More Filipinos will get a chance to watch homegrown films as the 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival expands its cinema reach through a new partnership with Ayala Malls Cinemas.
The partnership will bring all seven full-length films and 20 student-made short films in this year’s festival to six Ayala Malls locations across Metro Manila.
READ: Rundown: 7 films announced as official entries for Puregold CinePanalo 2026
The participating cinemas are Market! Market! in Taguig, Trinoma and Fairview Terraces in Quezon City, Ayala Malls Feliz in Pasig, Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque and Ayala Malls Circuit in Makati.
The move gives the festival’s entries a wider theatrical platform, particularly as CinePanalo continues to support emerging filmmakers and stories centered on Filipino experiences.
“CinePanalo’s advocacy greatly aligns with Ayala Malls’ vision and values. At its core, CinePanalo puts the Filipino audience first—highlighting stories that reflect their lives, dreams, and everyday victories,” Yvette Roldan, Head of Ayala Malls’ Ancillary Business, said.
“This resonates with our commitment to meaningful and culturally-relevant experiences at Ayala Malls Cinemas,” she added.
The 2026 edition marks the third time Puregold has mounted CinePanalo. The festival has also seen films from its previous editions reach film festivals in other parts of Asia, as well as Europe and Africa.
For Puregold, bringing the films to more cinemas is part of making sure the stories eventually reach the audiences they were made for.
“As we celebrate the wins of our CinePanalo alums in film festivals across the globe, we are, of course, always brought back to the purpose of the CinePanalo, which is to tell true, Filipino stories. That’s why it is important for us at Puregold that these stories reach the same people who inspire them,” Puregold Senior Marketing Manager Ivy Hayagan-Piedad said.
She added that the partnership would help give the festival’s films a larger audience.
“Working with Ayala Malls allows the festival to reach more audiences, giving these films the platform they deserve while carrying the panalo spirit reflected in each story,” Hayagan-Piedad said.
The participating Ayala Malls cinemas were selected to give CinePanalo access to different communities, including areas with established creative scenes and audiences made up of students, young people and families.
For Ayala Malls, the festival’s emphasis on student and regional filmmakers also reflects its interest in supporting collaboration and fresh perspectives in the local film community.
READ: LIST: 20 student short films selected for Puregold CinePanalo 2026
“Partnering with Ayala Malls helps bring the 2026 CinePanalo to as many Filipinos as possible,” Hayagan-Piedad said.
“As the festival continues to grow, we truly value partnerships like this that stand by the cause of unleashing Filipino cinema’s untapped potential,” she added.
The 2026 CinePanalo lineup will be screened at the six participating Ayala Malls cinemas for the duration of the festival.
Previously, the festival screened at Gateway Cineplex 18.
