A new wave of breakthroughs, opportunities, and major wins is underway for Philippine cinema, especially with the 2026 Puregold Cinepanalo Film Festival right around the corner.
Photo: Multwoh, Stuck on You
From September 23 to October 4, 2026, we’re rolling out the red carpet for the country’s emerging and critically acclaimed storytellers who spark inspiration through diverse creative disciplines. With a remarkable roster of seven full-length films and 19 student-led shorts, we’re more than ready to witness this year’s Cinepanalo entries own the spotlight, proving that the arts have always been a platform for change that every Filipino deserves to partake in.
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Our favorite Filipino celebrities will also push the envelope of their artistry with genre-bending narratives that hold a mirror to society’s pressing truths and lived experiences. Whether you’re in the mood for a whip-smart blend of horror and comedy or a gripping, all-consuming portrayal of queer love, there’s a Cinepanalo original that’s bound to capture your heart over the next two weeks.
Are you ready to fill your “ber” months with trips to the cinema? Here’s what to expect from the seven full-length entries to this year’s Puregold Cinepanalo Film Festival:
Apol of My Ai
This lighthearted coming-of-age drama promises loads of fun that the whole family can get behind.
In Thop Nazareno’s Apol of My Ai, we meet our titular protagonist, Apol (Zion Cruz), an innocent middle-schooler who falls head-over-heels for his choir teacher, Miss Ai (Rochelle Pangilinan). But complications arise when Apol learns that his father, Poli (Zanjoe Marudo), also harbors feelings for the nurturing educator. What ensues is a journey through healing and growth, made extra special by the power of music.
Beast
Sometimes, the most magical encounters in our lives happen when we least expect it. This rings true to Lawrence Fajardo’s Beast, a sentimental adventure that grapples with longing, humanity, and self-discovery through the eyes of a humble farmer and a warbling carabao.
Get ready to sing your blues away with John Arcilla, who’s an emotional force in this “harana like no other” that’ll certainly tug at your heartstrings.
Mono no Aware
In a world that seldom lets our deep-seated grief linger, Mono no Aware assures that there will always be room for it to rest in the still corners of our lives. The film, set in the tranquil havens of Japan, follows the gentle yet bittersweet nature of kodokushi—a solitary death that remains unnoticed until a loved one or neighbor discovers the tragedy firsthand.
Mono no Aware, derived from the evergreen Japanese passage on impermanence, guides us through the multitudes of life, death, and what lies beyond it as Ichi (Juan Karlos), a Filipino kodokushi cleaner, strives to fulfill a widower’s last wish before his passing.
Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa ‘Yo)
Even in the afterlife, we can count on our pambansang mhiema, Sassa Gurl, to always get a good laugh out of us. Her passion for storytelling is coming full circle with Multwoh, a chaotic showcase of horror, romance, and comedy built on the enduring perspectives of queer voices.
After creating Multwoh from scratch last year, Sassa has now teamed up with award-winning writer-director Rodina Singh to bring this delightfully unhinged rollercoaster ride to fruition. Sassa takes a leap of faith as Marcel, a hopeless romantic who dies in her college dorm and comes back to confess to her long-time crush, Miguel (Joao Costancia), before it’s too late.
Patay Gutom (Dead Hungry)
With pride and purpose in every frame, Patay Gutom has its heart set on proving that the power of queer visionaries knows no bounds.
Director Carl Joseph E. Papa seamlessly combines rotoscope animation and live action to tell the story of Tristan (played by co-director Ian Pangilinan), a grumpy shut-in who unknowingly activates his third eye upon eating an offering for a timid ghost named Art (Khalil Ramos). When fate brings them together, they soon realize that they need not carry the weight of the world on their own.
Stuck on You
Love is a dreamy but deadly predicament in Mikko Baldoza’s Stuck on You, a colorful clash between the heart and mind that asks just how far we’re willing to go for our families.
For a manicurist Sheryl (Xyriel Manabat), having total ladies’ man Max (River Joseph) as her new client is the closest she’ll get to winning the lottery. But things almost immediately go south when she becomes a hitman for a day, assigned to kill Max in 20 hours against her and her loved ones’ wills. Can she charm her way out of this sticky situation, save her family, and win Max’s heart before time runs out? We’ll just have to stay tuned to find out.
Wantawsan
Joseph Abello’s Wantawsan invites us to take a critical look at the circumstances we abide by through a nearly impossible mission that shouldn’t be as mentally taxing to begin with.
The film follows a struggling father (Joross Gamboa) who receives ₱5,000 from a newly elected mayor he supported. He plans to set the money aside for his son’s upcoming birthday party, but it doesn’t take long before he’s down to ₱1,000, putting his initial hopes in jeopardy. As he goes to great lengths to throw “the best party of his son’s life so far,” he sheds light on the film’s greater purpose of questioning the corrupt systems that govern us.
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Which Puregold Cinepanalo entries are you excited to watch this year? Sound off and share your picks with us in the comments below!
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