ENTERTAINMENT NEWS, REVIEWS
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.
The QCinema International Film Festival has announced the recipients of its 2026 QCShorts grant, distributing ₱3.5 million ($57,817) across five short film projects by Filipino filmmakers based in the Philippines.
The selected filmmakers and their projects are: Carla Pulido Ocampo (“Agsangit Laeng ti Al-alia”), Clister Santos (“Sana’y Nandito Ka”), Maki Makilan (“Body Works”), Rodiell Veloso (“Run Shirley Run!”), and Toni Cañete (“Maanaa Kanimo”).
Rising Filipino actress Ashtine Olviga takes center stage in memorare, a haunting new short film set to hold its world premiere at the Main Program of Sehsüchte International Student Film Festival in Potsdam, Germany, on April 23, 2026.
Puregold carries on with its heartfelt tribute to Filipino sari-sari store owners or micro-entrepreneurs with its Sari-Sari Stories video series, the newest installment of which features a special cameo from BINI’s Jhoanna. “The Witness” is a short film that tells a tender, coming-of-age love story, one that unfolds across the years, shaped by change, constancy, and the quiet presence of a sari-sari store owner who sees it all.
Puregold CinePanalo, currently on its third iteration, has unveiled the top 20 student short films culled from an impressive pool of 267 submissions nationwide. Chosen from an initial top 53 shortlist, the select entries were crafted by the Philippines’ most promising student filmmakers who are poised to shape the future of Philippine cinema.
Two years after his groundbreaking animated feature “Iti Mapukpukaw” was hailed as Best Film at the 19th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, Carl Joseph Papa is back in the circuit with another animated offering ‘The Next 24 Hours.’
5 feature films, 4 documentaries, 11 student documentaries, 16 short films and 25 student short films, the Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival continues to champion stories made by Filipinos for the Filipinos.
In its seventh year, the festival will run from September 24 to 30 at Gateway Cineplex 18, Robinsons Manila, Robinsons Antipolo, SM Fairview, and SM Mall of Asia. The ticket price is P250.
The filmmakers and their projects are: Norvin de los Santos (“Hoy, Hoy, Ingat!”), Lauviah Caliboso (“Ours Was A Timeless Night Burning”), Racquel “Lysa” Catolico and Jazmine Gin Pateña (“RUNO!”), Dale (“Si Tina: Ang Babaye Nga Nag Daba-Daba”), Gabriela Serrano and Mariana Serrano (“Surface Tension”), and Gab Rosique (“Yelo”).
“Ang difference ng short film festival na ito, magkakaroon ng chance ang lahat ng actors, actress, photograher, editor, etc. kasi magkakaroon sila ng separate award – Best in Cinematography, Best Editing, Best in Music and Sound Design, Best Actor and Best Actress, along with the Best Picture (Best Short Film) and Best Director,” shares FAMAS Short Film Festival director Gabby Ramos
Now in its thirteenth year, QCinema offers a production grant of ₱500,000 for short films in the early stages of development. Selected films will premiere at the QCinema International Film Festival slated from November 2025.
The submission deadline is February 14, 2025, at 11:59 PM. For more details and to apply, visit qcinema.ph/submissions/qcshorts2025.