PeliCuliat Film Festival Marks Third Year with Celebration of Kapampangan Storytelling
PeliCuliat Film Festival Marks Third Year with Celebration of Kapampangan Storytelling
Official Publicity Material of the 37th Gawad Alternatibo Featured Official Entries Online Streaming on Cinemata | Courtesy of Gawad Alternatibo
Mabie ya ing Sine Kapampangan! The PeliCuliat Film Festival returned for its third year on February 7 at the Angeles City Information Center Library Theater, continuing its mission to highlight films rooted in Kapampangan culture and experience.
Held in celebration of Angeles City’s Arts Month and organized by JCI Angeles City Culiat in partnership with the Angeles City Tourism Office, this year’s festival centred on stories of identity, family, and everyday life shaped by local heritage. The lineup featured five competing and four non-competing films by emerging student filmmakers, reflecting diverse perspectives from the region.
Competing Films
List of Competing Films | Photo courtesy of JCI Angeles City Culiat
The competition section showcased five films, each offering a different take on Kapampangan storytelling and student filmmaking:
3Cycle by Samantha Zamora
Magdalena by Kisha Santiago
Dukit by Maria Angelica Sabay
Mikit Kata qng Libutad by Lance Simon
Dalumdum by Sophia Dimabyu
Non-Competing Films
List of Non-Competing Films | Photo courtesy of JCI Angeles City Culiat
The festival also presented non-competing films that broadened the program’s themes and styles:
Coffee Break by Erin Dainiele Julao
Dear Brother by Cole Tidula
Santungan by Christiana Meg Ramos
Kulkul by Ghiewel Gomez
Student Animation Trailer Premieres
Still from Em and En | Photo Courtesy of Marahuyo Animations
Three trailers for animated short films by students from Angeles University Foundation (AUF) also premiered during the Festival:
Em and En by Marahuyo Animations, whose story focuses on teaching basic Filipino Sign Language, encouraging more inclusive ways to communicate.
Agimat by Cel Division looks at ethical concerns surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in education, featuring characters inspired by Filipino folklore.
Ano-Ano, Anik-Anek?! by Studio Tiangge uses mixed media animation to examine Gen Z collecting culture, celebrating the local tradition of “anik-anik.”
Film Panelists
EJ Gagui, Ferdy Lapuz, and Tin Velasco saying after a few words about the competing films after the screening
The films were evaluated by a panel composed of filmmakers and producers actively working in the local and independent film scene. The panel included Ferdy Lapuz, independent film producer and talent manager; Tin Velasco, producer at CineCanawili; and EJ Gagui, director and producer at Eximious Produkt. They were joined by Kyle Jumayne Francisco of Panas Pictures, Kristelle Tapang of Null Studios, and Jiro Garbes, also of Null Studios, who provided critique and guidance.
List of Winners
Representatives for each production team given recognition together with the Festival and JCI Angeles Culiat Officers
GINTÚ (Festival Winner) - Dukit by Maria Angelica Sabay
PILAK (Jury Prize) - Mikit Kata qng Libutad by Lance Simon
TANGSÚ (Best Direction) - Magdalena by Kisha Santiago
Best Performance - Elaine Vergara for Magdalena; Austine Apolan for 3Cycle
Best Screenplay - Dalumdum
Best Sound Design - Dalumdum
Best Editing - Mikit Kata qng Libutad
Best Cinematography - Magdalena
Best Production Design - Magdalena
Now in its third year, the PeliCuliat Film Festival continues to give Kapampangan filmmakers a space to present work shaped by local language, memory, and everyday realities. More than a screening event, it brings together students, mentors, and audiences in one room, allowing stories from the region to be seen and discussed on their own terms.
As the festival grows alongside its filmmakers, it shows how regional cinema builds momentum through community support and sustained practice. Each edition adds another set of voices to the record, proving that stories grounded in place do not stay small; they expand through the people who keep returning to tell them.
The 3rd PeliCuliat Film Festival was held on February 7, 2026 in Angeles City, Pampanga.
