The vibrant spirit of Negros Island cinema illuminated the Ayala Malls Capitol Central Activity Center on December 6, 2024, as the Sine Negrense Film Festival wrapped up with a grand Awards Night. The evening celebrated the creativity and dedication of local filmmakers, honoring exceptional talent across both the Open and Inter-School Categories to the delight of a captivated audience.
In the Open Category, ANINAW emerged as the biggest winner, clinching multiple awards including Best Film, Best Director (Charlene Mae Tupas), Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Poster, and Best Actor. TELL ME WHY garnered the Jury’s Choice for Best Film, along with recognition for Best Production Design, Best Supporting Actress (Mary June Ambino), and Best Actress (Mary Jane Quilisadio). Audience-favorite TAGANA also triumphed, winning the Audience Choice Award, Best Screenplay, and Best Original Song for “Dili na ta pwede.”
In the Inter-School Category, TINIGOM dominated, securing Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing, while also winning the Audience Impact Award for Most Engaging Trailer and Best Original Song for “Padayon lang ta.” HUNI SANG KAHILUM, the Jury’s Choice for Best Film, featured stellar performances, with Mary June Ambino earning Best Actress honors.
Sine Negrense 2024 made history by spotlighting 16 female directors across its Main and Exhibition Sections, underscoring the festival’s commitment to inclusivity and gender representation in the cinematic arts.
A distinguished panel of judges, including Tito Valiente, Jonathan Jurilla, and Julius Dela Peña for the Open Category, and Jag Garcia, Poli Gonzales, and Myish Endonila for the Inter-School Category, evaluated this year’s impressive 24 film entries—12 from each category.
The success of Sine Negrense 2024 was made possible through partnerships with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, The Negros Cultural Foundation, and others. Key sponsors such as Ayala Malls Capitol Central, Negros Season of Culture, Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod, and PAGCOR ensured continued support for the local film industry.