The captivating power of Filipino storytelling will once again take global center stage as award-winning filmmaker Sigrid Bernardo’s Pushcart Tales secures a spot at the 45th Fantasporto, an event that is lauded by Variety magazine as one of the leading 25 film festivals globally.
Set to run from February 28 to March 9 in Porto, Portugal, the prestigious event, also known as the Porto International Film Festival, attracts an audience of more than 110,000 annually.
Sigrid Bernardo’s Pushcart Tales is a moving story about how certain Filipino characters—simple grocery employees trying to survive; a rich, young shoplifter; a lost old man; and an aspiring but exploited filmmaker—cope with circumstances when they find themselves stuck in a supermarket in the middle of a storm. The film is a beautiful exploration of humanity and presents nuanced performances from Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino, Carlos Siguion-Reyna, Harvey Bautista, Elora Españo, and Therese Malvar.
Acclaimed director Bernardo is deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to showcase his craft. “This journey would not have been possible without the talented cast and crew who poured their hearts into this project,” he said. “Of course, we are especially thankful to our producers and to the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival for believing in our film from the very beginning. Your support means the world to us. Thank you all for being part of this adventure!”
Delving into the themes of community, survival, and the indomitable Filipino spirit, Pushcart Tales first captured the hearts of audiences during the inaugural run of Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival in 2024, where it swept six major awards, notably the Best Director recognition given to Sigrid Bernardo.
Acknowledging the privilege of taking part in the Fantasporto, Puregold Senior Marketing Manager Ivy Hayagan-Piedad remarked: “Puregold CinePanalo’s main goal is to share the beautiful Filipino culture and spirit. However, we shall continue to go above and beyond that vision. Gaining international recognition for our films brings the Filipino culture to the world stage, and we are extremely proud of Pushcart Tales for this achievement.”
The film likewise snagged awards at the 2024 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival for Best Sound Design, Best Ensemble, and the Special Jury Prize. Carlos Siguion-Reyna won Best Actor, while Shamaine Buencamino bagged the Best Actress recognition.
Puregold CinePanalo was first launched to spotlight “Mga Kwentong Panalo” or stories of hope and triumph by and for Filipinos. It was likewise conceived to provide a platform for professional, amateur, and student directors to explore their talent and creativity.
Now in its second iteration, Puregold CinePanalo has grown even bigger, offering grants to eight full-length feature films and twenty-five student films under the short film category—with all films telling stories of Filipino resilience and victory.
Winning entries will be screened during the festival proper to run from March 14-25, 2025, at the Gateway Cinemas. All films in the festival lineup will also be eligible for recognition at the second Puregold CinePanalo Awards Night, slated on March 19, 2025.
