The Pulse of Student Cinema: POV XXI names its winners
The Pulse of Student Cinema: POV XXI names its winners
Winners at the 21st Piling Obrang Vidyo (POV XXI): PULSO! at UP Film Institute (UPFI) Cine Adarna, UP Diliman last Saturday, August 16. Photo from Monica Chu
Last Saturday, August 16, the 21st edition of the Piling Obrang Vidyo (POV XXI): PULSO! announced its winning student films at the UPFI Film Center Cine Adarna, spotlighting the “pulse” of a new generation of Filipino storytellers.
Organized annually by UP Cinema, the interschool film festival gathered works from college and senior high school student filmmakers across the country.
From 130 submissions, the festival featured 12 finalists: nine films in competition and three non-competition entries from the senior high school category. Entries ranged from narrative to documentary, experimental, mixed media, and animation—genres that often receive little attention in mainstream festivals.
This year also saw a strong turnout from the regions, marking a growing presence of voices outside Metro Manila.
POV XXI finalists and members of UP Cinema with Eyes on Set Network at UPFI Film Studio last Thursday, August 14. Photo from Monica Chu
Finding the “Pulse”
This year’s theme, “PULSO!” drew inspiration from the recently concluded Black Beret, a student-led screening of works-in-progress held last May at the UP Film Institute (UPFI).
“Black Beret highlighted the process behind the films because usually what we only see is the output, but what about the process behind it?” said Allen Prodigalidad, POV XXI’s Festival Director, in Filipino. “With Pulso, we wanted to interrogate what the pulse is behind filmmaking—the consciousness being formed among student filmmakers, and the culture emerging from our unique experiences as filmmakers.”
At its core, POV XXI sought to provide a platform for student filmmakers across the country. Prodigalidad emphasized that UPFI’s role as the country’s only state university with a dedicated film institute carries a responsibility to champion student filmmaking nationwide.
“We want to give filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their works and even talk about them in the talkbacks… We wanted to make sure that there remains a space for a student-led festival like this one,” they said in Filipino. They added that student films carry a distinct “grit, angst, and energy” that sets them apart from mainstream works, giving them value even without big budgets or polish.
List of Winners at the 21st Piling Obrang Vidyo: PULSO!
Here is the full list of winners from the Piling Obrang Vidyo (POV) XXI:
Piling Obrang Vidyo Award (Best Film)
CEMENTO by Justine Borlagdan
Tayo Ang Pelikula Award (Jury Award)
NOSTALGIA by Aries C. Ferrer
Cinemaster’s Choice Award
ALAMAT NG ISDANG KULAY BAHAGHARI by Avin Dela Cruz
Best Direction
SA HUMBA NIMO by Allen Joshua Trinidad, Earl Holden Bueno, Janelle Ruth Samaniego, Amihan Asupan
Best Screenplay
CEMENTO by Justine Borlagdan
NOSTALGIA by Aries C. Ferrer
Best Performance
ALAMAT NG ISANG KULAY BAHAGHARI by Avin Dela Cruz
MGA ULOL by Vince Ivan Vesiete
Best Cinematography
DANGPANAN by Stephen Kelly Mahusay
Best Production Design
NOSTALGIA by Aries C. Ferrer
Best Editing
CEMENTO by Justine Borlagdan
Best Sound Design
SNAFU by Xydel Vie Saldaña
Best Costume and Hair Design
ALAMAT NG ISDANG KULAY BAHAGHARI by Avin Dela Cruz
Best Film Score
SA HUMBA NIMO by Allen Joshua Trinidad, Earl Holden Bueno, Janelle Ruth Samaniego, Amihan Asupan
Best Original Music
SNAFU by Xydel Vie Saldaña
Best Poster
SNAFU by Xydel Vie Saldaña
Audience Choice Award
SA HUMBA NIMO by Allen Joshua Trinidad, Earl Holden Bueno, Janelle Ruth Samaniego, Amihan Asupan
POV XXI Film Recognition Award (SHS Films)
ANG LIMANGDAAN NI MAMA by John Gabriel Rivera
DEAR TALA, LOVE, LOLA ODESA by Clarence Barruga and Rachelle Magalona
DIRECTOR’S CUT by Jeron Amit
The POV XXI finalist films will also be available for online streaming from August 25 to September 7, 2025, on JuanFlix: The FDCP Channel.
