The dust has settled, and this year’s Puregold CinePanalo champions have emerged.
After one of the festival’s most competitive awards seasons yet, “Mono No Aware” and “Limlim” emerged as the biggest winners in their respective categories, taking home the top honors at the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026.
In the full-length category, the Japan-set drama “Mono No Aware” dominated the awards night, collecting a total of nine awards—including Pinakapanalong Pelikula, Panalo sa International Jury, Panalong Direktor for BC Amparado, Panalong Aktor for Juan Karlos Labajo, Panalong Pangalawang Aktres for Momoko Kobayashi, Best Ensemble, Panalo sa Cinematography for TM Malones, Panalo sa Editing for Edmund Telmo, and Panalo sa Sound Design for Willie Apa Jr.
Meanwhile, “Apol of my Ai,” “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo),” and “Patay Gutom” each collected four awards, while “Stuck on You” finished the night with two wins.
Among the notable individual victories were Xyriel Manabat, who won Panalong Aktres for her comedic performance in “Stuck on You”; young Zion Cruz of “Apol of my Ai,” who received the Panalong Child Performer award; and Zanjoe Marudo, who took home Panalong Pangalawang Aktor.
In the student shorts category, “Limlim” and “Kun Hain Bisan Diin.” battled it out in a particularly close race. The competition was underscored by a tie for Panalong Direktor, with Samantha Palaje winning for “Limlim” and Jomarie Corro-Reyes winning for “Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.”
Both films finished with four awards each, while “Limlim” claimed the top distinction of Pinakapanalong Maikling Pelikula.
Complete List of 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Award Winners
PINAKAPANALONG PELIKULA
Full-Length: “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: “Limlim”
PANALONG KARANGALAN MULA SA HURADO
Full-Length: “Apol of my Ai”
Student Shorts: “Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.”
PUREGOLD ALWAYS PANALO FILM
Full-Length: “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)” & “Patay Gutom (Dead Hungry)”
Student Shorts: “Miss Intrams” & “Pulis Dunggab”
PANALO SA INTERNATIONAL JURY
Full-Length: “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: “Alumahan”
PANALONG DIRECTOR
Full-Length: BC Amparado – “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: Jomarie Corro-Reyes – “Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.” & Samantha Palaje – “Limlim”
PINAKA PANALONG MAIKLING PELIKULA (PANORAMA SECTION)
“The Other Side of Reality” – Zig Dulay
PANALONG AKTRESS
Full-Length: Xyriel Manabat – “Stuck on You”
Student Shorts: Jonalyn Mateo – “Ang Huling Banlaw ni Susan”
PANALONG CHILD PERFORMER
Full-Length: Zion Cruz – “Apol of My Ai”
Student Shorts: Zoey Madison Lim – “Limlim”
PANALONG AKTOR
Full-Length: Juan Karlos Labajo – “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: Jay Gabriel Cañada – “The Sound of K”
PANALONG PANGALAWANG AKTRESS
Full-Length: Momoko Kobayashi – “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: Nour Hooshmand – “Starfish”
PANALONG PANGALAWANG AKTOR
Full-Length: Zanjoe Marudo – “Apol of My Ai”
Student Shorts: Nor Domingo – “12 Shots”
BEST ENSEMBLE
“Mono No Aware”
PANALO SA MGA MANONOOD
Full-Length: “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)”
Student Shorts: “Ang Huling Banlaw ni Susan”
PANALONG KWENTO
Full-Length: Carl Joseph E. Papa, Yvonne Garcia – “Patay Gutom”
Student Shorts: Jomarie Corro-Reyes, William Roberts – “Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.”
PANALO SA CINEMATOGRAPHY
Full-Length: TM Malones – “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: Geia de Vera – “Limlim”
PANALO SA PRODUCTION DESIGN
Full-Length: Rodrigo Ricio – “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)”
Student Shorts: Jim Flores, Minnesota Flores, Sol Samodio – “12 Shots”
PANALO SA MUSICAL SCORING
Full-Length: Emerzon Texon – “Apol of My Ai”
Student Shorts: Lenard Kent Villanueva – “Miss Intrams”
PANALO SA VISUAL EFFECTS
Full-Length: “Patay Gutom” Animation Team
Student Shorts: Junelle Bacho Tecson, Luis Martin Mañalac – “Starfish”
PANALO SA EDITING
Full-Length: Edmund Telmo – “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: Brian Spencer Reyes – “Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.”
PANALO SA SOUND DESIGN
Full-Length: Willie Apa Jr. – “Mono No Aware”
Student Shorts: Hannah Gagalac – “Bumtak Sara ti Nuangen”
PANALONG AWITIN
Full-Length: “Reyna ng Quezon City” by Juana – “Stuck on You”
Student Shorts: “Game Na!” by Kier Mosquito, Edlyn Icao, John Dave Brion – “Teks Battle: Shoot Pati Pato!”
PANALONG POSTER
Full-Length: Denver Balbaboco – “Patay Gutom”
Student Shorts: Keith Ian Serfino – “Alumahan” & Eidan Maninang – “Nang Matakasan ang Tagay”
PINAKAPANALONG PROMOSYON NG PELIKULA
“When Heaven Inched Towards Earth”
PANALO SA BRAND INTRUSION
Full-Length: “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)”
Student Shorts: “Alumahan”
Celebrating Filipino Filmmaking
Puregold CinePanalo festival chair Ivy Hayagan-Piedad highlighted the significance of the festival in giving Filipino filmmakers a platform to showcase their artistry and perspectives.
“Each year, we gather to honor the brave artistry, and passion of Filipino filmmakers who continue to make a statement in Philippine cinema,” she said. “We proudly celebrate their achievements and we will continue to push this new voice and new perspective that move, inspire, and resonate with our panalo cinema audience.”
The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026 continues until October 4 at Gateway Cineplex 18, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, Ayala Malls Feliz, Ayala Malls Circuit, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, and Market! Market!
Regular tickets are priced at ₱250, while PWDs, senior citizens, students, national athletes, and Aling Puring and Puregold Perks cardholders can avail themselves of discounted ₱200 tickets.
For moviegoers looking to experience the entire festival, a ₱2,000 festival pass provides access to all seven full-length films and four sets featuring the festival’s 19 student shorts. Festival passes are available at Gateway Cineplex 18 and TriNoma.
The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026 is supported by Alaska, Angel, Argentina, Ariel, Bingo, Birch Tree Fortified, Bear Brand, C2, Century Tuna, Champion, Chuckie, Coca-Cola, Colgate, Creamsilk, Datu Puti, Downy, GoodNom Fresh, Great Taste, Del Monte, Jack’N Jill, Knorr, Lucky Me!, Maggi, Magnolia Real Mayonnaise, Milo, Monde, MY San, Nestea, Nissin, Nivea, Palmolive Naturals, Pantene, Purefoods, Rebisco, Royal, Safeguard, Sprite, Surf, Wilkins, and Zonrox.
