‘Imbisibol’ bags Best Picture award at 1st Sinag Maynila film fest

MANILA, Philippines—“Imbisibol”, directed by Lawrence Fajardo, won the Best Picture and six other awards during the first Sinag Maynila Film Festival “Gabi ng Parangal” on Sunday at SM Aura Sky Park in Taguig City.

Based on the one-act play written by Herlyn Gail Alegre for Virgin Labfest in 2013, Fajardo’s “Imbisibol” follows the lives and daily challenges of four undocumented and overstaying Filipinos in Japan.

LOOK: IN PHOTOS: Sinag Maynila film fest awards night

Fajardo won the Best Director award and Allen Dizon (“Imbisibol”) was Best Actor.

Ces Quesada (“Imbisibol”) tied with Alessandra de Rossi (“Bambanti”) for the Best Actress award.

Herlyn Gail Alegre and John Paul Bedia (“Imbisibol”) grabbed the Best Screenplay award.

Boy Yniguez (“Imbisibol”) won the Best Cinematography award and Rolando Inocencio and Lawrence Fajardo (“Imbisibol”) Best Production Design.

The SM People’s Choice Award went to Jim Libiran’s “Ninja Party.”

Actor Dingdong Dantes, together with Solar Entertainment CEO Wilson Tieng and multi-awarded director Brillante Mendoza, presented the awards to the festival winners.

The first Sinag Maynila Film Festival features indie Filipino films highlighting Filipino culture and tradition, while delving into relevant social issues.

The five films that competed were Paul Sta. Ana’s “Balut Country,” Zig Dulay’s “Bambanti,” Lawrence Fajardo’s “Imbisibol,” Jim Libiran’s “Ninja Party” and Remton Zuasola’s “Swap.”

The festival judges were film producer John Badalu, National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose, festival programmer Paolo Bertolin, National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera, five-times Urian Awardee Armando Lao and art critic and film educator Tito Valiente.

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