Japan-set drama 'Mono No Aware' dominates CinePanalo 2026

The Japan-set drama Mono No Aware took home nine awards at the 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival awards night on 30 September at Gateway Mall, making it the most awarded film of the competition.

It earned the top honor of Pinakapanalong Pelikula alongside Panalo sa International Jury, Panalong Direktor for BC Amparado, Panalong Aktor for Juan Karlos Labajo, and Panalong Pangalawang Aktres for Momoko Kobayashi.

The film also won Best Ensemble, Panalo sa Cinematography, Panalo sa Editing, and Panalo sa Sound Design. In the student shorts category, Limlim won the top prize of Pinakapanalong Maikling Pelikula.

Mono No Aware focuses on the overseas Filipino experience, set against the backdrop of Japan. The story explores distance, isolation, and emotional connection across borders. Its success highlights how foreign-set stories about the Filipino diaspora continue to resonate with audiences and festival juries.

The award-winning directors

BC Amparado is a Filipino film director and writer working in Philippine independent cinema. His directorial credits include Salikmata, a CineSilip entry, and Gulay Lang, Manong!, a 2024 Cinemalaya full-length entry. He has cited veteran screenwriter Michiko Yamamoto (Magnifico, Honor Thy Father) as a major influence on his approach to storytelling.

Limlim was directed by Samantha Beatriz Acoja Palaje, a student filmmaker from St. Dominic College of Asia. She shared the Panalong Direktor award in the Student Shorts category with Jomarie Corro-Reyes, director of Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.

List of winners

Pinakapanalong Pelikula

• Full-Length: Mono No Aware

• Student Shorts: Limlim

Panalong Karangalan Mula sa Hurado

• Full-Length: Apol of my Ai

• Student Shorts: Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.

Puregold Always Panalo Film

• Full-Length: Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa'yo) and Patay Gutom (Dead Hungry)

• Student Shorts: Miss Intrams and Pulis Dunggab

Panalo sa International Jury

• Full-Length: Mono No Aware

• Student Shorts: Alumahan

Panalong Director

• Full-Length: BC Amparado - Mono No Aware

• Student Shorts: Jomarie Corro-Reyes - Kun Hain, Bisan Diin. and Samantha Palaje - Limlim

Pinaka Panalong Maikling Pelikula (Panorama Section)

• The Other Side of Reality - Zig Dulay

Panalong Aktress

• Full-Length: Xyriel Manabat - Stuck on You

• Student Shorts: Jonalyn Mateo - Ang Huling Banlaw ni Susan

Panalong Child Performer

• Full-Length: Zion Cruz - Apol of My Ai

• Student Shorts: Zoey Madison Lim - Limlim

Panalong Aktor

• Full-Length: Juan Karlos Labajo - Mono No Aware

• Student Shorts: Jay Gabriel Cañada - The Sound of K

Panalong Pangalawang Aktress

• Full-Length: Momoko Kobayashi - Mono No Aware

• Student Shorts: Nour Hooshmand - Starfish

Panalong Pangalawang Aktor

• Full-Length: Zanjoe Marudo - Apol of My Ai

• Student Shorts: Nor Domingo - 12 Shots

Best Ensemble

• Mono No Aware

Panalo sa Mga Manonood

• Full-Length: Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa'yo)

• Student Shorts: Ang Huling Banlaw ni Susan

Panalong Kwento

• Full-Length: Carl Joseph E. Papa, Yvonne Garcia - Patay Gutom

• Student Shorts: Jomarie Corro-Reyes, William Roberts - Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.

Panalo sa Cinematography

• Full-Length: TM Malones - Mono No Aware

• Student Shorts: Geia de Vera - Limlim

Panalo sa Production Design

• Full-Length: Rodrigo Ricio - Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa'yo)

• Student Shorts: Jim Flores, Minnesota Flores, Sol Samodio - 12 Shots

Panalo sa Musical Scoring

• Full-Length: Emerzon Texon - Apol of My Ai

• Student Shorts: Lenard Kent Villanueva - Miss Intrams

Panalo sa Visual Effects

• Full-Length: Patay Gutom Animation Team

• Student Shorts: Junelle Bacho Tecson, Luis Martin Mañalac - Starfish

Panalo sa Editing

• Full-Length: Edmund Telmo - Mono No Aware

• Student Shorts: Brian Spencer Reyes - Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.

Panalo sa Sound Design

• Full-Length: Willie Apa Jr. - Mono No Aware

• Student Shorts: Hannah Gagalac - Bumtak Sara ti Nuangen

Panalong Awitin

• Full-Length: "Reyna ng Quezon City" by Juana - Stuck on You

• Student Shorts: "Game Na!" by Kier Mosquito, Edlyn Icao, John Dave Brion - Teks Battle: Shoot Pati Pato!

Panalong Poster

• Full-Length: Denver Balbaboco - Patay Gutom

• Student Shorts: Keith Ian Serfino - Alumahan and Eidan Maninang - Nang Matakasan ang Tagay

Pinakapanalong Promosyon ng Pelikula

• When Heaven Inched Towards Earth

Panalo sa Brand Intrusion

• Full-Length: Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa'yo)

• Student Shorts: Alumahan

The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026 runs until 4 October at Gateway Cineplex 18, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, Ayala Malls Feliz, Ayala Malls Circuit, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, and Market! Market! Regular tickets cost ₱250, while senior citizens, PWDs, students, national athletes, and Aling Puring and Puregold Perks cardholders can buy tickets at a discounted rate of ₱200. A festival pass priced at ₱2,000 gives access to all seven full-length films and four sets featuring 19 student shorts, available at Gateway Cineplex 18 and TriNoma.