Daily Tribune
Photographs courtesy of CINEPANALO
The second edition of the CinePanalo Film Festival is gearing up to turn things up in the local indie film scene. Set to run from 14 to 25 March at Gateway Cineplex 18, the festival — founded by supermarket giant Puregold — promises to be bigger and bolder.
At a press conference on 24 January, CinePanalo presented its exciting lineup of eight full-length films and 24 student short films — with the surprise reveal being the star-studded cast of the festival.
Sunday Beauty Queen director Baby Ruth Villarama will compete in the full-length category with her documentary Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea. Also in the mix is JP Habac’s Olsen’s Day, a magic realism film starring Khalil Ramos and Romnick Sarmenta. Habac spent over ten years working on the deeply personal script.
Cinemalaya alum Christian Paolo Lat is co-directing Journeyman with his brother Dominic Lat. The film, starring JC Santos and Jasmine Curtis-Smith, dives into the gritty world of boxers who are forced to sell their fights to survive. Santos went through two months of hardcore training to make sure his role hit home.
In addition, editor-turned-director Tara Illenberger brings us Tigkiliwi, a Hiligaynon-language film starring Ruby Ruiz and Gabby Padilla. Meanwhile, Salum, directed by TM Malones, tells the gripping story of Allen Dizon’s character, an oyster diver caught in the frenzy of a pearl rush on Isla Gigantes Island. Also featured is Sepak Takraw, directed by Mes de Guzman, which stars child actor Enzo Osorio.
And in a twist, two mainstream films are part of the festival’s lineup. Co-Love, directed by Jill Singson Urdaneta, stars KD Estrada, Alexa Ilacad, Jameson Blake and Kira Balinger. Meanwhile, Fleeting, the directorial debut of producer Catsi Catalan, features Janella Salvador and RK Bagatsing.
Festival director Chris Cahilig explained that bringing in commercial films was a conscious choice: “We wanted to appeal to a younger audience with these narratives — romantic comedies that target young adults,” he told DAILY TRIBUNE.
This year’s festival is taking everything up a notch, thanks to lessons learned from last year’s debut. Cahilig shared with DAILY TRIBUNE that the team took feedback from the inaugural festival to heart, which led to better resources for this year.
“Last year, we were working with tight budgets and even tighter timelines. Filmmakers only had about four months from when the grant was awarded to when the films were due. It was tough, but everyone made it work. This year, we made sure to extend the submission period and increase the budget. From the P2.5M grant last year, we were able to raise it to P3M for full-length features and increase the student grant from P100,000 to P150,000. We also sought out more partners to provide support.”
For the full-length films, CinePanalo not only increased the seed money but also secured free access to equipment rentals from CMB Film Services. Cahilig emphasized further to DAILY TRIBUNE how this made a huge difference: “It became a playground for cinematographers. Suddenly, filmmakers had access to the best gear, which dramatically improved the quality of the films and opened up endless creative possibilities.”
The festival’s first edition last year helped spotlight student filmmakers, offering them the chance to showcase their talents while receiving guidance from industry professionals.
This year, the student shorts competition features 24 finalists from 13 schools across the Philippines. The majority of the student filmmakers come from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, with eight finalists, followed by five from the University of the Philippines.
The other schools represented are University of the Philippines Visayas, Far Eastern University, University of San Carlos, University of Santo Tomas, University of Eastern Philippines, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo, and National University Laguna.
Cahilig highlighted the significant support student filmmakers received, particularly from MFP Rentals, which provided free equipment for up to three shooting days. “Mark Tristan Cua from MFP Rentals was incredibly generous, offering unlimited access to equipment,” he said, speaking to DAILY TRIBUNE. “This made a huge difference, as equipment costs are often the biggest hurdle for filmmakers.” With this added support, according to Cahilig, filmmakers were able to stretch their budgets, resulting in a noticeable improvement in film quality.
When asked by DAILY TRIBUNE if the short film category would open to non-students in the future, Cahilig emphasized, “We want to keep our focus on students. They often have the least exposure, and by nurturing their talent, we can help shape the next generation of great Filipino filmmakers. It’s not just about offering opportunities; CinePanalo is about giving them the freedom to discover their voice.”
