Insider Spotlight
In a joint release, Puregold CinePanalo and CMB Film Services said they have renewed their partnership for the 2026 festival, with the equipment provider increasing its rental grant for each full-length filmmaker to P1.25 million from P1 million last year.
The package includes access to professional cameras, lenses, lighting, grip equipment and other production tools tailored to each project's production requirements.
Why it matters
The expanded equipment support signals that Puregold CinePanalo is investing not only in getting films made but also in improving how they are made.
For independent productions, access to professional equipment can significantly reduce production costs while raising technical standards, complementing the festival's existing production grants and guaranteed cinema screenings.
"For the past two years, the Puregold CinePanalo has been a major catalyst in the production of top tier, internationally acclaimed films made right here in the Philippines," CMB Film Services president Jim Baltazar said in a statement.
"At CMB, we seek to empower the filmmakers of the Puregold CinePanalo by providing financial support and access to our world class equipment offerings. This will ensure the Puregold CinePanalo line up continues to raise the standard of excellence in both the local and international cinematic community."
Rather than limiting support to cash assistance, the festival now offers filmmakers a combination of funding, production resources and commercial exhibition—a model that mirrors the different stages of film development from production to audience release.
The bigger picture
The latest enhancement follows Puregold CinePanalo's continued expansion since its launch, with the festival increasing production grants, maintaining full creative freedom for filmmakers and partnering with exhibitors to bring completed films to wider audiences.
"We strive to make this upcoming Puregold CinePanalo the biggest and most notable year in the festival's history," Puregold senior marketing manager and festival chair Ivy Hayagan-Piedad said.
"Together with CMB, we have provided our filmmakers the grandest opportunity to realize their dream projects. Higher production grants, higher rental grants, full creative freedom, all these things together makes the 2026 Puregold CinePanalo a landmark occasion for culture and local cinema."
The 2026 full-length lineup includes Joseph Abello's Wantawsan, BC Amparado's Mono No Aware, Thop Nazareno's Apol of my Ai, Carl Papa and Ian Pangilinan's Patay Gutom (Dead Hungry), Lawrence Fajardo's Beast, Mikko Baldoza's Stuck on You, and Rodina Singh's Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa'yo). The films will be screened at Gateway Cineplex 18 and select Ayala Cinemas in 2026. —Princess Daisy C. Ominga| Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
