Filipino horror short Pagpag wins Best Film award in Toronto

Pagpag, a chilling short film rooted in Filipino superstition and spoken entirely in Tagalog, has been awarded “Best Film” at the Toronto 48-Hour Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival. It was chosen over dozens of entries to represent the city at the international Filmapalooza festival in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2026.

Produced by Unsalted Films, a Toronto-based collective of emerging indie filmmakers, Pagpag was the only Asian film in the lineup. The story explores the deeply rooted Filipino belief in pagpag, a superstition that warns against going home immediately after a wake or funeral to avoid bringing home unwanted spirits.

Pagpag, which means “to dust off” in English, refers to the ritual of symbolically shaking off lingering spirits before entering one’s home – a common practice observed in Filipino culture.

Written, shot, and edited in just 48 hours, the film captivated audiences with its authentic storytelling, atmospheric horror, and cultural depth. It received multiple nominations, including Best Poster, Audience Favourite, Best Cinematography, and Best Lighting, before ultimately winning Best Film.

Synopsis

Pagpag is a Filipino horror short about a couple, Kate and Alex, whose quiet evening turns into a haunting after they fail to follow a traditional superstition – pagpag, the act of shaking off spirits before returning home from a wake or funeral.

Director Clark Cameron Marcelo shared, “Pagpag was written to showcase our Filipino folklore and remind people that as Filipinos, we have a wealth of rich cultural stories that deserve to be told on mainstream platforms. Writing it entirely in Tagalog was a deliberate choice, it allowed us to present our culture and language with authenticity and pride. Using subtitles is essential these days because it helps bridge cultures and connect with a broader audience.”

The cast includes Khaira Dominique as Alex, Gigi Suico as Kate and Edwin Rodriguez as Kirk Nordenstrom.

The small crew consisted of: Team Leader, Renea Bautista; Director and Screenwriter, Clark Cameron Marcelo; Director of Photography, Max Gleiser; Production Coordinator and 1st Assistant Director, Gale Roxas-Formentera; Production Assistant, Rendell Migue; 1st Assistant Camera, Allen Sam; 2nd Assistant Camera, Sree Bhupathiraju; Hair & Makeup Artist, Jonathan Edward Mayhew; Sound Mixer and Boom Operator, David Pen; and Editor, Brian Ferrer.

Director Marcelo also revealed that the team is already working on their next project. 

“We’re currently in production on another Filipino horror film titled The Caretaker, which explores the immigrant experience, with a supernatural twist.”

– by Gale Roxas-Formentera