Veterans, newbies slug it out in this year’s Gawad Urian

Nora Aunor, star of the psychological thriller “Dementia,” will compete with seven other worthy nominees for the best actress title that will be handed out by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino tonight.

Aunor, also the recipient of this year’s lifetime achievement award, will battle it out with Angeli Bayani (“Bwaya”), Ai Ai de las Alas (“Ronda”), Eugene Domingo (“Barber’s Tales”), Hazel Orencio (“Mula Sa Kung Ano ang Noon”), Angelica Panganiban (“That Thing Called Tadhana”), Eula Valdez (“Dagitab”) and Nova Villa (“1st Ko Si Third”) for the highly coveted trophy.

Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino is composed of president Grace J. Alfonso and members Tito Valiente, Mario Hernando, National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera and Cinema One head Ronald Arguelles.

Valiente defended the Manunuri’s decision to bestow the Natatanging Gawad Urian to Aunor, as opposed to her rival Vilma Santos who was said to have gotten more awards from the award-giving body.

“In my opinion, and not the Manunuri’s, Nora is the first Urian best actress winner for ‘Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos.’ If you’d refer to discussions on social media, this is always mentioned,” he stressed. “In fact, at a certain point, it was said that the Manunuri made Nora and Nora made the Manunuri. Although this is an exaggeration, some people believe this.”

This year’s best actor race is crowded with 10 nominees. Leading them are Robin Padilla, who played the revolutionary leader in “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo.” Other nominees are Robert Arevalo (“Hari ng Tondo”), Nonie Buencamino (“Dagitab”), Allen Dizon (“Magkakabaung”), JM de Guzman (“That Thing Called Tadhana”), Sandino Martin (“Esprit de Corps”), Arnold Reyes (“Kasal”), Jericho Rosales (“Red”), JC Santos (“Esprit de Corps”) and Dennis Trillo (“The Janitor”).

Battling for the best picture honor are “Barber’s Tales,” “Bwaya,” “Dagitab” and “Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon.”

This year’s best director will be chosen from among Giancarlo Abraham (“Dagitab”), Lav Diaz (“Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon”), Jun Lana (“Barber’s Tales”), Jason Paul Laxamana (“Magkakabaung”), Francis Xavier Pasion (“Bwaya”) and Auraeus Solito (“Esprit de Corps”).

The nominees in other categories are as follows:

Best Supporting Actor

Nico Antonio (“Red”)
Roeder Camañag (“Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon”)
Martin del Rosario (“Dagitab”)
Joel Lamangan (“Violator”)
Nicco Manalo (“Barber’s Tales”)
Karl Medina (“Bwaya”)
Jess Mendoza (“Mauban: Ang Resiko”)
Noel Santodomingo (“Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon”)

Best Supporting Actress

Shamaine Buencamino (“Barber’s Tales”)
Iza Calzado (“Barber’s Tales”)
Alessandra de Rossi (“Mauban: Ang Resiko”)
Barbie Forteza (“Marquina”)
Karenina Haniel (“Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon”)
Gladys Reyes (“Magkakabaung”)
Gloria Sevilla (“M: Mother’s Maiden Name”)

Best Screenplay

Auraeus Solito (“Esprit de Corps”)
Jun Robles Lana (“Barber’s Tales”)
Lav Diaz (“Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon”)
Francis Xavier Pasion (“Bwaya”)
Giancarlo Abraham (“Dagitab”)
Jason Paul Laxamana (“Magkakabaung”)
Enzo Williams, Keiko Aquino, Carlo Obispo (“Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo”)
Remton Siega Zuasola (“Soap Opera”)
Antoinette Jadaone (“That Thing Called Tadhana”)

Best Cinematography

Alber Banzon & Gym Lumbera (“Violator”)
Arnel Barbarona (“Alienasyon”)
Mycko David (“Children’s Show”)
Niel Daza (“Bwaya”)
Mackie Galvez (“Dementia”)
Carlo Mendoza (“Barber’s Tales”)
Carlo Mendoza (“Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo”)
Sasha Palomares (“That Thing Called Tadhana”)
Rommel Sales (“Dagitab”)

Best Production Design

Whammy Alcazaren, Thesa Tang (“Dagitab”)
Hal Balbuena (“Esprit de Corps”)
Joel Bilbao, Roy Lachica (“Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo”)
Popo Diaz (“Dementia”)
Perry Dizon (“Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon”)
Ron factolerin (“Alienasyon”)
Maulen Fadul (“Bwaya”)
Chito Sumera (“Barber’s Tales “)

Best Editing

Lawrence Ang (“Barber’s Tales”)
Lawrence Ang (“Violator”)
Manet A. Dayrit (“Hari ng Tondo”)
Vanessa de Leon (“Hustisya”)
Lav Diaz (“Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon”)
Tara Illenberger (“The Janitor”)
Carlo Manatad (“Bwaya”)
Melvyn M. Quimosing (“Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo”)
Benjamin Tolentino (“Dagitab”)

Best Music

Diwa de Leon (“Lorna”)
Mon Espia (“Dagitab”)
Erwin Fajardo (“Bwaya”)
Jesse Lucas (“Alienasyon”)
Myke Salomon (“Hari ng Tondo”)
Jorge Wieneke (“#Y”)

Best Sound

Corinne De San Jose (“Violator”)
Mark Locsin (“Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon”)
Mark Locsin (“Barber’s Tales”)
Albert Michael Idioma (“Bwaya”)
Adam Newns, Mikko Quizon (“Dagitab”)