iACADEMY Cebu continues to strengthen its presence in the national creative scene as student filmmaker Maxine dela Bajan, together with faculty mentor Ms. Faith Aragon, was officially named among the 20 finalists in the Student Shorts Category of the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026.
Selected from hundreds of entries submitted nationwide, their short film Pulis Dunggab stood out for its compelling narrative and strong creative vision, earning them a coveted slot in one of the country’s most competitive film festivals dedicated to Filipino storytelling.
As finalists, the team will receive a ₱200,000 production grant, along with exclusive sponsorship support, enabling them to fully realize their film for official exhibition at the festival. CinePanalo, organized by Puregold, is recognized for championing emerging filmmakers and providing tangible production support to bring student-led stories to the big screen.
This recognition highlights iACADEMY Cebu’s commitment to industry-aligned education, where students collaborate closely with practicing professionals and faculty mentors throughout the creative process.
With Pulis Dunggab moving into production, dela Bajan and Aragon represent a new generation of game changers shaping the future of Philippine cinema, going beyond the classroom and into the industry.