The Cinepanalo 2025 Film Festival winners. | Contributed photo
Seasoned actress Ruby Ruiz and actor-singer Khalil Ramos took home the Best Actress and Best Actor honors, respectively, at the CinePanalo Film Festival 2025.
During the awards night on Wednesday, March 19, in Quezon City, Ruiz was hailed Panalong Aktres (Best Actress) for her performance in the Hiligaynon film “Tigkiliwi.”
Aside from Ruiz’s win, “Tigkiliwi” nabbed six other trophies including Panalong Karangalan mula sa Hurado (Jury Prize) and Panalo sa Kwento (Best Screenplay) for its writer-director Tara Illenberger as well as Panalong Pangalawang Aktor (Best Supporting Actor) for Jeffrey Jiruma.
On the other hand, the Panalong Aktor (Best Actor) trophy was shared between Ramos as the titular Olsen in “Olsen’s Day” and JP Larroder as Tata in “Tigkiliwi.”
Another tie was also declared between “Journeyman” and “Olsen’s Day” for the Panalo sa Cinematography category (Best in Cinematography). Meanwhile, JP Habac bagged the Panalong Direktor (Best Director) award for “Olsen’s Day.”
The Hiligaynon full-length film “Salum” directed by TM Malones and Mindanaoan short film “Champ Green” were honored with the top prizes (Best Film) in their respective categories.
Festival Director Chris Cahilig shared that it took the longest for the jury to decide who should win Best Actor .
“Ang lala ng best actor (The Best Actor was crazy). That was such a long debate. May best film na (We already have a Best Film), wala pa kami best actor (But still no Best Actor),” he told reporters. “Cinematography [was also] unbelievable. Two days screening and deliberation. Hours of deliberation.”
FULL LIST OF WINNERS:
Pinakapanalong Pelikula
Full-Length: “Salum” (TM Malones)
Student Shorts: “Champ Green” (Clyde Cuizon Gamale)
Puregold Always Panalo Film
Full-Length: “Journeyman” (Christian Paolo Lat & Dominic Lat), “Fleeting: (Catsi Catalan)
Student Shorts: “Sampie,” (Ira Corinne Esquerra Malit)
Panalong Direktor
Full-Length: JP Habac, “Olsen’s Day”
Student Shorts: Vhan Marco B. Molacruz, “Uwian”
Panalong Aktres
Full-Length: Ruby Ruiz as Nay Pansay, “Tigkiliwi”
Student Shorts: Geraldine Villamil as Remy, “Uwian”
Panalong Aktor
Full-Length: Khalil Ramos as Olsen, “Olsen’s Day”
JP Larroder as Tata, “Tigkiliwi”
Student Shorts: jLucas Martin as Sam, “SamPie”
Jasper John as Juan Dela Cruz, “Dela Cruz, Juan P.”
Panalong Karangalan mula sa mga Huradoubu
Full-Length: “Tigkiliwi” (Tara Illenberger)
Student Shorts: “Dela Cruz, Juan P.” (Sean Rafael A. Verdejo)
Panalo sa mga Manonood
Full-Length: “Co-Love” (Jill Singson Urdaneta)
Student Shorts: “Sisenta!” (Mae Malaya)
Panalong Pangalawang Aktres
Full-Length: Gabby Padilla as Marlin, “Tigkiliwi”
Student Shorts: Uzziel Delamide as Imang, “Uwian”
Panalong Pangalawang Aktor
Full-Length: Jeffrey Jiruma as Pol, “Tigkiliwi”
Student Shorts: Sol Eugenio as Tekbong, “Champ Green”
Panalong Ensemble
Full-Length: “Tigkiliwi” (Tara Illenberger)
Student Shorts: “Sine-Sine” (Roniño Dolim)
Panalong Kwento
Full-Length: Tara Illenberger, “Tigkiliwi”
Student Shorts: Clyde Cuizon Gamale, “Champ Green”
Panalo sa Cinematography
Full-Length: 0Dominic Lat, “Journeyman”
Kara Moreno, “Olsen’s Day”
Student Shorts: Lance Lascano, “Dan, En Pointe”
Panalo sa Production Design
Full-Length: Kyle Fermindoza, “Salum”
Student Shorts: Andrea Jayne Perang, “Uwian”
Panalo sa Musical Scoring
Full-Length: Armor Rapista, “Salum”
Student Shorts: Len Calvo, “Uwian”
Panalo sa Editing
Full-Length: Vanessa Ubas de Leon, “Co-Love”
Student Shorts: Jose Andy Sales, “G!”
Panalo sa Sound Design
Full-Length: Fatima Nerikka Salim and Immanuel Verona, “Salum”
Student Shorts: Elian Idioma, “Dela Cruz, Juan P.”
Panalong Awitin
Full-Length: “DI KO PINILI” by Kiko Salazar, performed by Chie, Co-Love
Student Shorts: “Suga, Camera, Saad” by Jonathan Rey Sartorio and Lloyd Martin Villacortes Arce, performed by Jonathan Rey “ROTT” Sartorio, Sine-Sine
Panalo sa Brand Intrusion
Full-Length: “Journeyman” (555 Sardines and Lucky Me!)
Student Shorts: “Champ Green” (Bear Brand), G! (Chuckie)
Panalo sa Film Poster
Full-Length: “Journeyman” by Christian Paolo Lat and Dominic Lat
Student Shorts: “Checkmate” by Alexie Nicole Pardo
Pinakapanalong Promosyon ng Pelikula
Student Shorts: “Checkmate” by Alexie Nicole Pardo
“Taympers” by Naiah Nicole Mendoza
Responsableng Paglikha
Full-Length: “Journeyman”
Student Shorts:
- “Dan, En Pointe” by Adelbert Abrigonda
- “Sine-Sine” by Roniño Dolim
- “1… 2… Strike!!!” by Kenneth Flores
Mowelfund Special Citation
Full-Length: “Olsen’s Day”
Student Shorts: “Champ Green”
Panalo sa International Jury
“Journeyman” by Christian Paolo Lat and Dominic Lat