‘Kasal,’ ‘Bwaya’ win top awards in Cinemalaya film fest
cinemalaya.org
MANILA, Philippines–The films “Kasal” and “Bwaya” on Sunday won the top awards at the Cinemalaya 2014 awards night held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
“Kasal,” a gay film directed by Joselito Altarejos, bagged the Best Film award in the Director’s Showcase category while Francis Pasion’s “Bwaya” received the same award in the New Breed category.
During his acceptance speech, Altarejos said he always makes gay films because those were stories that should be told. “Look where it brought me,” he proudly said as he accepted the award.
“Kasal,” which revolves around the struggles of a gay couple, also won Best Cinematography, Best Musical Score and Best Production Design.
Pasion, for his part, thanked those who helped him create “Bwaya,” which was based on actual events about how a mother and the rest of the community in the marshlands of Agusan del Sur came to grips with a crocodile attack.
“Bwaya” also received the Best Cinematography and Best Musical Score awards.
Although “Kasal” received the coveted Best Film award for the Director’s Showcase, the action-thriller “The Janitor” received the most awards: Best Director (Michael Tuviera), Best Supporting Actor (Nicco Manalo), Best Editing (Tara Illenberger), Best Screenplay (Aloy Adlawan and Michael Tuviera) and Best Sound (Mike Idioma).
Among the highlights of the night was Nora Aunor’s winning the Best Actress award for Joel Lamangan’s “Hustisya.” Still feeling slighted by her exclusion from the latest list of national artists, supporters of the veteran actress, who’s known as local filmdon’s Superstar, kept on calling her their “national artist.”
Receiving the Best Film award for the Short Film category was “Asan si Lolo Me” by Sari Estrada. However, it was Kevin Ang’s “Lola” that won the Audience Choice award, Best Screenplay and Best Director.
The complete list of winners:
DIRECTOR’S SHOWCASE
Best Film: Kasal by Joselito Altarejos
Special Jury Prize: Hari ng Tondo by Carlos Siguion-Reyna
Best Director: Michael Tuviera, The Janitor
Audience Choice Award: Hustisya by Joel Lamangan
Best Actor: Robert Arevalo, Hari ng Tondo
Best Actress: Nora Aunor, Hustisya
Best Supporting Actress: Cris Villonco, Hari ng Tondo
Best Supporting Actor: Nicco Manalo, The Janitor
Best Cinematography: Mycko David, Kasal
Best Editing: Tara Illenberger, The Janitor
Best Screenplay: Aloy Adlawan and Michael Tuviera, The Janitor
Best Sound: Mike Idioma, The Janitor
Best Musical Score: Richard Gonzales, Kasal
Best Production Design: Harley Alcasid, Kasal
NEW BREED
Best Film: Bwaya by Francis Pasion
Special Jury Prize: K’na The Dreamweaver by Ida Anita Del Mundo
Best Director: Giancarlo Abrahan, Dagitab
Audience choice award: Sundalong Kanin by Janice and Denise O’Hara
Best Actor: Dante Rivero, 1st Ko si 3rd
Best Actress: Eula Valdez, Dagitab
Best Supporting Actress: Barbie Forteza, Mariquina
Best Supporting Actor: Miggs Cuaderno, Children’s Show
Best Cinematography: Neil Daza, Bwaya
Best Editing: Gerone Centeno, Children’s Show
Best Screenplay: Giancarlo Abrahan, Dagitab
Best Sound: Jonathan Hee and Bryan Dumaguina, Children’s Show
Best Musical Score: Erwin Fajardo, Bwaya
Best Production Design: Toym Imao, K’na The Dreamweaver
SHORT FILMS
Best Film: Asan si Lolo Me by Sari Estrada
Special Jury Prize: The Ordinary Things We Do by David Corpuz
Best Director: Kevin Ang, Lola
Audience Choice Award: Lola by Kevin Ang
Best Screenplay: Kevin Ang, Lola
OTHER SPECIAL AWARDS
2014 Gawad Balanghai: Kidlat Tahimik, Father of Philippine Independent Cinema
Special Citation for Ensemble Acting: #Y — Elmo Magalona, Coleen Garcia, Sophie Albert, Kit
Thompson, Slater Young, Chynna Ortaleza
Best Poster Design: Justin Besana, Asintado
Canon Citation/Award for Best Cinematography: Mycko David, Children’s Show
Netpac Award for Director’s Showcase: Hustisya by Joel Lamangan
Netpac Award for New Breed: Bwaya by Francis Pasion
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