Cinemalaya 2025 concluded with the docu-film Bloom Where You Planted by Noni Abao winning Best Film in the full-length category, while Cinemartys and Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan dominated other categories during the awards night held at the Red Carpet Cinemas, Shangri-La Plaza.
Set in Cagayan Valley, Bloom Where You Planted follows three activists whose ties to home are tested, one pursued, one imprisoned, and one killed. Through their intertwined stories, the film reflects on loss, resilience, and the unyielding pursuit of belonging. It also received the Best Editing Award.
Meanwhile, Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan took home three of the four acting awards, including Best Actress (Mylene Dizon), Best Actor (Jojit Lorenzo), and Best Supporting Actor (Nanding Josef). Cinemartys, on the other hand, won Best Director (Sari Dalena), the Special Jury Award, and Best Original Music Score.
Complete list of winners for the full-length catatergory:
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Best Film: Bloom Where You Planted
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Best Director: Sari Dalena (Cinemartys)
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Special Jury Award: Cinemartys
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Best Actress: Mylene Dizon (Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan)
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Best Actor: Jojit Lorenzo (Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan)
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Best Ensemble Performance: Open Endings
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Best Editing: Che Tagyamon & Arnex Nicholas (Bloom Where You Planted)
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NETPAC Award: Republika ng Pipolipinas
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Best Supporting Actress: Rochelle Pangilinan-Solinap (Child No. 82: Anak ni Boy Kana)
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Best Supporting Actor: Nanding Josef (Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan)
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Best Screenplay: Tim Rone Villanueva & Herlyn Alegre (Child No. 82: Anak ni Boy Kana)
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Best Cinematography: Theo Lozada (Raging)
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Best Production Design: Jeric delos Angeles (Padamlagan)
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Best Original Music Score: Teresa Barrozo (Cinemartys)
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Best Sound Design: Lamberto Casas Jr. (Raging)
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Audience Choice Award: Child No. 82: Anak ni Boy Kana
Cinemalaya also announced the winners of the short film category, with Carl Joseph E. Papa’s The Next 24 Hours named Best Short Film of the Year. Elian Idioma won Best Director for I’m Best Left Inside My Head; Kay Basta Angkarabo Yay Bagay Ibat Ha Langit by Maria Estela Paiso received the Special Jury Award; Hasang won the NETPAC Award; Best Screenplay went to Handiong Kapuno for Figat; and Ascension from the Office Cubicle won the Audience Choice Award.
Cinemalaya 2025 kicked off on October 3, with screenings of full-length and short films running from October 4 to 11 at Red Carpet Cinemas, Shangri-La Plaza, Gateway Cineplex, and selected Ayala Cinemas. Open Endings, Child No. 82: Anak ni Boy Kana, and Republika ng Pipolipinas were announced as the top three box-office films of this year’s festival.
