TARA ILLENBERGER’S “Tigkiliwi” (Longsided), a Puregold CinePanalo production, has earned a coveted slot in the Official Competitive Director’s Week of the 46th Porto International Film Festival, also known as Fantasporto 2026.
“Tigkiliwi” is a chilling yet heartbreaking story about little siblings Lala and Marlin, who are orphaned and left to navigate the world alone, and how they find unexpected safety with an elderly woman who is said to be an aswang, a shape-shifting demon in Philippine folklore. The film stars Ruby Ruiz, Gabby Padilla, Julian Paul Larroder, and Sunshine Teodoro, who have charmed local audiences and are now poised to take the world stage.
The film previously received the Jury Prize at the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival, making it the second CinePanalo-backed production to reach Porto after “Pushcart Tales.”
Set to take place from February 27 to March 8, Fantasporto is an international film festival that is celebrated for its high-quality, imaginative cinema, particularly in the realms of fantasy, science fiction, and horror.
Offering a platform for films that push boundaries and explore new methods of storytelling, the festival attracts over 110,000 attendees annually and has been lauded by Variety as one of the top 25 film festivals of the world.
“Tigkiliwi” director Illenberger is elated by the achievement and looks forward to the movie being appreciated by a foreign audience.
“I’m excited to find out if people will laugh or cry, or respond to it the same way the Filipino audience did. Of course, I am thrilled by the prospect of visiting Portugal for the first time with my Puregold CinePanalo family,” she said.
Puregold senior marketing manager Ivy Hayagan-Piedad expressed enthusiasm over the selection, stating that the film’s acceptance to Fantasporto has “once again proven that Filipino narratives resonate on a global scale.”
The Official Competitive Director’s Week, where “Tigkiliwi” will compete, is dedicated to feature films, with Fantasporto’s Asian filmmakers-eligible sections also including the Official Fantastic Cinema Section for short films (under 15 minutes) and the Oriental Express Section for features produced by Asian filmmakers.
Following its Jury Prize at the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival, “Tigkiliwi” now embarks on its international journey, joining the ranks of Philippine films making a mark on the world’s cinematic stage.
Its international recognition builds on the growing global footprint of Puregold CinePanalo titles, several of which have earned accolades at major film festivals worldwide. Aside from its Fantasporto recognition, Sigrid Bernardo’s “Pushcart Tales” (2024) was also the Philippines’ official entry for Thailand’s Pattaya Film Festival 2025. (Josh Mercado/ABS-CBN News)
