"Bloom Where You Are Planted" receives top honors during the Cinemalaya Awards Night. Facebook/Cinemalaya
MANILA -- The documentary "Bloom Where You Are Planted" took home top honors in the awards night of the 21st Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival on Sunday evening.
Noni Abao's opus, which follows the lives of three land activists in the Cagayan Valley, was celebrated at the conclusion of the festival at the Shangri-La Plaza.
Meanwhile, "The Next 24 Hours" by Carl Joseph Papa was named Best Short Film.
READ: Here are the films of Cinemalaya 2025
Veteran filmmaker Sari Dalena emerged as one of the biggest winners, taking home Best Director (Full-Length Film) for "Cinemartyrs", which also won Best Original Music Score and the Special Jury Prize (Full-Length).
Mylene Dizon and Jojit Lorenzo bagged the top acting honors for their performances in "Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan". Dizon was named Best Actress, while Lorenzo took home Best Actor. Their co-star Nanding Josef also won Best Supporting Actor.
Rochelle Pangilinan earned Best Supporting Actress for her compelling portrayal in "Child No. 82 (Anak ni Boy Kana)", which also won Best Screenplay (Full-Length Film) and the Audience Choice Award (Full-Length).
The cast of "Open Endings" -- Kapamilya actress Janella Salvador, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Klea Pineda and Leanne Mamonong -- after winning Best Ensemble honors. Ganiel Krishnan, ABS-CBN News
Meanwhile, the cast of Open Endings -- Kapamilya actress Janella Salvador, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Klea Pineda and Leanne Mamonong -- earned Best Ensemble honors.
READ: Janella Salvador gets role of her dreams in 'Open Endings'
In the short film category, "I’m Best Left Inside My Head" won Best Director, "Figat" was awarded Best Screenplay (Short Film), and the Audience Choice Award went to "Ascension from the Office Cubicle."
The night also honored the creative and technical brilliance behind the camera.
• Best Sound Design: Raging
• Best Original Music Score: Cinemartyrs
• Best Production Design: Padamlagan
• Best Editing: Bloom Where You Are Planted
• Best Cinematography: Raging