DO you have an inspiring story that you want to deliver to a wider audience through a movie? If yes, here is your chance to make your dream a reality. 

Local supermarket chain Puregold is set to hold its first-ever CinePanalo Film Festival, where it will award up to P2.5 million in grants each to filmmakers to realize their dream projects. 

The festival is divided into two categories: full-length film and short film. 

Projects that will be submitted for the grants should fall under the theme “Mga Kwentong Panalo ng Buhay,” and should highlight stories of everyday winning moments of Filipinos.

The festival’s organizers said they will not entertain entries with genres of horror, fantasy, crime, and suspense. Only family-oriented, inspiring and wholesome film concepts will be allowed, they said. 

The CinePanalo Film Festival will take place on March 8 to 10, 2024 at the Gateway Cinemas in Quezon City.

Interested participants may apply for the event on or before October 27, 2023.

Who can join?

Filipino student and campus-based filmmakers who are at least 15 years old at the time of their application may participate in the short film category.

Meanwhile, aspiring filmmakers who are 18 years old and above may enter the full-length category.

Their films must be entirely produced within the country.

Applicants in both categories should email the following requirements to [email protected]: 

-duly accomplished entry form that they will receive upon request from CinePanalo

-a 300-word synopsis in Filipino or English

-a detailed sequence treatment of their project 

-resumé of the director that has accessible links to their sample works

-two recent 2×2 photos.

Each applicant is allowed to submit a maximum of three separate applications for separate projects, but only one of the films will have the chance to be awarded the grant.

How much are the grants?

Shortlisted applicants will be announced on November 6. The Selection Committee will unveil the CinePanalo film grants recipients on December 7.

A total of five selected directors will receive a production grant of P2.5 million each, and this will be released in four stages.

The directors will be given P500,000 in the first stage, P1 million in the second stage, P500,000 in the third stage, and another P500,000 in the last stage.

On the other hand, 25 selected directors will be awarded a production grant of P100,000 each. 

Presentation of films

Fully produced movies must have a minimum runtime of 90 minutes for full-length films and 20 to 30 minutes runtime for short films. 

The deadline of all fully produced films is on March 1, 2024.

All 30 films will be screened on the day of the festival. This will be followed with an awards ceremony on March 9 at the Kia Theater in Cubao, Quezon City.