Sassa Gurl and director Rodina Singh. Anna Cerezo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA -- Rodina Singh's "Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa'yo)," starring Sassa Gurl, is rising from the dead after snagging a spot in the final line-up of the 2026 CinePanalo Film Festival.
Along with six other titles, the horror-comedy earned a P 5-million grant, which its star and director hope will be enough to bring its production back to life.
"Narinig n'yo na ito early part of this year. Sadly, tulad ng kuwento ng film, namatay siya," Singh said during Puregold's announcement of winners held Saturday in Quezon City. "Siguro sa pagsali namin, gusto naming ipakita na—never say die, ika nga. Tulad ng character, nabigyan muli ng buhay dito sa CinePanalo."
"Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa'yo)" follows a queer protagonist who dies before she can confess her feelings.
READ: Sassa Gurl turns producer with queer film ‘Multwoh’
"It is a horror-comedy na pelikula. Ine-expand natin mundo ng kabaklaan dito. Grabe pagmamahal ang bakla, pasabog talaga, para kami Multwoh. Kahit deadmahan mo kami, malayo kami. Ramdam niyo. Totoo at puro," Sassa Gurl explained.
The content creator had already teased snippets of their co-production last July. Singh clarified, however, that the video was not an official trailer, but merely a concept preview.
"Hindi pwede proof of work lang, hindi pwede magandang story lang. Kailangan may patunay. Kaya ginawa namin yun. Para masakyan nila. Kasi if titingnan ay pitch lang— una nila naiisip ambitious," the director explained.
"Yung proof of concept na packaged as teaser— it is our way to show producers na may market 'to. Organically na-pick up siya ng mga tao," Singh added.
Sassa Gurl, who is venturing into producing for the first time with "Multwoh," said she is looking forward to shooting, having learned a lot from her previous films.
READ: Sassa Gurl cries foul over 'Dreamboi' getting an X rating from MTRCB
"Marami ako natutunan ngayon especially from many productions— 'Bar Boys,' 'Dreamboi,' 'Shake, Rattle [and Roll],' dami ko natutunan. Madami ako mababaon ko sa 'Multwoh,'" she said.
Other films that will premiere at the 2026 CinePanalo Film Festival are "Apol of my Ai" (Thop Nazareno),"Stuck on You" (Mikko Baldoza), "Beast" (Lawrence Fajardo), "Mono No Aware" (BC Amparado), "Patay Gutom (Dead Hungry)" Carl Papa and Ian Pangilinan, "Wantawsan" (Joseph Abello).