The Hiligaynon-language full-length film Salum, directed by TM Malones, and the Mindanaoan student short Champ Green emerged as the top winners at the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival, held March 19 at The Elements at Eton Centris.
Salum earned the Panalong Pelikula award, the festival’s top prize in the full-length category, along with accolades for production design, sound design and musical scoring. The film received a cash prize of P250,000.
Champ Green, directed by Clyde Cuizon Gamale, won Panalong Maikling Pelikula in the student short category, along with awards for supporting actor (Sol Eugenio), story, brand integration, and a Mowelfund Special Citation. The short received a P100,000 cash prize and an additional P25,000 for its brand integration win.
In addition to monetary prizes, Champ Green received professional filmmaking gear sponsored by Kase Philippines, Nanlite Philippines and Hollyland Tech, among others. The awards reflect the festival’s ongoing efforts to support emerging Filipino filmmakers.
Multiple wins for ‘Tigkiliwi,’ ‘Journeyman,’ ‘Uwian’
In the full-length category, Tigkiliwi, also in Hiligaynon, received seven awards, including the Jury Prize (Panalong Karangalan Mula sa Hurado) and Best Story for writer-director Tara Illenberger. The film also swept the acting categories, with Ruby Ruiz named Best Actress, Jeffrey Jiruma as Best Supporting Actor and the cast recognized for Best Ensemble.
Two ties were declared during the awards night. JP Larroder (Tigkiliwi) and Khalil Ramos (Olsen’s Day) shared the Best Actor award, while Olsen’s Day and Journeyman tied for Best Cinematography. JP Habac won Best Director for Olsen’s Day.
Journeyman, directed by siblings Christian Paolo and Dominic Lat, won six awards, including the International Jury Prize, Best Poster Design, Best Brand Integration, and the MTRCB Special Award for Responsible Filmmaking. It also shared the Puregold Always Panalo Film award with Catsi Catalan’s romantic comedy Fleeting.
In the student shorts category, Uwian, directed by Vhan Marco Molacruz of Colegio de San Juan de Letran, won five awards including Best Director, Production Design, Musical Scoring, and acting honors for Geraldine Villamil and Uzziel Delamide.
Recognition across genres, regions
Other student shorts also earned recognition. Sean Rafael Verdejo’s Dela Cruz, Juan P. received the Jury Prize, while Ira Corinne Esguerra’s SamPie shared the Always Panalo Film award.
Dela Cruz, Juan P. also earned awards for sound design and acting, while Checkmate and Taympers tied for Best Promotional Campaign. Adelbert Abrigonda’s Dan, En Pointe, Roniño Dolim’s Sine-Sine and Kenneth Flores’s 1… 2… Strike!!! were cited for responsible filmmaking.
Jury, festival support
The panel of judges for both categories included Festival Director Christopher Cahilig, Festival Chair Ivy Hayagan-Piedad and Republic Creative Creations representative Sonny Bautista. Additional jurors included directors Emmanuel Dela Cruz and Victor Villanueva, film critic Lito Zulueta, filmmakers Jeffrey Jeturian and Mae Cruz-Alviar, writer-producer Moira Lang and Estonian filmmaker Tiina Lokk, who leads the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
Now in its second year, the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival increased its grants to P3 million for each full-length entry and P150,000 for student shorts. Partners included Terminal Six Post, CMB Film Services, Gateway Cineplex 18, MFP Rentals, the MTRCB and Mowelfund Film Institute.
“The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival will always be fueled by a deep love for the art of cinema and an even deeper ambition to show what Philippine talent and passion have to offer,” said Hayagan-Piedad.
Festival screenings continue through March 25
All festival films, including Salum, Champ Green and other official entries, continue to screen at Gateway Cineplex 18 in Cubao, Quezon City, until March 25. Tickets are P250, with discounted rates of P200 for students, PWDs, senior citizens, and members of Tindahan ni Aling Puring and Perks Card. Festival passes are available for P2,000.
