Atty. Dennis Gorecho
- Major awards for queer film “Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam” at Cinemalaya 2026 - August 24, 2026
- Children tie for Best Supporting Actor award in Cinemalaya 2026 - August 19, 2026
- Animals as metaphors of social critique in Cinemalaya - August 14, 2026
The queer film “Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam” swept major awards at 22nd Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival for winning Best Actor, Best Ensemble performance, Best Cinematography and Best Sound.
“Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam” touched upon stigmas of HIV and queer relationships in Philippine society with the logline “bound by a love kept in silence, a man struggles to remain seen within a family that once made him feel at home”.
Neil (Martin del Rosario) and Bong (Miguel Odron) are long-term partners who have shared a close bond with Bong’s mother, Gloria (Yayo Aguila).
When Bong falls ill, Neil, Bong’s mother Gloria, and estranged father Benjie (Epy Quizon) have to confront old tensions and unite. It was only this time that his mother was informed of Bong’s HIV which he had for three years.
During the wake, Niel was introduced as Bong’s best friend while Bong’s cause of death was relayed to visitors as colon cancer instead of HIV.
Best Actor was awarded to del Rosario for his “deeply affecting and sensitive presence; for his remarkably restrained and effective performance which carries the film’s profound emotional weight through non-verbal mastery; for his gentle, nuanced expressions during quiet moments eloquently conveying the quiet grief, heartbreak, and resilience of a gay man fighting to look hopeful and strong while caring for his dying partner.”
Best Ensemble Performance was given to del Rosario, Aguila, Oldron, and Quizon for “their deeply cohesive and moving portrayals; for authentically rendering through their characters the tender dynamics and throbbing warmth of Philippine family life; for bringing profound tenderness to an agonizing existential crisis; and for portraying a devoted partner and a loving family united in care and grief as they stand by their terribly sick loved one’s side.”
Best Cinematography was awarded to Adam Dumaguin for “evocative visual storytelling; for its powerful, piercing imagery that’s a masterclass in controlling of light and shadow alongside deliberate camera angling; for its intimate visual composition that heightens the raw emotional weight of the narrative, capturing the heartbreaking isolation and tender grief of a man watching his partner ravaged by a vicious deadly disease.”
Best Sound was given to Elian Idioma for “exceptional achievement in sound design; for effectively crafting audible silence to heighten the film’s intense emotional weight, with every subtle sound and quiet pause intimately drawing the audience into the room, amplifying the heartbreak and misery of watching your partner painfully wither away.”
The gothic horror-drama film “Mag-iina” also swept major awards for winning Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor for Lucas Andalio, Best Screenplay, Best Production Design, and Best Original Musical Scoring.
Other films that received Balanghai trophies in the full length category include :
“2 Valid IDs” with Best Actress for Marietta Subong/ Pokwang, Special Jury Prize, Audience Choice Award and
“Status: Rejected” with Best Actress for Ruby Ruiz and NETPAC Award.
“Hand of God” with Best Supporting Actor for KD Omalin
“A.ni.mál” with Best Supporting Actress for Bituin Escalante and Best Editing.
The winners In the short films category include Silkscreen as Best Short Film ; Gabriela Serrano for (Elenita Elena Elaine as Best Director: Para-paraan for Special Jury Prize; Runo! for Best Screenplay; Hoy Hoy, Ingat! for Audience Choice Award; and The River Flows in Different Places for NETPAC Award.
With the theme “Reel Reflections,” the festival had nine full-length films and 10 short features in competition. It was held from August 6 to 18, 2026 marking Cinemalaya’s longest run ever as it spans two weekends.
The organizers received 278 short film submissions and 199 full-length story scripts.
Cinemalaya was held in partner commercial shopping malls and cinemas across Metro Manila because the main Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) building is undergoing rehabilitation, with plans to return to CCP next year.
Chris B. Millado, Cinemalaya’s festival director, said that this year’s festival earned Php18.5 million as of Augusts 17, which is 47% higher than last year’s Php12.6 million.
Millado noted that Cinemalaya’s symbol is the ancient Philippine boat balangay “because it is the vessel that carries new filmmakers and their stories across rough seas.”
