Cherie Gil, ‘Mana’ win in Madrid

GABRIEL Fernandez and Cherie Gil in Madrid, Spain

On the red carpet of the 2015 Madrid International Film Festival last Saturday, Filipino actress Cherie Gil made sure to wear green, as homage to De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, the producer of her film, Gabriel Fernandez’s “Mana.”

True enough, the color brought the Philippine team good luck—twice.

Gil won best actress in a foreign language feature film, while the movie itself topped the tilt, winning best feature film.

Gil, who attended the fest in Spain, told the Inquirer via e-mail on Sunday, “It feels great! We are happy to bring home two prizes.”

She explained, “This is a very personal film. It was the last film of my brother [actor Mark Gil who died last year]. In this film, I had the honor of creating and sharing the best scenes I ever had with him. Both Gabby and I agree that [our film’s victory] is a tribute to him.”

Fernandez, who was also in Madrid, told the Inquirer via e-mail: “‘Mana’ has been one long journey. The praise from fellow filmmakers is overwhelming.”

In his speech, he dedicated the honor to “Mark Gil, a dear friend whom I miss to this day … and to all the OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] working in Europe as nannies, waiters, caregivers, service men and women … that they may hold their heads high with pride.”