CinePanalo Film Festival announces film grant recipients

MANILA, Philippines — Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival officially introduced the recipients of its coveted film grants.

Attended by representatives from Puregold and the respective filmmakers, a press conference highlighted the supermarket chain's primary objective for CinePanalo: To provide a platform for both well-known and emerging filmmakers, and to showcase narratives — collectively called Kuwentong Panalo — that can touch the heart and remind us of the indomitable Filipino spirit. 

From hundreds of CinePanalo applicants, only thirty-one of the very best were selected as finalists.

They were formally presented during the event, which also marked the beginning of the final stage of the CinePanalo Film Festival.

Among the full-length film finalists named during the press conference were Kurt Soberano, a newcomer with his entry "Under the Piaya Moon," and Eugene Torres with "One Day League: Dead Mother, Dead All".

Both entries earned the "Producer's Choice" title, expanding the initial five grant slots to six.

Accompanying them were renowned directors Sigrid Andrea Bernardo for "Pushcart Tales," Raynier Brizuela for "Boys at the Back," Joel Ferrer for "Road to Happy," and Carlo Obispo for "A Lab Story”.

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Promising new student directors who were likewise introduced are as follows:

Jenievive B. Adame - "Smokey Journey" (STI College Cubao)
Ma. Rafaela Mae Abucejo - "Saan Ako Pinaglihi?" (Polytechnic University of the Philippines)
Alexa Moneii Agaloos - "Ka Benjie" (Polytechnic University of the Philippines)
Kent Michael Cadungog - "Text FIND DAD and Send to 2366" (University of the Philippines)
John Pistol L. Carmen - "Repeater si Peter" (Bicol University)
Chrisha Eseo Cataag - "Hallway Scholar" (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo)
Patricia W. Dalluay - "Lola, Lola, Paano ba 'Yan?" (Polytechnic University of the Philippines)
Joanah Pearl Demonteverde - "Kang Pagpuli Ko" (University of the Philippines – Visayas)
Joshua Andrey A. Doce - "I Am Mutya And I Thank You!" (Bicol State College of Applied Science and Technology)
Neil M. Espino - "Sa Hindi Paghahangad" (De La Salle Lipa)
Terrence Gale Fernandez -