A Venice best actor winner, a defending champion and a mix of TV stars and newcomers are competing for the top acting prizes at this year's CinePanalo Film Festival.
Festival director Chris Cahilig announced the nominees in a livestream on the festival's official Facebook page, just days after the festival opened to long lines and sold-out screenings.
The winners will be announced at the CinePanalo Awards Night on September 30 at Gateway Cineplex 18 in Cubao, Quezon City.
The nominations follow a strong first week in cinemas. On opening day, September 23, several full-length films were already sold out at different screening times. Even before the festival began, moviegoers lined up at Gateway Cineplex 18 and TriNoma for tickets. Many screenings for the first weekend also sold out, especially the late-afternoon and evening shows.
Chris said the crowds were a good sign for local films at a time when the state of Philippine cinema has been widely debated.
"There remains a strong appetite for Filipino stories told by Filipino voices," he said in a statement.
The Best Actor race in the full-length category is the most crowded, with seven nominees.
Leading the pack is John Arcilla, nominated for Beast. In 2021, John became the first Filipino to win the Best Actor prize at the Venice International Film Festival for his role in On the Job: The Missing 8.
Also in the running is Khalil Ramos for Patay Gutom. Khalil is the festival's reigning Best Actor after sharing the award last year with child actor JP Larroder. This time, he is up against his own co-star, Ian Pangilinan, who is also nominated for Patay Gutom.
The same goes for Mono No Aware, which has two lead actors in the category: singer-actor Juan Karlos Labajo and Perry Dizon. Completing the list are Joross Gamboa for Wantawsan and Joao Constancia for Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa'yo).
The best actress race is a two-way fight between former child star Xyriel Manabat for Stuck on You and content creator-turned-actress Sassa Gurl for Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa'yo).
In the supporting categories, Rita Daniela, former SexBomb Girls member Rochelle Pangilinan, Agot Isidro and Momoko Kobayashi are nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Paolo O'Hara, Roger Naldo and Zanjoe Marudo are competing for Best Supporting Actor.
Young actor Zion Cruz has two nominations in the child performer category, one for Wantawsan and another for Apol of My Ai. He is up against Ruslan Jacob of Beast.
In the student shorts category, veteran actor Soliman Cruz is competing with young performers from the festival's 19 student films.
Here is the complete list of acting nominees:
FULL-LENGTH CATEGORY
Panalong Aktres
Xyriel Manabat, Stuck on You
Sassa Gurl, Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa'yo)
Panalong Aktor
Joross Gamboa, Wantawsan
John Arcilla, Beast
Ian Pangilinan, Patay Gutom
Khalil Ramos, Patay Gutom
Joao Constancia, Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa'yo)
Perry Dizon, Mono No Aware
Juan Karlos Labajo, Mono No Aware
Panalong Child Performer
Zion Cruz, Wantawsan
Ruslan Jacob, Beast
Zion Cruz, Apol of My Ai
Panalong Pangalawang Aktres
Rita Daniela, Wantawsan
Rochelle Pangilinan, Apol of My Ai
Agot Isidro, Patay Gutom
Momoko Kobayashi, Mono No Aware
Panalong Pangalawang Aktor
Paolo O'Hara, Mono No Aware
Roger Naldo, Stuck on You
Zanjoe Marudo, Apol of My Ai
STUDENT SHORTS CATEGORY
Panalong Aktres
Pau Baluyan, Kun Hain, Bisan Diin
Mariella Cuerpo, Miss Intrams
Jonalyn Mateo, Ang Huling Banlaw ni Susan
Belle Francisco, Bumtak Sara ti Nuangen
Kyrie Samodio, 12 Shots
Panalong Aktor
Soliman Cruz, Nakabinbin
Arjhay Mangulabnan, No Mad Is an Island
Jay Gabriel Cañada, "The Sound of K"
VR Relosa, Starfish
André Miguel, When Heaven Inched Towards Earth
Chino Alfonso, Nang Matakasan ang Tagay
Child Performer
Van Jordan Gacayan, Pulis Dunggab
Don Rishmond Cerbito, Alumahan
Zoey Madison Lim, Limlim
Kenneth Mendoza, Teks Battle: Shoot Pati Pato!
Pangalawang Aktres
Nour Hooshmand, Starfish
Ma. Christina Simon, Alumahan
Angela Salga, Limlim
Karla Pambid, 12 Shots
Mika Hamajo, Miss Intrams
Diana Palma, Miss Intrams
Pangalawang Aktor
Jeremy Mayores, Alumahan
Nor Domingo, 12 Shots
Seth Tababa, Pulis Dunggab
Kaleb Ong, When Heaven Inched Towards Earth
Alfredo Montano, Bumtak Sara ti Nuangen
Vic Romano, No Mad Is an Island
CinePanalo is now in its third year. At its first edition in March 2024, Kurt Soberano's Under a Piaya Moon won Best Picture and was later screened at a film festival in Morocco. Last year, the Hiligaynon film Salum by TM Malones took the top prize, while Khalil and JP shared the Best Actor award.
This year, the festival moved from March to September. It also dropped its old theme, Mga Kwentong Panalo ng Buhay, so filmmakers were free to tell any story they wanted. As a result, this year's lineup includes a ghost love story, a dark romantic comedy and a political comedy.
The festival runs until October 4 at Gateway Cineplex 18, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, Ayala Malls Feliz, Ayala Malls Circuit, Ayala Malls Manila Bay and Market! Market! Regular tickets cost ₱250, with discounted ₱200 tickets for PWDs, senior citizens, students, national athletes and select cardholders. A ₱2,000 festival pass, sold at Gateway Cineplex 18 and TriNoma, covers all seven full-length films and the 19 student shorts.
——By Paolo Lim