Oldies but goodies. Auspicious debuts and triumphant returns. Narrowing the gap between mainstream and independent films. And a generous and almost even distribution of wealth.
These are just some of the taglines that best characterized Cinemalaya 2012’s Awards Night Sunday at the CCP Main Theater as the prestigious independent film festival handed out its coveted Balanghay trophies and other special awards to competing films in its Director’s Showcase, New Breed, and Short Feature categories.
Three of the winners in the acting categories, namely Ama Quiambao (New Breed Best Actress for “Diablo”), Anita Linda (New Breed Best Supporting Actress for “Sta. Niña”) and Eddie Garcia (Director’s Showcase Best Actor for “Bwakaw”), are senior citizens.
There are actually eight winners in the Director’s Showcase Best Actress and Best Supporting categories as the judges decided that the four lead actresses of Jose Javier Reyes’ “Mga Mumunting Lihim” namely Iza Calzado, Judy Ann Santos, Agot Isidro and Janice De Belen be honored twice as an ensemble.
“Sana po ay huwag kayong magsasawa sa pagkuha sa aming tinatawag na mainstream talents sa mga pelikula n’yo,” a jubilant Iza Calzado said in accepting the acting honors for the film that also won Best Screenplay for first time Cinemalaya participant Direk Joey Reyes.
And Raymond Red, who has not made a full-length film in three years and is last best remembered by many for 1993’s “Sakay”, returns to his indie roots in award-winning fashion as “Kamera Obskura,” his ode to Filipino silent films, won Director’s Showcase Best Director, Best Musical Score for composer Diwa De Leon and the Special Jury Prize.
All five films in the Director’s Showcase category also won more than one award with Jun Lana’s “Bwakaw” also winning the Audience Choice and NetPac Award; Adolf Alix, Jr.’s “Kalayaan” winning Best Production Design, Best Cinematography (Albert Banzon), and Best Sound (Ditoy Aguila); and Lawrence Fajardo’s “Posas” snagging Best Supporting Actor (Art Acuña) and Best Film honors.
In his acceptance speech, Jun Lana also joked he was trying to hold back tears as is usually the case with mainstream film awards.
Aside from Best Actress, Mes De Guzman’s slow-moving “Diablo” also won three awards in the New Breed Category, namely Best Film, Best Director and a special NetPac Award.
Also in the New Breed category, three films won two awards each. They are Marie Jamora’s “Ang Nawawala” (Audience Choice and Best Musical Score), Lem Lorca’s “Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino” (Best Production Design and Best Supporting Actor for Joross Gamboa), and Loy Arcenas’ “REquieme!” (Special Jury Award and Best Screenplay for writer Rody Vera).
Kristoffer King won Best Actor for Paul Sta. Ana’s “Oros,” Gino M. Santos’ “The Animals” took home the Best Editing award, while Vincent Sandoval’s “Aparisyon,” who many thought was a heavy favorite for the major awards, only snagged the Best Sound award.
Only two films, Julius Sotomayor Cena’s “Mga Dayo (Resident Aliens)” and Aloy Adlawan’s “Ang Katiwala”, failed to win any awards.
As for the Short Feature entries, five out of the 10 finalists won one award each namely Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s “Ang Paghihintay Sa Bulong,” (Best Screenplay), Sheron Dayoc’s “As He Sleeps” (Best Director), Jarell Serencio’s “Victor” (Best Short Film), Richard Legaspi’s “Manenaya” (Special Jury Prize) and Hannah Espia’s “Ruweda” (Audience Choice).
The complete list of winners:
Director’s Showcase:
Best Film – “Posas”
Best Director – Raymond Red (“Kamera Obskura”)
Best Actor – Eddie Garcia (“Bwakaw”)
Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress – Judy Ann Santos, Agot Isidro, Iza Calzado, Janice de Belen (“Mga Mumunting Lihim”)
Best Screenplay – “Mga Mumunting Lihim”
Best Sound – “Kalayaan”
Best Original Musical Score – “Kamera Obskura”
Best Editing – “Mga Mumunting Lihim”
Best Production Design – “Kalayaan”
Best Cinematography – “Kalayaan”
Special Jury Prize – “Kamera Obskura”
NetPac Awardee – “Bwakaw”
Audience Choice – “Bwakaw”
New Breed:
Best Film – “Diablo”
Best Director – Mes De Guzman (“Diablo”)
Best Actor – Kristoffer King (“Oros”)
Best Actress – Ama Quiambao (“Diablo”)
Best Supporting Actor – Joross Gamboa (“Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino”)
Best Supporting Actress – Anita Linda (“Sta. Niña”)
Best Screenplay – “REquieme!”
Best Sound – “Aparisyon”
Best Original Musical Score – “Ang Nawawala”
Best Editing – “The Animals”
Best Production Design – “Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino”
Best Cinematography – “Diablo”
Special Jury Prize – “REquieme!”
NetPac Awardee – “Diablo”
Audience Choice – “Ang Nawawala”
Short Features:
Best Short Film – “Victor”
Best Director – Sheron Dayoc (“As He Sleeps”)
Best Screenplay – Sigrid Andrea Bernardo (“Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong”)
Special Jury Prize – “Manenaya”
Audience Choice – “Ruweda”
