THE GOTHIC horror-drama film “Mag-iina” swept the major awards at the 22nd Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, winning Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Production Design, and Best Original Musical Scoring.
“Mag-iina” follows Anj (Janine Gutierrez) as she returns to her ancestral home just days before the 40th day after her father’s death.
There, she reunites with three generations of women in her family — her mother Mita (Agot Isidro), aunt Ysobel (Cherry Pie Picache), and matriarch Angela (Jackie Lou Blanco) — who are trapped in grief and madness as long-buried “dark forces” begin to surface.
The film was cited as Best Film 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 Director went to Giancarlo Abrahan, who was recognized 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.”
Lucas Andalio won Best Supporting Actor 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.”
Andalio shared the award with K.D. Omalin of “Hand of God.”
Best Screenplay was awarded to Guelan Varela Luarca 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.”
Katrish Aristoki received the Best Production Design award 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 Musical Scoring went to David Yuhico 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.”
Meanwhile, the queer film “Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam” also took home several major awards, including Best Actor for Martin del Rosario; Best Ensemble Performance for del Rosario, Miguel Ordon, Yayo Aguila, and Epy Quizon; Best Cinematography; and Best Sound Design.
Other films that received Balanghai trophies in the full-length category included “2 Valid IDs,” which won Best Actress for Marietta Subong, also known as Pokwang, the Special Jury Prize, and the Audience Choice Award.
“Status: Rejected” won Best Actress for Ruby Ruiz and the NETPAC Award, while “Hand of God” earned a Best Supporting Actor award for K.D. Omalin.
“A.ni.mál,” meanwhile, won Best Supporting Actress for Bituin Escalante and Best Editing.
In the short film category, “Silkscreen” was named Best Short Film, while Gabriela Serrano won Best Director for “Elenita Elena Elaine.”
“Para-paraan” received the Special Jury Prize; “Runo!” won Best Screenplay; “Hoy Hoy, Ingat!” took the Audience Choice Award; and “The River Flows in Different Places” received the NETPAC Award.
Carrying the theme “Reel Reflections,” this year’s festival featured nine full-length films and 10 short features in competition, selected from 278 short film submissions and 199 full-length story scripts.
The festival ran from August 6 to 18, 2026, marking Cinemalaya’s longest run ever as it spanned two weekends.
Chris B. Millado, Cinemalaya’s festival director, said this year’s festival had earned P18.5 million as of August 17, or 47 percent higher than last year’s P12.6 million.
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Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the Seafarers’ Division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan Law Offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0908-8665786./PN
