Metro Manila, Philippines – Noni Abao’s documentary “Bloom Where You Are Planted” and Sari Dalena’s “Cinemartyrs” won the top awards at the Cinemalaya independent film festival closing ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 12.
\”Bloom Where You Are Planted,\” which followed the lives and challenges faced by land rights activists Agnes Mesina, Amanda Echanis, and Randy Malayao, bagged the Best Film and Best Editing awards.
Abao dedicated the awards to farmers, laborers, and activists in the country.
“Inaalay ko itong award na ito sa lahat ng biktima ng human rights violation sa estado. Para ito sa mga magsasaka at manggagawa ng Cagayan Valley at sa buong bansa,” Abao said.
[Translation: I dedicate this award to all victims of human rights violations in the state. This is for the farmers and laborers of Cagayan Valley and the whole country.]
Dalena won the Best Director for \”Cinemartyrs,\” while the movie secured the Best Musical Score and Special Jury Award for Full-length Film awards.
The drama film focuses on a young filmmaker who begins shooting at a site where 1,000 men, women, and children were slaughtered. The angry spirits are awakened and the lives of her team and the local villagers are put in peril.
Dalena dedicated her acceptance speech to all female filmmakers who faced barriers.
“Para sa mga babaeng pinahiya, tinapakan, pinauwi, binastos na hindi makakagawa (ng film) at minamaliit, andito tayo. Lalaban tayo,” Dalena said.
[Translation: For all the women who were shamed, stepped upon, sent home, and insulted for not being capable (of filming) and were belittled, we are here. We are going to fight.]
Below is the full list of winners at Cinemalaya 2025:
Full-length film category
Best Film – ‘Bloom Where You Are Planted’ by Noni Abao
Best Director – Sari Dalena for ‘Cinemartyrs’
Best Actor – Jojit Lorenzo for ‘Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayang’
Best Actress – Mylene Dizon for ‘Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan’
Best Supporting Actor – Nanding Josef for ‘Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan’
Best Supporting Actress – Rochelle Pangilinan-Solinap for ‘Child No. 82’
Best Screenplay – Tim Rone Villanueva and Herlyn Alegre for ‘Child No. 82’
Best Cinematography – Theo Lozada for ‘Raging’
Best Editing – Che Tagyamon for ‘Bloom Where You Are Planted’
Best Original Music Score – Teresa Barrozo for ‘Cinemartyrs’
Best Sound Design – Lamberto Casas, Jr. for ‘Raging’
Best Production Design – Jeric Delos Angeles for ‘Padamlágan’
Best Ensemble Performance – Janella Salvador, Klea Pineda, Leanne Mamonong, and Jasmine Curtis-Smith for ‘Open Endings’
Audience Choice Award – ‘Child No. 82’ (Son of Boy Kana) by Tim Rone Villanueva
NETPAC Award – ‘Republika ng Pipolipinas’ (Republic of Pipolipinas) by Renei Dimla
Special Jury Award – ‘Cinemartyrs’ by Sari Dalena
Short film category
Best Film – ‘The Next 24 Hours’ by Carl Joseph Papa
Best Director – Elian Idioma for ‘I’m Best Left Inside My Head’
Best Screenplay – Handiong Kapuno for ‘Figat’
Audience Choice Award – ‘Ascencion From The Office Cubicle’ by Hannah Silvestre
NETPAC Award – ‘Hasang’ (Gills) by Daniel de la Cruz
Special Jury Award – ‘Kay Basta Angkarabo Yay Bagay Ibat Ha Langit’ (Objects Do Not Randomly Fall From The Sky) by Maria Estela Paiso
The 21st Cinemalaya Independent Festival was held from Oct. 3 to 12.
