“Mono No Aware” and “Limlim” emerged as the top winners at the 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival Awards Night, taking home the highest honors in the full-length and student short film categories, respectively.
This year’s awards recognized standout performances, filmmaking, and storytelling from entries across the festival, with the Japan-set drama “Mono No Aware” dominating the full-length category with a total of nine awards.
“Mono No Aware” Wins Nine Awards
Directed by BC Amparado, “Mono No Aware” received Pinakapanalong Pelikula, the festival’s top prize for a full-length film. It also won Panalo sa International Jury, while Amparado was named Panalong Direktor.
The film’s cast also earned major acting honors. Juan Karlos Labajo received the Panalong Aktor award, while Momoko Kobayashi won Panalong Pangalawang Aktres. The cast was also recognized with the Best Ensembleaward.
“Mono No Aware” likewise earned several technical awards, including Panalo sa Cinematography for TM Malones, Panalo sa Editing for Edmund Telmo, and Panalo sa Sound Design for Willie Apa Jr.
With nine trophies by the end of the evening, the film became the most awarded full-length entry of the 2026 festival.
Xyriel Manabat, Zanjoe Marudo Among Acting Winners
Other films also enjoyed strong showings during the awards night.
“Apol of my Ai,” “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo),” and “Patay Gutom” each received four awards, while “Stuck on You” took home two.
Among the notable acting winners was Xyriel Manabat, who received the Panalong Aktres award for her comedic performance in “Stuck on You.”
Young actor Zion Cruz of “Apol of my Ai” was recognized as Panalong Child Performer, while Zanjoe Marudoreceived the Panalong Pangalawang Aktor award.
“Limlim” Takes Top Student Short Film Honor
Competition was equally close in the student shorts category, particularly between “Limlim” and “Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.”
The two films ended the awards night with four awards each.
Highlighting just how close the competition was, Samantha Palaje and Jomarie Corro-Reyes shared the Panalong Direktor award in a tie for their respective films.
Ultimately, “Limlim” received Pinakapanalong Maikling Pelikula, earning the festival’s top honor in the student short film category.
The 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival Awards Night capped off another year of recognizing emerging and established Filipino filmmakers, actors, and creatives, with “Mono No Aware” and “Limlim” standing out as the festival’s top winners.
The complete list of 2026 Puregold CinePanalo award winners is as follows:
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)” & “Patay Gutom (Dead Hungry)”
Student Shorts: “Miss Intrams” & “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.” &
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” & 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”
Puregold CinePanalo festival chair Ivy Hayagan-Piedad spoke on the importance of the occasion. “Each year, we gather to honor the brave artistry, and passion of Filipino filmmakers who continue to make a statement in Philippine cinema,” she said. “We proudly celebrate their achievements and we will continue to push this new voice and new perspective that move, inspire, and resonate with our panalo cinema audience.”
The Puregold CinePanalo continues to run until October 4 at Gateway Cineplex 18, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, Ayala Malls Feliz, Ayala Malls Circuit, Ayala Malls Manila Bay and Market! Market!
Also Read: Puregold CinePanalo 2025 Winners
Regular tickets are priced at ₱250, while PWDs, senior citizens, students, national athletes, and Aling Puring and Puregold Perks cardholders can purchase discounted ₱200 tickets.
A ₱2,000 festival pass provides access to all seven full-length films and four sets featuring the festival’s 19 student shorts. Festival passes are available at Gateway Cineplex 18 and TriNoma.
The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026 is supported by Alaska, Angel, Argentina, Ariel, Bingo, Birch Tree Fortified, Bear Brand, C2, Century Tuna, Champion, Chuckie, Coca-Cola, Colgate, Creamsilk, Datu Puti, Downy, GoodNom Fresh, Great Taste, Del Monte, Jack’N Jill, Knorr, Lucky Me!, Maggi, Magnolia Real Mayonnaise, Milo, Monde, MY San, Nestea, Nissin, Nivea, Palmolive Naturals, Pantene, Purefoods, Rebisco, Royal, Safeguard, Sprite, Surf, Wilkins and Zonrox.
