‘Salum’ and ‘Champ Green’ Lead Big Wins at Puregold CinePanalo 2025
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The second edition of the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival proved to be another celebration of emerging Filipino filmmaking talent, with Hiligaynon feature film Salum and Mindanaoan student short Champ Green taking home the top honors during the awards night held on March 19 at The Elements, Eton Centris, Quezon City.
Salum Dominates the Full-Length Category
Directed by TM Malones, Salum emerged as a standout in the full-length competition, bagging four major awards — including the festival’s top prize “Panalong Pelikula”. It also received trophies for Production Design, Sound Design, and Musical Scoring, earning the team a Php 250,000 cash prize.
Adding to the pride of the Hiligaynon film community, another regional film, Tigkiliwi by Tara Illenberger, made its mark with seven trophies. Among its wins were “Panalong Karangalan Mula sa Hurado” and “Panalo sa Kwento”, while its ensemble dominated the acting categories. Ruby Ruiz took home Best Actress, while Jeffrey Jiruma won Best Supporting Actor.
In a rare but exciting twist, the Best Actor award resulted in a tie. JP Larroder for his role as Tata in Tigkiliwi shared the honors with Khalil Ramos who portrayed the titular character in Olsen’s Day. The cinematography award also saw both Journeyman and Olsen’s Day declared winners.
JP Habac clinched Best Director for Olsen’s Day, further solidifying the film’s presence at the festival.
Journeyman and Fleeting Share Special Festival Recognition
Journeyman, helmed by siblings Christian Paolo and Dominic Lat, scored six awards, including the International Jury Prize and the MTRCB Special Award for Responsableng Paglikha. It also shared the Puregold Always Panalo Film honor with the romantic comedy Fleeting by Catsi Catalan.
Journeyman added to its wins with Best Cinematography (tied with Olsen’s Day), Best Film Poster, and Best Brand Intrusion — which came with an additional cash prize.
Champ Green Shines Bright in the Student Shorts
Meanwhile, in the student shorts category, Champ Green by Clyde Cuizon Gamale dominated the night. The Mindanaoan short clinched five awards: Panalo sa Maikling Pelikula (Best Short Film), Best Supporting Actor for Sol Eugenio, Best Story, Best Brand Intrusion, and the Mowelfund Special Citation.
Along with the Php 100,000 cash prize, Champ Green also received film equipment packages from generous sponsors: MFP Rentals, Kase Philippines, MQ Group, Nanlite Philippines, and Sieztech Enterprise — including filters, lighting gear, and a wireless microphone set. An extra Php 25,000 prize came with the Brand Intrusion win, a category it shared with G! and full-length entry Journeyman.
Uwian and Other Student Shorts Stand Out
Another student short, Uwian by Vhan Marco Molacruz of Colegio de San Juan de Letran, impressed the jury with five awards — including Best Director, Musical Scoring, Production Design, Best Actress for Geraldine Villamil, and Best Supporting Actress for Uzziel Delamide.
Meanwhile, Dela Cruz, Juan P. — an absurdist dramedy by Sean Rafael Verdejo — earned Jury Honor, and Ira Corinne Esguerra’s SamPie, a sibling coming-of-age tale, secured the Puregold Always Panalo Film award in the student category.
A Judging Panel of Industry Veterans and International Flavor
The festival gathered a well-respected panel of judges from both local and international cinema. Festival Director Christopher Cahilig, Festival Chair Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, and Republic Creative Creations Inc.’s Sonny Bautista oversaw both categories.
They were joined by directors Emmanuel Dela Cruz and Victor Villanueva, alongside film critic Lito Zulueta for the student shorts jury. For the full-length category, additional jurors included directors Jeffrey Jeturian and Mae Cruz-Alviar, writer-producer Moira Lang, and Tiina Lokk, Estonian filmmaker and Festival Director of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
Bigger Grants, Bigger Impact
This year’s CinePanalo expanded its support, awarding Php 3 million production grants for full-length films and Php 150,000 for student shorts. The festival also received strong backing from partners such as Terminal Six Post, CMB Film Services Inc., Gateway Cineplex 18, MFP Rentals, MTRCB, and the Mowelfund Film Institute.
Festival Chair Ivy Hayagan-Piedad summed up the festival’s mission best, saying:
“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 has to offer. With the CinePanalo having reached a successful second edition, the possibilities are now endless. We can’t wait for all the wonderful films yet to grace the Puregold CinePanalo in all the years to come.”
CinePanalo Screenings Continue
Audiences still have time to catch Salum, Champ Green, and the rest of the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo entries. All films are screening exclusively at Gateway Cineplex 18, Cubao, Quezon City until March 25.
Tickets are priced at Php 250, with discounts available for students, PWDs, seniors, Tindahan ni Aling Puring, and Perks Card holders at Php 200. Festival passes for full access to all entries are also available for Php 2,000.
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
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 KD Estrada, 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 by Christian Paolo Lat and Dominic Lat Student Shorts:
Dan, En Pointe by Adelbert Abrigonda
Sine-Sine by Roniño Dolim
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
