THE 22ND Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival concluded with an awards ceremony on Aug. 17 at the Shangri-la Plaza, Mandaluyong.
“Para-paraan (Finding a Way Through),” a short film directed by UST alumna Mae Chan Li, won a Special Jury Award.
Production designer Katrish Aristoki, another alumna, won Best Production Design for “Mag-iina (Mothering),” directed by Giancarlo Abrahan.
Here is the full list of Cinemalaya 2026 winners:
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SHORT FILMS:
Best Picture
For its textured cinematography, precise color grading, and meticulous sound design; for brilliantly capturing the tangible, tactile world of a fading craft; for its emotionally resonant story of legacy and reconciliation, beautifully balancing the silent tension and tender affection between a struggling printer and his aging father as they navigate time, family, and changing times.
Best Short Film goes to “Silkscreen” by Rey Anthony Villaverde.
Special Jury Prize
For its stark, grounded documentary style; for its piercing look into the physical and systemic barriers of urban life; for challenging audiences to rethink accessibility, inclusion, and the ordinary spaces around us; for its masterful but economical narrative; and for its powerful advocacy for the rights of the disabled.
The Special Jury Prize goes to “Para-paraan (Finding a Way Through)” by Mae Chan Li.
READ: CINEMALAYA 22: ‘Para-Paraan’ exposes everyday barriers faced by PWDs
Best Direction
For seamlessly harmonizing every technical element to craft a powerful, visually mesmerizing story of women struggling to live out their dreams amidst heartbreak and failure; and for guiding her exceptional female cast to deliver profoundly nuanced, authentic performances that radiate raw vulnerability, elevating a dreamless Manila into a transcendent, deeply emotional reflection on hope, sacrifice, and the courage to say goodbye.
Best Direction goes to Gabriela Serrano for “Elenita Elena Elaine.”
Best Screenplay
For crafting a witty yet deeply emotional narrative; for capturing hearts through a perfect blend of high entertainment and buoyant artistry; for its moving tribute to unconditional loyalty; and for its fine animation that illustrates the profound bonds of love and sacrifice that define man’s best friend.
Best Screenplay goes to Lysa Catolico and Jazmine Gin R. Pateña for “RUNO!”
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FULL-LENGTH FILMS
Best Sound
For exceptional achievement in sound design; for effectively crafting audible silence to heighten the film’s intense emotional weight, with every subtle sound and quiet pause intimately drawing the audience into the hospital room, amplifying the heartbreak and misery of a gay man watching his partner painfully wither away.
Best Sound goes to Elian Idioma for “Tayo Lang Nakakaalam.”
Best Musical Score
For a masterfully subtle and haunting soundtrack; for using evocative piano melodies to build intense atmospheric dread; for providing acoustic complement to a crucial narrative thread; for deeply enriching a movie’s gothic tone while accentuating the silent tension, grief, and dysfunction consuming a deeply estranged family.
Best Music Score goes to David Yuhico for “Mag-iina.”
READ: CINEMALAYA 22: ‘Mag-iina’ revisits inescapable family history, trauma
Best Editing
For razor-sharp narrative pacing and punchy cutting that sharpen the film’s dark humor and biting satire; for precise rhythmic timing heightening the absurdity of provincial patronage and dynastic politics, turning a tense household conflict over a compromising video into a hilarious, expertly paced critique of power and corruption in Philippine society.
Best Editing goes to John Rogers for “A.ni.mal.”
READ: CINEMALAYA 22: ‘A.ni.mal’ mirrors realities of Philippine politics
Best Production Design:
For immersive art direction; for crafting the haunting, gothic atmosphere and spatial design that effectively mirror a family’s deep dysfunction, trapping three generations of women within an unforgettable visual landscape of grief, madness, and dark domestic secrets.
Best Production Design goes to Katrish Aristoki for “Mag-iina.”
READ: CINEMALAYA 22: ‘Mag-iina’ revisits inescapable family history, trauma
Best Cinematography:
For evocative visual storytelling; for its powerful, piercing imagery that’s a masterclass in controlling of light and shadow alongside deliberate camera angling; for its intimate visual composition that heightens the raw emotional weight of the narrative, capturing the heartbreaking isolation and tender grief of a man watching his partner ravaged by a vicious deadly disease.
Best Cinematography goes to Adam Dumagan for “Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam.”
Best Screenplay:
For a masterfully written, fearlessly complex script; for its layered, visionary storytelling; for crafting a hauntingly rich narrative filled with fascinating, grotesque characters; and for turning a deeply resonant tale of domestic grief and family dysfunction into a sharp, provocative reflection of the underlying dark realities of Philippine society.
Best Screenplay goes to Guelan Varela Luarca for “Mag-iina.”
READ: CINEMALAYA 22: ‘Mag-iina’ revisits inescapable family history, trauma
Best Performance of a Supporting Actor
TIE
For taking on a most complex role; for seamlessly navigating through intense, grotesque character shifts alongside seasoned co-stars; for instantly owning the screen, holding his own among an elite cast to pull off a jarring, grotesque transformation from innocent child to dark force that remains crucial to the film’s impact; and for an astonishingly mature performance for someone so young…
and
For a deeply moving performance and extraordinary screen presence, for fully capturing the spirit of a young boy torn between conflict and hope, and for effectively rendering the sensibility of a Mindanao child soldier whose life transforms as he discovers a love and talent for football, giving powerful life to a dream of escaping violence for a brighter future.
The Best Supporting Actor Awards go to Lucas Andalio for “Mag-iina” and K.D. Omalin for “Hand of God.”
READ: CINEMALAYA 22: ‘Mag-iina’ revisits inescapable family history, trauma
Best Performance of a Supporting Actress
For delivering a ferocious performance of incredible brilliance; for effortlessly pivoting from mordant dark comedy to trenchant drama; and for capturing the deep pain and tight resilience of a woman navigating political scandal, commanding every scene with incredible presence and show-stopping mastery.
Best Supporting Actress goes to Bituin Escalante for ““A.ni.mal.”
READ: CINEMALAYA 22: ‘A.ni.mal’ mirrors realities of Philippine politics
Best Director
For his fearless and visionary filmmaking; for effectively orchestrating cinema’s technical resources into a richly layered family drama reflecting broader Philippine socio-political realities; for his bold, boundary-pushing choices and command of atmosphere; and for drawing out transcendent, deeply resonant performances to construct a haunting cinematic masterpiece.
Best Director goes to Giancarlo Abrahan for “Mag-iina.”
READ: CINEMALAYA 22: ‘Mag-iina’ revisits inescapable family history, trauma
Best Performance of a Lead Actor
For his deeply affecting and sensitive presence; for his remarkably restrained and effective performance which carries the film’s profound emotional weight through non-verbal mastery; for his gentle, nuanced expressions during quiet moments eloquently conveying the quiet grief, heartbreak, and resilience of a gay man fighting to look hopeful and strong while caring for his dying partner.
Best Performance of a Lead Actor goes to Martin Del Rosario for “Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam.”
Best Performance of a Lead Actress
TIE
For a deeply transformative and devastating performance; for courageously shedding her comedic roots to deliver a riveting, grounded portrayal; and for her touching emotional control, impressively encapsulating in her portrayal the raw frustration, quiet dignity, and heartbreaking desperation of the marginalized struggling against a pitiless bureaucracy …
and
For an absolute masterclass in screen acting; for her pitch-perfect balance of mischievous spunk and delicate melancholy; for making herself a deeply human center of Pinay folly and absurdity; for making complex, heavy emotional scenes look entirely effortless; and for grounding a quirky online romance in the quiet, heartbreaking vulnerability of an aging woman yearning for love and companionship…
This year’s Cinemalaya Best Actress Awards go to Marietta Subong for “2 Valid ID’s.” and Ruby Ruiz for “Status: Rejected.”
READ: CINEMALAYA 22: ‘Status: Rejected’ rethinks pursuit of dreams, love across ages
Best Ensemble Performance
For their deeply cohesive and moving portrayals; for authentically rendering through their characters the tender dynamics and throbbing warmth of Philippine family life; for bringing profound tenderness to an agonizing existential crisis; and for portraying a devoted partner and a loving family united in care and grief as they stand by their terribly sick loved one’s side.
Best Ensemble Performance goes to the cast of “Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam.”
Special Jury Prize
For its gripping, socially vital storytelling; for fearlessly exposing systemic decay and institutional absurdity; for transforming mundane bureaucratic red tape into a devastating, life-or-death struggle; and for powerfully capturing the quiet dignity of common Filipinos in their everyday struggle for survival.
The Special Jury Prize goes to “2 Valid ID’s.” by Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan and Abet Pagdagdagan Raz
Best Picture
For pushing the boundaries of filmmaking; for its layered narrative, unraveling dark family secrets, deep-seated grief, and a matriarchal dynamic that subtly exposes broader truths about Philippine society and politics; for its exceptional technical artistry; for the commanding performances from its predominantly female cast; and for its bold, fearless, and visionary filmmaking.
Best Picture goes to “Mag-iina” by Giancarlo Abrahan and Guelan Varela Luarca.
READ: CINEMALAYA 22: ‘Mag-iina’ revisits inescapable family history, trauma
