The Philippines scored 21 nominations in the Madrid (Spain) International Film Festival, set July 3-11.
Gabriel Fernandez’s “Mana” leads the lineup with seven nods—best film, director (Fernandez), lead actress in a foreign language film (Cherie Gil), supporting actress (Fides Cuyugan-Asensio), jury award, producer of a foreign language film (De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde) and cinematography (Lee Meily).
Fernandez told the Inquirer: “After 15 years in the industry, these nominations give me a strong sense of affirmation.”
The rest of the nominations went to four other Filipino films:
Jeffrey Jeturian’s “Ekstra,” for best foreign language feature film, director, producer (Ferdinand Lapuz) and lead actress (Vilma Santos) of a foreign language film and screenplay (Jeturian, Antoinette Jadaone and Zig Dulay).
Ato Bautista’s “Gemini” for best director, lead actor (Mon Confiado), lead actress (Sheena McBride) and supporting actor (Lance Raymundo) of a foreign language film.
Joel Lamangan’s “Kamkam” for best foreign language feature film, director and lead actress (Sunshine Dizon) of a foreign language film. Andrea Capranico’s “The Undertaker” merited nods for best producer (Bianca Balbuena) and best foreign language documentary. Bayani San Diego Jr.