ENTERTAINMENT NEWS, REVIEWS
Ten original short films were selected for the inaugural Panorama Shorts Section at the 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival. Premiering independently produced works from Philippine filmmakers, the films screen from Sept 23–Oct 4 at Gateway Cineplex 18.
WANTAWSAN, an entry in the 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival directed by Joseph Abello, stars Joross Gamboa as a dad facing hard choices. The film shows how poor families navigate politics, money troubles, and the true cost of a father’s love.
2 VALID IDS (Cinemalaya 2026) ReviewDirected by Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan and Abet Pagdagdagan Raz 2 Valid IDs is a film that demands urgent attention, striking a deeply relatable chord with anyone who has ever been trapped in bureaucratic red tape. The universal experience of navigating inefficient, endless government processes, which bleed citizens of both time …
GANGGANG (Cinemalaya 2026) ReviewDirected by JL Burgos In Ganggang, JL Burgos’ first full-length narrative film, the main message is clear and constant from the opening scene to the end credits. Burgos spends the entire movie carefully setting up the story, building tension step by step so you know something heavy is about to happen. He …
Status: Rejected is a deeply moving Cinemalaya family drama driven by a brilliant performance from Ruby Ruiz and evocative production design by Marielle Hizon. Rich in authentic family dynamics and heartwarming sequences, it stands out as a truly resonant watch.
QCinema International Film Festival announces QCinema Industry 2026, the latest edition of the festival’s official industry platform, taking place from November 18 to 20 as part of the 2026 festival, which runs from November 14 to 23.
Director Alpha Habon shifts from comedy to drama with his Cinemalaya film Kaka Sa Yawan. Centered on Tadyawan-Mangyan heritage, the film stars Beaver Magtalas and Nicolo Mercader in a moving story about friendship, grief, healing, and unfulfilled promises.
Fresh off its acclaimed world premiere in the Berlinale Panorama section of the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival, Dominik Locher’s latest feature film, Enjoy Your Stay, has been officially selected to open the 22nd Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. Presented by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in collaboration with Belgium-based sales agent Be For Films, the film boasts a compelling screenplay penned by Honeylyn Joy Alipio. Local audiences can catch the film’s grand Philippine Premiere on August 6, 2026, at 7:30 PM at the Red Carpet Cinemas 1 & 2 in Shangri-La Plaza, with admission offered completely free to the public.
Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival is bolstering its support for Filipino filmmakers by introducing—for the first time ever—the new Panorama Shorts Section, which will feature previously completed short films from both professional and student filmmakers.
Making a feature film just got a lot easier for this year’s Puregold CinePanalo filmmakers. CMB Film Services is officially back on board as a festival partner, and they are bringing a massive budget boost with them by raising their equipment rental grants to a cool PHP 1.25 million per project—marking a PHP 250,000 bump from last year.