The Cinepanalo 2025 Film Festival winners. Handout/Puregold

MANILA — The CinePanalo Film Festival 2025 celebrated outstanding stories and its storytellers at its awards night held in Quezon City, Wednesday, recognizing the talents who pushed the boundaries of Philippine cinema on a new level.

“Yung level of upgrade ng pelikula both sa student shorts and full-length films. Iba. All of a sudden ganon na— all of a sudden ray of hope sa takbo ng film industry natin,” Festival Director Chris Cahilig said.

Cahilig noted that all entries were strong, making the selection process highly competitive. Best in Cinematography and Best Actor, in particular, had the longest deliberations.

“May dalawa category it was so difficult, bardagulan. Kulang mag sabunutan jury! Sa full-lenth ang hirap mag decide,” he shared in jest,” he said.

Khalil Ramos (Olsen’s Day) and JP Larroder (Tigkiliwi) tied for Panalong Aktor (Best Actor).

“Ang lala ng best actor. That was such a long debate.May best film na, wala pa kami best actor,” he recalled. “You can see so many actors [are] committed sa roles nila.”

Best in Cinematography was awarded to Dominic Lat for “Journeyman” and Kara Moreno for “Olsen’s Day.”

“Cinematography— unbelievable. Ano yung importansya ng cinematography sa narrative, na-atake. Two days screening and deliberation. Hours of deliberation. Everytime we validate nominations, cinematography was crazy,” Cahilig shared.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS:

Pinakapanalong Pelikula

Full-Length: Salum (TM Malones)

Student Shorts: Champ Green (Clyde Cuizon Gamale)

Puregold Always Panalo Film

Full-Length: Journeyman (Christian Paolo Lat & Dominic Lat); Fleeting (Catsi Catalan)

Student Shorts: Sampie, (Ira Corinne Esquerra Malit)

Panalong Direktor

Full-Length: JP Habac, Olsen’s Day

Student Shorts: Vhan Marco B. Molacruz, Uwian

Panalong Aktres

Full-Length: Ruby Ruiz as Nay Pansay, Tigkiliwi

Student Shorts: Geraldine Villamil as Remy, Uwian

Panalong Aktor

Full-Length: Khalil Ramos as Olsen, Olsen’s Day; JP Larroder as Tata, Tigkiliwi

Student Shorts: Lucas Martin as Sam, SamPie; Jasper John as Juan Dela Cruz, Dela Cruz, Juan P.

Panalong Karangalan Mula sa Mga Hurado

Full-Length: Tigkiliwi (Tara Illenberger)

Student Shorts: Dela Cruz, Juan P. (Sean Rafael A. Verdejo)

Panalo Sa Mga Manonood

Full-Length: Co-Love (Jill Singson Urdaneta)

Student Shorts: Sisenta! (Mae Malaya)

Panalong Pangalawang Aktres

Full-Length: Gabby Padilla as Marlin, Tigkiliwi

Student Shorts: Uzziel Delamide as Imang, Uwian

Panalong Pangalawang Aktor

Full-Length: Jeffrey Jiruma as Pol, Tigkiliwi

Student Shorts: Sol Eugenio as Tekbong, Champ Green

Panalong Ensemble

Full-Length: Tigkiliwi (Tara Illenberger)

Student Shorts: Sine-Sine (Roniño Dolim)

Panalong Kwento

Full-Length: Tara Illenberger, Tigkiliwi

Student Shorts: Clyde Cuizon Gamale, Champ Green

Panalo sa Cinematography

Full-Length: Dominic Lat, Journeyman; Kara Moreno, Olsen’s Day

Student Shorts: Lance Lascano, Dan, En Pointe

Panalo sa Production Design

Full-Length: Kyle Fermindoza, Salum

Student Shorts: Andrea Jayne Perang, Uwian

Panalo sa Musical Scoring

Full-Length: Armor Rapista, Salum

Student Shorts: Len Calvo, Uwian

Panalo sa Editing

Full-Length: Vanessa Ubas de Leon, Co-Love

Student Shorts: Jose Andy Sales, G!

Panalo sa Sound Design

Full-Length: Fatima Nerikka Salim and Immanuel Verona, Salum

Student Shorts: Elian Idioma, Dela Cruz, Juan P.

Panalong Awitin

Full-Length: “DI KO PINILI” by Kiko Salazar, performed by Chie, Co-Love

Student Shorts: “Suga, Camera, Saad” by Jonathan Rey Sartorio and Lloyd Martin Villacortes Arce, performed by Jonathan Rey “ROTT” Sartorio, Sine-Sine

Panalo sa Brand Intrusion

Full-Length: Journeyman (555 Sardines and Lucky Me!)

Student Shorts: Champ Green (Bear Brand), G! (Chuckie)

Panalo sa Film Poster

Full-Length: Journeyman by Christian Paolo Lat and Dominic Lat

Student Shorts: Checkmate by Alexie Nicole Pardo

Pinakapanalong Promosyon ng Pelikula

Student Shorts: Checkmate by Alexie Nicole Pardo; Taympers by Naiah Nicole Mendoza

Responsableng Paglikha

Full-Length: Journeyman

Student Shorts:

1. Dan, En Pointe by Adelbert Abrigonda

2. Sine-Sine by Roniño Dolim

3. 1… 2… Strike!!! by Kenneth Flores

Mowelfund Special Citation

Full-Length: Olsen’s Day

Student Shorts: Champ Green

Panalo sa International Jury

Journeyman by Christian Paolo Lat and Dominic Lat