Studios take industry awards; indies win critics’ citations
YCC HONOREE Gutierrez Mangansakan II Facebook photo
Underscoring the gap between mainstream and independent movies, studios ran away with the trophies from the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Awards, while indies hogged the citations of the Young Critics Circle (YCC).
Both groups announced their winners on June 1, but the results couldn’t be more different.
For best film, YCC’s choice was Gutierrez Mangansakan II’s “Qiyamah”; FAP’s was Mark Meily’s historical epic “El Presidente” (produced by Viva, CMB Films and Scenema Concepts).
“The win was unexpected. An international critic and film programmer who has been watching my career trajectory, thought ‘Qiyamah’ was my weakest work. I was pushing for my film ‘The Obscured Histories and Silent Longings of Daguluan’s Children,’ a critics’ favorite in the international festival circuit,” Mangansakan told the Inquirer.
MARC Abaya received trophy for late mom Marilou Diaz-Abaya.
Best performers
YCC’s best performer award went to Nora Aunor for Brillante Ma. Mendoza’s “Thy Womb.” FAP awarded Angel Locsin the best actress trophy for a Star Cinema drama, Ruel S. Bayani’s “One More Try.” Other FAP acting prizes were won by another Star Cinema drama, Olivia M. Lamasan’s “The Mistress”; best actor, John Lloyd Cruz; supporting actress, Hilda Koronel; and supporting actor, Ronaldo Valdez.
YCC noted that Aunor has set a record, winning the citation five times—previously in 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1995.
The group described “Qiyamah” as “poetic.” Mangansakan said winning the best film award was significant “because the YCC is known for its maverick choices. It is a validation that Mindanao cinema, Moro cinema in particular, is helping shape a more pluralistic Philippine cinema.”
Produced by the Film Development Council of the Philippines, “Qiyamah” premiered at the first Sineng Pambansa June 2012 in Davao. Its international premiere was at the 7th Jogjakarta NETPAC-Asian Film Festival last December. Mangansakan said a US premiere is set next week at the New Filipino Cinema 2013 of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.
PEQUE Gallaga is the recipient of the Manuel de Leon award.
Other YCC winners
Indie films topped other YCC categories: Arnel Mardoquio’s “Ang Paglalakbay ng mga Bituin sa Gabing Madilim,” best screenplay; “Qiyamah” and Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Kalayaan,” best cinematography and visual design (Albert Banzon and Alix); “Kalayaan” and “Qiyamah,” best sound and aural orchestration (Raphael Pulgar and Arnel Barbarona for the former and Teresa Barrozo and Ditoy Aguila for the latter); and “Qiyamah,” best editing (Barbarona and Mangansakan).
Other FAP winners
OLIVIA M. Lamasan won best director for “The Mistress.”
Major FAP awards were divided among big-budget mainstream movies. Best director went to Lamasan for the adult drama “The Mistress.” Creative and technical honors were split between “The Mistress” and “El Presidente.” The first won best screenplay (Vanessa R. Valdez) and editing (Marya Ignacio); the latter won best cinematography (Carlo Mendoza), production design (Danny Red and Joel MV Bilbao), music score (Jessie Lasaten) and sound (Albert Michael Idioma).
AT THE Luna Awards (from left): FPJ awardee Eddie Garcia, Jeorge Ejercito of best film “El Presidente” and FAP head Leo Martinez/ Photos by Rodel Rotoni
Filmmaker Peque Gallaga won the Manuel de Leon Achievement Award; actor-director Eddie Garcia, the Fernando Poe Jr. Award. The late filmmaker Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s Lamberto Avellana Memorial Award was received by her son Marc Abaya.
FAP’s Luna Awards was held at the QC Sports Club on Saturday. The YCC rites are set in July at UP Diliman.
