Giancarlo Abrahan’s film takes six awards as the 22nd Cinemalaya honors this year’s top independent films and performances
Mag-iina emerged as the biggest winner of Cinemalaya 2026, taking Best Film and five other awards as the Philippine Independent Film Festival concluded its 22nd edition on Aug. 17.
The psychological horror film, directed by Giancarlo Abrahan and written by Guelan Varela-Luarca, also earned Abrahan the Best Director award and Varela-Luarca Best Screenplay.
David Yuchico won Best Original Musical Score, Katrish Aristoki received Best Production Design, while Lucas Andalio shared Best Supporting Actor honors with KD Omalin of Hand of God.
The six awards gave Mag-iina, which stars Janine Gutierrez, Andalio, Cherry Pie Picache, Agot Isidro and Jackie Lou Blanco, the most wins among this year’s entries.
Pokwang, Ruby Ruiz Share Best Actress
Two performers shared the festival’s top acting prize.
Marietta “Pokwang” Subong was named Best Actress for 2 Valid IDs, alongside Ruby Ruiz for her performance in Status: Rejected.
2 Valid IDs also received the Special Jury Prize and was named the Audience Choice winner in the full-length category.
Martin del Rosario took Best Actor for Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam. The film also won Best Ensemble Performance, Best Cinematography for Adam Dumaguin and Best Sound Design for Elian Idioma.
Bituin Escalante, meanwhile, received Best Supporting Actress for A.Ni.Mál, which also earned John Rogers the Best Editing award.
Status: Rejected added the NETPAC Award for Full-Length Film to its Best Actress recognition for Ruiz.
Short films recognized
Rey Anthony Villaverde’s Silkscreen was named Best Short Film, while Gabriela Serrano won Best Director for Elenita, Elena, Elaine.
Lysa Catolico and Jazmine Gin R. Pateña received Best Screenplay for RUNO!.
The River Flows in Different Places won the NETPAC Award for Short Film, while Para-Paraan received the Special Jury Prize. Hoy, Hoy Ingat! was named the short-film Audience Choice winner.
Beyond the awards, several filmmakers and artists used their acceptance speeches to address social and political issues, including corruption, political dynasties and the planned Pax Silica artificial intelligence hub in Central Luzon.
Cinemalaya also recorded stronger ticket sales this year. Festival director Chris Millado said entries had generated P18.5 million at the local box office as of Aug. 16, up 47 percent from P12.6 million the previous year.
The results capped an edition that combined stronger audience turnout with films tackling subjects ranging from family and grief to poverty, identity, bureaucracy and politics.