuluha ng Perlas - Khavn
Beast - Lawrence Fajardo
I’ve Seen Where it Ends - JP Habac
Aripuen - Christopher Gozum
Patay Gutom (Dead Hungry) - Carl Papa & Ian Pangilinan
Catch Me if You Stan - Rayn Brizuela
The shortlisted filmmakers will undergo one more round of selection before the unveiling of the final lineup for the film festival. They will pitch directly to the festival’s selection committee, which will carefully curate the final roster.
From the original fifteen shortlisted full-length films, only seven will be chosen for the final selection and will each receive a grant of ₱5 million—the highest in the history of the festival.
Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, Puregold’s Senior Marketing Manager and Festival Chair, expressed what makes the shortlisted participants truly special.
“Only three years in, we’ve earned the attention and trust of some of the country’s most important filmmakers. We are indebted to all the participants who entrusted their best-kept stories to us. We are humbled and extremely excited to make these dream projects a panalo reality,” she shared.
Puregold CinePanalo has built a strong reputation for producing internationally acclaimed films, inspiring more directors to take part in what promises to be the biggest edition of the festival yet.
All shortlisted films will be screened at the 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival, happening at Gateway Cineplex 18 from August 7 to 18, 2026.
Meanwhile, student filmmakers interested in joining Puregold CinePanalo’s Student Shorts category may still submit their pitches via https://tinyurl.com/PCPFFShorts until November 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM.
