CinePanalo Film Festival 2026 Opens Submissions with Expanded Genre Scope and Record Grants

The CinePanalo Film Festival, now in its third year, has officially opened submissions for aspiring filmmakers without imposing any restrictions on genre, topic, or theme. This marks a departure from previous editions, which emphasized uplifting narratives aligned with the festival’s original theme, "mga kwentong panalo ng buhay."

For 2026, the festival encourages participants to explore a wide array of film genres, including those previously uncommon in the competition such as horror, suspense, crime, and fantasy. This change aims to foster greater creative expression and reflect the diverse storytelling voices in the Filipino film community.

Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, Puregold’s senior marketing manager and chair of the festival, highlighted the motivation behind these adjustments: "In the first two years of CinePanalo, we witnessed the deep passion and eagerness of Filipino filmmakers to share different perspectives. This year, we are opening the festival to all genres and themes to showcase stories that truly represent that diverse voice and creativity."

The 2026 edition will also offer significant financial incentives. Seven directors of full-length films will each receive a production grant of PHP 5 million, the largest single grant in the history of Philippine film festivals. Additionally, 20 student filmmakers will be awarded PHP 200,000 each to support their short film projects.

Applications are now being accepted online. Full-length film applicants can access the contest mechanics and submission forms at https://tinyurl.com/PCPFFFullApp, while student filmmakers interested in the short film category can apply via https://tinyurl.com/PCPFFShortsApp.

The deadline for full-length film submissions is set for 11:59 p.m. on September 10, while student short film applications will close at 11:59 p.m. on November 25.

Selected directors will have their films showcased at the Gateway Cineplex 18 from August 7 to 18. The festival continues to build on its growing reputation following last year’s recognition of a Hiligaynon film and a Mindanao short as top winners.