Cinemalaya proves that it only gets better with age as it showcases ‘one of its strongest’ film rosters this year, with acclaimed actresses Pokwang and Ruby Ruiz tying for a major prize.
Photo: Cinemalaya/Facebook
On August 17, Cinemalaya awarded actors, filmmakers, and crew with the highly coveted Balanghai trophy. Pokwang, under her real name Marietta Subong, and Ruby Ruiz shared the Best Actress award.
Pokwang played the role of Sylvia in the drama film “2 Valid IDs,” where she portrayed a poor farmer who had to claim a remittance but failed to do so because she lacked the necessary requirements. Her heartbreaking performance, which helped draw sold-out screenings, earned her her first Best Actress award at Cinemalaya.
“2 Valid IDs” also marked her Cinemalaya comeback after a decade, following “Mercury Is Mine.”
Meanwhile, Ruby delivered a genuine and heartwarming performance as Biring in “Status: Rejected,” a coming-of-age drama film about a grandmother who seeks an online romance with an American man after her fourth U.S. visa rejection, hoping to reunite with her son.
The horror family drama, “Mag-iina,” which is directed by Giancarlo Abrahan and written by Guelan Varela-Luarca, won the “Best Full-Length Feature.” It is also the film that bagged the most awards at this year’s Cinemalaya.
Here is the full list of winners:
- Best Full-length Feature: “Mag-iina” (Giancarlo Abrahan and Guelan Varela-Luarca)
- Best Performance of a Leading Actress: Marietta Subong for “2 Valid IDs” and Ruby Ruiz for “Status: Rejected”
- Best Performance of a Leading Actor: Martin Del Rosario for “Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam”
- Best Director (Full-length): Giancarlo Abrahan for “Mag-iina”
- Best Director (Short Film): Gabriela Serrano for “Elenita Elena Elaine”
- Best Director in the (Full-length): Giancarlo Abrahan for “Mag-iina”
- Best Short Film of Cinemalaya 2026: “Silkscreen” by Rey Anthony Villaverde
- Best Production Design: Katrish Aristoki for “Mag-iina”
- Best Original Musical Scoring: David Yuhico for “Mag-iina”
- Best Sound Design: Elian Idioma for “Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam”
- The Best Editing Award: John Rogers for “A.ni.mal”
- Best Ensemble Performance: Martin del Rosario, Miguel Ordon, Yayo Aguila, and Epy Quizon for “Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam”
- The Audience Choice Award for the Short Film category: “Hoy! Hoy! Ingat!”
- The Audience Choice Award for the Full-length feature: “2 Valid IDs”
- The Netpac Award (Short Film): “The River Flows in Different Places” by Lot-Lot Hermosura
- The Netpac Award (Full-length): “Status: Rejected” by Vahn Leinard C. Pascual
- Special Jury Prize (Full-length Feature): “2 Valid IDs” by Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan, DGPI and Abet Pagdagdagan Raz, FSG
- Special Jury Prize (Short Film): “Para-Paraan” by Mae Chan-li
Congratulations to all the winners!
ALSO READ: Your Guide to Cinemalaya 2026: Schedule, Ticket Prices, and More
