The recently concluded Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival wasn’t just a landmark event for the supermarket giant’s foray into filmmaking, it was also a celebration of cinematic debuts for aspiring Filipino filmmakers.
Held from March 15 to 19 at Gateway Cineplex 18, CinePanalo offered a platform for aspiring talents hailing from various regions across the Philippines.
Six debut filmmakers – Rafaela Abucejo from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Dizelle C. Masilungan from the University of Sto. Tomas, Joshua Andrey A. Doce from Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology, Joanah Pearl Demonteverde from the University of the Philippines Visayas, Daniel Gil from Ateneo de Davao, and Jenievive Adame – accepted Puregold’s invitation to bring their stories to life, competing against each other and 19 other selections in the student short film category. For these new directors, the chance to share their stories with the world was a victory in itself.
Additionally, these debut films made an impact by winning multiple prizes at the CinePanalo Film Festival.
Abucejo’s film, Saan Ako Pinaglihi?, received the Audience Choice Award; Masilungan, a recipient of the Mowelfund production scholarship, won Best Director, Best Cinematography, 3rd place for the MTRCB’s Responsableng Paglikha Award, and also saw one of her actors win Best Supporting Actor.
Doce and Gil both received production scholarships from Mowelfund, while Adame, another Mowelfund production scholarship recipient, won awards for Best Ensemble, Best Musical Scoring, Always Best Film (brand choice), and 1st place for the MTRCB’s Responsableng Paglikha Award.
Doce’s I am Mutya and I Thank You! and Demonteverde’s Kang Pagpuli Ko, felt immense motivation to represent their provinces on a big stage with their films. Doce, fluent in Bikolano, and Demonteverde, skilled in Hiligaynon and Kinaray-a, aimed to showcase the power of their films in representing their beloved languages and cultures amidst the dominance of Tagalog and English-centric entries in Filipino cinema.
Demonteverde emphasized the significance of language in her filmmaking journey, especially in representing her province through “Puregold’s CinePanalo Film Festival.” She highlighted the struggles of the unique language in her town, blending Kinaray-a and Hiligaynon, and the honor of sharing her story through film.
“As a kid who grew up in a town whose language is a hybrid of Kinaray-a and Hiligaynon, language has been a great element to me in representing my province through filmmaking,” Demonteverde said.
Similarly, Doce expressed pride in showcasing Bicolano language in his films, aiming to highlight the greatness of Bicolanos through his work as a filmmaker.
Meanwhile, Masilungan with Kung Nag-aatubili and Abucejo with Saan Ako Pinaglihi? released LGBT-themed short films, drawing from personal experiences of the challenges faced by queer Filipinos and the joys of queer love.
Masilungan fulfilled his dream of creating a BL piece, inspired by queer films and literature, to create inclusive narratives that resonate with audiences.
For Abucejo, it was important to depict both the struggles and strengths of queer individuals, sharing narratives that inspire and resonate with those undergoing similar experiences.
Both directors garnered success with their queer films, with Masilungan winning Best Director and Abucejo receiving the Audience Choice Award, demonstrating the demand for queer stories in Filipino cinema.
“They were not good experiences-–they were a struggle,” said Abucejo. “But at least I was able to share my narrative through the film and hopefully inspire those who are currently going through the same things.”
Lastly, Gil with Distansya and Adame with Smokey Journey aimed to create family-oriented and wholesome films that resonate with audiences.
Adame encapsulated the theme of family with depth and sincerity, highlighting the deep bond, love, and unity within Filipino families.
Gil’s film was inspired by his father’s teachings, recognizing solo-parent fathers who strive to raise their children right, showcasing the nostalgic and heartfelt aspects of family life.
“I hope people will find this film nostalgic,” said Gil. “Especially to the kids who grew up with parents who had a hard time searching for their parenting skills and finding it as they get to know their children more as their family grows older.”
The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival also celebrated debut filmmakers Ronjay-C Mendiola and Kent Michael Cadungog, with Mendiola winning Best Short Film for Last Shift and Cadungog receiving the Special Jury Prize for Text Find DAD and Send to 2366.
Mendiola emphasized the importance of exposing the plight of workers through his film, while Cadungog expressed gratitude for the platform to share his unique art, highlighting the recognition of regional cinema and diverse storytelling.
These filmmakers’ successes reflect the festival’s vision of promoting inclusive, regional, and meaningful storytelling within Filipino cinema.