The student-led short film “Still, She Breathes” from Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna emerged as the big winner of the Cinemulan Film Festival 2026 held last May 30 at the Southville International School and Colleges (SISC) Luxembourg Hall.
Led by director, writer, and editor Charles Urbano, “Still, She Breathes” captured the coveted Best Picture and Best Cinematography awards. The film also secured multiple top-tier nominations, standing out as a masterclass in technical precision and narrative depth.
Meanwhile, “Sabi ni Lola” from SISC took home Best Director for Lauren Sablan, Best Screenplay for Katrina Garcia, and Best Actor for Joseph Budoso.
Quithana Lee earned the Best Actress trophy for her compelling performance in “Ang Bestida sa Kalye Hubad” from University of Batangas. Santiago Pido was awarded Best Editing for his sharp post-production work in “I Know Your Soul” from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. “Katha” from Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Manila secured the Popularity Award.
Presented in partnership with the SISC Communication and Multimedia Arts (COMMA) department’s “Kalayaan, Kabataan, Kabuhayan” (KKK) initiative, this year’s festival centered on the evocative theme “Healing, Change, and Growing Pains.”
The lineup featured eight shortlisted finalist films chosen from a pool of student submissions. Each piece delved into the quiet, uncomfortable, and deeply transformative nature of personal growth, showcasing the raw creativity and unique perspectives of contemporary Filipino youth.
A definitive highlight of the evening was an inspiring keynote address by acclaimed filmmaker Pepe Diokno, director of Metro Manila Film Festival winners “GomBurZa” (2023) and “Isang Himala” (2024).
Diokno offered the audience a humbling look into his early career, revealing that he left his very first festival experience at Cinemalaya completely empty-handed. Rather than letting it discourage him, he used the moment as a vital turning point to build the industry connections that ultimately shaped his cinematic journey.
He urged the budding filmmakers to silence their inner self-doubt by fighting the “little monsters” within and channeling the anxious energy into constantly refining their craft and viewing every film festival and workshop not as a destination, but as a continuous opportunity to learn and grow.
The task of evaluating this year’s highly competitive slate fell upon Digital Dreams International President and Producer Danzen Santos Katanyag, Manila-born actor, writer, and filmmaker Mariana Serrano, and advocacy filmmaker, creative producer, and film educator Seymour Barros Sanchez.
The awarding ceremony opened with welcoming remarks from SISC College Director Dr. Astrid De Leon and concluded with a forward-looking address by COMMA Chairperson Kei Gabutero.
As Cinemulan closes another successful chapter, it firmly solidifies its reputation not just as a student competition, but as a vital, professional launchpad for the next generation of storytellers championing the future of Philippine cinema. —Seymour Sanchez
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