The Philippine film industry is buzzing with excitement as the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival approaches, promising another exhibition of local talent and exciting storytelling.
Adding to the excitement, entries from the festival's initial 2024 edition continue to receive international praise, gaining coveted positions at prominent global film festivals and highlighting Filipino filmmakers' creativity and artistry. These accomplishments not only recognize our extensive reservoir of local talent, but also demonstrate Puregold CinePanalo's contribution in bringing Philippine cinema to world-class status.
“The ability of young Filipino filmmakers to make masterpieces has never been the question. Really, it’s always been about opportunity. I speak for all the organizers of the Puregold CinePanalo film festival when I say that we’re proud to have given them such opportunities. It goes to show that when you give Pinoy artists a canvas, they will create art the entire world can appreciate,” said the brand’s senior marketing manager Ivy Hayagan-Piedad.
Writer Leonard Ian Billones, lead actress Jade Mary Cornelia, and director Kent Cadungog represent Puregold CinePanalo 2024’s “Text FIND DAD and Send to 2366” at the SGIFF.
Three of the main winners from the 2024 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival, in particular, have been chosen for exhibition at other film festivals across the world. The Best Picture winner "Under a Piaya Moon," directed by Kurt Soberano, was shown at the 2024 Festival International du Film Transsaharien de Zagora in Morocco from December 9 to 13.
Meanwhile, Carlo Obispo's Always Panalo Film and Audience Choice Award-winning film "A Lab Story" was presented at the 2024 Asian Film Festival Barcelona in Spain from October 24 to November 3, as well as the 2024 Brunei Film Blitz from December 18 to 20.
Finally, the Special Jury Prize for Short Film student short "Text FIND DAD and Send to 2366," directed by Kent Cadungog, was shown at the 2024 Singapore International Film Festival from November 28 to December 8, and will be shown at the Emirates Film Festival from January 15 to 18, 2025.
Aside from the three films, several more entries in the first Puregold CinePanalo were selected to participate in international film festivals. The student short "Tiil ni Lola," directed by Reutsche Colle Lima, premiered at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Youth Micro Movie Festival in Hong Kong on November 21-23.
Furthermore, the 2024 Jagran Film Festival featured Joel Ferrer's "Road to Happy" in the non-competitive portion of the Children Showcase, while the aforementioned "A Lab Story" competed in the International Feature competition.
Meanwhile, Eugene Torres' "One Day League: Dead Mother, Dead All" was screened at the 2024 Exposures Montreal Trans Film Festival, which ended in September.
Finally, Jenievive Adame's student short "Smokey Journey" will be shown alongside "Text FIND DAD and Send to 2366" at the Emirates Film Festival.
CinePanalo festival director Chris Cahilig agrees with Hayagan-Piedad, stating that the success of the 2024 entries will increase enthusiasm for the 2025 entrants.
“Hopefully the success of our 2024 CinePanalo batch encourages more people to check out what the upcoming 2025 edition has in store. Together with Puregold, we hope to make the next CinePanalo bigger and better,” he shared.
The eight Puregold CinePanalo 2025 finalists will each receive a P3-million grant, while the 25 student short films will each receive a production grant of P150,000. The eight films and 25 student shorts will make their debuts during the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival, which will take place at Gateway Cinemas from March 14 to March 25.
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