“Under a Piaya Moon” and “Last Shift” Win Big at Inaugural Puregold CinePanalo Awards Night

I love the cinemas because, as a fashion stylist who once worked on movies, I've seen first-hand how films were made, and I'll tell you, it involves blood, sweat, and tears (of anger, frustration, and joy, haha). From the conceptualization, planning, production, execution, shoots, post-processing, screening, etc.-- it really takes a village-- a city even. So, I was super excited to attend the Puregold CinePanalo Awards Night and film screenings. It made me so proud of all the participants, not just because of their passion and dedication but also because of the inspiring stories they put out in the world.  Read on to know more...

Me the day after the awards night when I went to the film screenings :)

All the short films

All the full-length films

with blogger friends!

“Under a Piaya Moon” and “Last Shift” bagged the coveted Pinakapanalong Pelikula awards in the full-length and short film categories respectively at the inaugural Puregold CinePanalo Awards Night. It was an emotional night held on March 16 at the Gateway Cineplex 18 as both established names and young up-and-comers received recognition for their exceptional efforts.

Cast and crew of "Under the Piaya Moon" receiving their award for Pinakapanalong Mahabang Pelikula

            Cast and crew of "Last Shift" accepting their award for Pinakapanalong Maikling Pelikula

In the full-length category, Kurt Soberano’s debut feature “Under a Piaya Moon” left the biggest impact as it bagged six awards, including the coveted Panalong Aktor and Panalong Pangalawang Aktor. Close behind was Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s “Pushcart Tales,” which left with four awards, including Panalong Direktor and Panalong Karangalan Mula sa Mga Hurado.

The cast and crew of “Pushcart Tales” accepting the award for Panalong Karangalan

Mula sa Mga Hurado (Full-Length Category). Direk Sigrid was also the director of the film "Kita Kita"

Meanwhile, among the student shorts, Ronjay-C Mendiola’s “Last Shift” achieved the most accolades, winning five awards through the night, including Panalong Aktor and Panalong Pangalawang Aktor. Diezelle C. Masilungan’s “Kung Nag-aatubili” also impressed with four awards, including Panalong Direktor and a tie for Panalong Pangalawang Aktor.

Vince Macapobre (“Last Shift”) and Aiskhylos Akiyama (“Kung Nag-aatubili”) accepting their joint Panalong Pangalawang Aktor (Short Film Category) awards.

Dizelle C. Masilungan (left) accepting the award for Panalong Direktor (Short Film

Category) for the film “Kung Nag-aatubili.”

Award winners were selected by an esteemed jury of judges. Victor Villanueva, Emmanuel dela Cruz, and Lito Zulueta served as the jury for the short film category, while Jeffery Jeturian, Mae Cruz-Alviar, and June Kim served for the full-length category. Festival directors Ivy Hayagan-Piedad and Chris Cahilig, alongside Republic Creative’s Lyle Gonzales, served on both juries.

The jury!

Representatives from festival partners MTRCB and Mowelfund attended to award special prizes to exceptional film entries.

              Kurt Soberano (second from left) accepting the MTRCB Responsableng Paglikha

Award (Full-Length Category) for his film “Under a Piaya Moon.”

“Smokey Journey,” “Tiil ni Lola,” and “Kung Nag-aatubili” received first, second, and third prizes, respectively, in the MTRCB Responsableng Paglikha short-film category, while “Under a Piaya Moon” took home the award in the full-length category.

Mowelfund also gave out special citations for “Ka Benjie” in the short film category and “Under a Piaya Moon” in the full-length category. They also gave scholarships to ten of the most promising student filmmakers to participate in the festival. 

                

Mowelfund awarded scholarships to these ten student directors: Alexa Moneii Agaloos, John Pistol L. Carmen, Dizelle C. Masilungan, Joshua Andrey A. Doce, Marian Jayce Tiongzon, Reutsche Colle Lima, John Llever Sucaldito, Daniel Gil, Jenievive B. Adame, and Kent Michael Cadungog.

The full list of award winners is as follows:

PINAKAPANALONG PELIKULA

Full-length: “Under a Piaya Moon”

Short Film: “Last Shift”

ALWAYS PANALO FILM

Full-length: “A Lab Story”

Short Film: “Smokey Journey”

PANALONG DIREKTOR

Full-length: Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, “Pushcart Tales”

Short Film: Dizelle C. Masilungan, “Kung Nag-aatubili”

PANALONG AKTRES

Full-length: Shamaine Buencamino, “Pushcart Tales”

Short Film: Jade Mary Cornelia, “Text FIND DAD and Send to 2366”

PANALONG AKTOR

Full-length: Carlos Siguion-Reyna, “Pushcart Tales,” and Jeff Moses, “Under a Piaya Moon”

Short Film: Jules Azaula, “Last Shift,” and Cristmer Valencia, “May Kulay Rosas Ba sa Bahaghari?”

PANALONG KARANGALAN MULA SA MGA HURADO

Full-length: “Pushcart Tales”

Short Film: “Text FIND DAD and Send to 2366”

PANALO SA MGA MANONOOD

Full-length: “A Lab Story”

Short Film: “Saan Ako Pinaglihi?”

PANALONG PANGALAWANG AKTRES

Full-length: Nicole Omillo, “Boys at the Back”

Short Film: Maila Rediang, “Repeater si Peter”

PANALONG PANGALAWANG AKTOR

Full-length: Joel Torre, “Under a Piaya Moon”

Short Film: Vince Macapobre, “Last Shift,” and Aiskhylos Akiyama, “Kung Nag-aatubili”

PANALONG KWENTO

Full-length: Raynier F. Brizuela, “Boys at the Back”

Short Film: Ronjay-C Mendiola, “Last Shift”

MOWELFUND SPECIAL CITATION

Full-length: “Under a Piaya Moon”

Short Film: “Ka Benjie”

MTRCB RESPONSABLENG PAGLIKHA

Full-length: “Under a Piaya Moon”

Short Film

1st Place: “Smokey Journey”

2nd Place: “Tiil ni Lola”

3rd Place: "Kung Nag-aatubili”

PANALO SA CINEMATOGRAPHY

Full-length: Nathan Bringuer, “Under a Piaya Moon”

Short Film: Anton Acosta, “Kung Nag-aatubili”

PANALO SA PRODUCTION DESIGN

Full-Length: Kurt Soberano and Jed Sicangco, “Under a Piaya Moon”

Short Film: Mikaela Ganaden, “Remedy Soup”

PANALONG AWITIN

Full-length: “Mahal Kita” by VJ Mendoza, “Road to Happy”

Short Film: “Balik” by Dixzie Dione Cruel, “Tiil ni Lola”

PANALONG ENSEMBLE

Full-length: “Pushcart Tales”

Short Film: “Smokey Journey”

PANALO SA MUSICAL SCORING

Full-length: Owa Marquez, “Boys at the Back”

Short Film: Bernie del Carmen, “Smokey Journey”

PANALO SA EDITING

Full-length: Kurt Soberano and Rodney Jarder Jr., “Under a Piaya Moon”

Short Film: Reutsche Colle Lima, Nyle Justin Bacolod, and Elj Seth Tababa, “Tiil ni Lola”

PANALO SA SOUND DESIGN

Full-length: Nioki Aquino, “Pushcart Tales”

Short Film: Kzee Flores, “May Kulay Rosas Ba sa Bahaghari?”

PANALO SA FILM POSTER

Full-length: “Boys at the Back”

Short Film: “Last Shift”

Nico and I returned to Gateway the next day to catch a few films. We were so happy because we got to watch with the actors, directors, and some of the crew themselves! I swear there were moments I teared up, especially when there was a great scene, and the audience cheered or clapped, and you could just see and feel the happiness and pride of those involved in the film.  That direct and instant connection between the audience and the artists was just magical. I also felt so much pride and admiration! Good job, everyone!

The cast, crew and director of "Pushcart Tales" were all there! Goosebumps seeing these legends of Philippine cinema and theater especially Sir Nonie and Ms. Shamaine Buencamino and Sir Carlos-Siguion Reyna. <3

Due to time constraints, we were only able to watch Pushcart Tales and Boys at the Back—and we both loved them! Both movies have important and compelling stories to tell, and the execution (despite the lack of budget) is top-notch. Congratulations to everyone involved, most especially to Puregold, for a successful film festival!

Hope they can put all the films on streaming platforms or the Puregold channel so more people can see them. Hehe. I can't wait for the next one! :)

For more infos and details, visit:

https://puregold.com.ph/