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1st PAFTA Awards Winners

The 1st PAFTA ceremony was held on February 21, 2026 at the Centennial Hall of Manila Hotel, honoring Filipino artistry and excellence on the small and big screens, as well as onstage in 2024. PAFTA stands for the Philippine Arts, Film, and Television Awards (PAFTA), encapsulating the platforms it focuses on and recognizes. Green Bones, starring Dennis Trillo, received the most nominations, as it was recognized in 14 categories. Marian Rivera&#x27;s Balota, on the other hand, had eight nominations. Dennis won the Movie Actor of the Year award, while Marian tied with Her Locket&#x27;s Rebecca Chuaunsu for the Movie Actress of the Year award. When Magic Hurts&#x27; Gabby Ramos won Best Director.On Instagram, Marian, who attended the awarding ceremony in a striking red terno gown by Steph Tan, shared, &quot;My heart is full and grateful. Thank you, PAFTA, for honoring BALOTA with Modern Grand Slam Best Actress. Forever grateful for this moment.&quot; Marian won several Best Actress awards from award-giving bodies like the FAMAS Awards and the Box Office Entertainment Awards, for her role as a teacher in the middle of a dangerous local election in Balota. Her movie also won the Movie of the Year award at the inaugural PAFTA. <div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771814718317marian rivera 1st pafta awards.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Photo from @marianrivera</div><div style="text-align:center"> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771819293030639816263_18565240819011360_7039694774543150400_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Photo from @marianrivera</div><div style="text-align:center"> </div><div style="text-align:left">Here&#x27;s the full list of winners:</div><div style="text-align:left"> </div><div style="text-align:left">Film</div>Movie of the Year: BalotaMovie Director of the Year: Gabby Ramos (When Magic Hurts)Movie Actor of the Year: Dennis Trillo (Green Bones)<div></div>Movie Actress of the Year: Marian Rivera (Balota) and Rebecca Chuaunsu (Her Locket)Movie Supporting Actor of the Year: Will Ashley (Balota)Movie Supporting Actress of the Year: Gabby Padilla (Uninvited)Movie Child Actor of the Year: Enzo Osorio (The Hearing)Movie Child Actress of the Year: Eli Ilano (Nanay Tatay)Producer of the Year: ABS-CBN and GMA Pictures for Hello, Love, AgainBest Documentary Film of the Year: No Man Left BehindBest Screenplay of the Year: Anj Atienza and Ricky Lee (Green Bones)Best Original Story of the Year: Rebecca Chuaunsu (Her Locket)Best Production Design of the Year: Jed Sicanggco and Jerann Ordinario (Outside)Best Cinematography of the Year: Neil Daza (Green Bones)Best Editing of the Year: Lawrence Fajardo, Ysabelle Denoga (The Hearing)Best Visual Effects of the Year: Gaspar Mangarin and Walter Monte (Espantaho)Best Sound of the Year: Narra Post Production (Balota)Best Original Theme Song of the Year: Luha sa Dilim by Yanco (Guilty Pleasure)<div> </div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVB03THE50j/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=720&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A24799644.400000002%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div> </div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVBXeKdCS6B/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=720&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A23766290.7%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="640" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div> </div><div>Television</div>Best Station: GMA Network (GMA 7)Best Morning Show: Unang HiritBest Noontime Show: It&#x27;s ShowtimeBest News Program: 24 OrasBest Documentary Program: I-WitnessBest Reality Show: Pinoy Big Brother 2.0Best Drama Series: FPJ&#x27;s Batang QuiapoBest Comedy Show: Bubble GangBest Drama Anthology: MagpakailanmanBest Variety Show: ASAPBest Celebrity Talk Show: Fast Talk with Boy AbundaBest Drama Actor: Coco Martin (Batang Quiapo)Best Drama Actress: Carla Abellana (Widows’ War)Best Male TV Host: Dingdong Dantes (Family Feud)Best Female TV Host: Anne Curtis (It’s Showtime)Journalism Lifetime Achievement Award: Jessica SohoPAFTA Iconic Film Performance Award: Judy Ann SantosBreakthrough Performance Award: Maris RacalPAFTA Youth Icon Award: Andres MuhlachPAFTA Youth Icon Award: Kai Montinola<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771838189092638286168_18403366408182383_3481303345129071717_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771814735820kai montinola 1st pafta awards.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Photos by @gelmarjohnb via @kaisha.aaa </div><div> </div>Kai Montinola, an ex-housemate from Pinoy Big Brother: Gen 11, has dabbled in acting and shown great potential in this craft. She made her acting debut with a much-talked-about cameo in the series Saving Grace, and made waves, too, for her portrayal of content creator Lenie Aycardo in a Maalaala Mo Kaya episode. Kai also joined the cast of the action drama series Roja, starring <a href="https://metro.style/people/2025/11/28/metro-artist-spotlight-donny-pangilinan-and-kyle-echarri-for-roja-1800" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donny Pangilinan and Kyle Echarri</a>, and the Cinemalaya film Child No. 82.Aside from acting, Kai also ventured into music. She held a concert last year to launch her EP, Kaileidoscope.All these projects contributed to how Kai has established herself as a role model for the youth, making her deserving of the PAFTA Youth Icon Award. Reflecting on this achievement, Kai shared, &quot;Receiving the Youth Icon Award is something I hold with so much gratitude and humility. I accept it not just as a personal achievement, but as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with being seen and heard. I share this moment with my supporters, Star Magic family. Direk Lauren, Kuya Erik, Kuya Beck, Kuya Ceasar, the rest of my team and with my own family, who continue to guide me, ground me, and believe in me even on the days I doubt myself. This award carries your love and support as much as it carries my name. Maraming salamat po! This inspires me to do better, be better, and give back.&quot;<div> </div>Congratulations to all the winners!<div> </div>Lead photos from @marianrivera and @gelmarjohnb via @kaisha.aaa<div> </div><div></div>

The award ceremony, graced by the likes of Marian Rivera and Kai Montinola, honored the best in Filipino films, television series, and theater.

The award ceremony, graced by the likes of Marian Rivera and Kai Montinola, honored the best in Filipino films, television series, and theater.

Here Are the Winners of the Inaugural Philippine Arts, Film, and Television Awards (PAFTA)

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Here Are the Winners of the Inaugural Philippine Arts, Film, and Television Awards (PAFTA)

Metro.Style

Published February 23, 2026 10:30 AM PHT

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Updated February 23, 2026 06:06 PM PHT

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1st PAFTA Awards

Marian Rivera

Dennis Trillo

Kai Montinola

Will Ashley

Balota

Green Bones

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