‘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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