Cinemalaya 2016 best film winner pays tribute to late director

CINEMALAYA best director Eduardo Roy Jr. said his greatest regret was not being able to show the “rough cut” of his film “Pamilya Ordinaryo” to his closest friend, the late Francis Xavier Pasion.

“He wanted to see it, but I didn’t let him. My plan was to show the final cut so he wouldn’t criticize it anymore. I regretted that,” Roy told the Inquirer shortly after the 2016 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival awards ceremony on Sunday night at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City.

Pasion, also an award-winning indie filmmaker, died of heart attack in March this year. The annual indie fete paid tribute to him by showing his three Cinemalaya winners—“Jay,” “Sampaguita” and “Bwaya.”

“We started making films about the same time. We dreamt of doing great things for this industry together. I’m sure he is happy for the success of ‘Pamilya Ordinaryo,’” said Roy, adding that Pasion’s death meant a lot not just to him, but also to the entire indie filmmaking community.

“Pamilya Ordinaryo,” a film about teenage parents Aries (played by Ronwaldo Martin) and Jane (Hasmine Killip) looking for their missing child, bagged the best full-length feature film honor, as well as the Netpac (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Jury Prize.

Roy was named best director, while lead star Killip bagged the best actress honor. Carlo Francisco Manatad took home the best editing award.

“Pamilya Ordinaryo” was lauded “for its strong sense of realism, the mix of narrative and the use of CCTV footage combine to make it … gritty and dramatically powerful …” The Netpac jury praised it “for its grim but engaging narrative about a non-ordinary family …”

“I’m grateful for the chance to be part of an extraordinary family while working on ‘Pamilya Ordinaryo,’” said the London-based Killip, whose acceptance speech was read by the film’s line producer Sarah Pagcaliwagan-Brakensiek. “I wish I was there to see your smiles and hear your applause.”

Hosts Alessandra de Rossi and Nar Cabico opened the show with a production number alongside the Triple Threats Ensemble. Midway through the program, singer Aiza Seguerra performed “Pagdating ng Panahon” with the UST Symphony Orchestra.

Other performers included Aicelle Santos, Dakila Cutab, Vim Nadera, Mike Coroza, Smugglaz (Bryan Lao) and Shehyee (Christopher Ongkiko).

Present that night were members of the Main Competition jury—Lav Diaz, Charo Santos-Concio, Jerrold Tarog, Philip Cheah and Hubert Niogret. Also among the guests were Netpac jury members Nes Jardin, Yasu Tanaka and Axel Estein, as well as Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. founder and committee member Tonyboy Cojuangco and his partner, actress Gretchen Barretto.

Cinemalaya monitoring committee head Mel Chionglo introduced the directors and titles of the competing films in 2017, as follows:

“Ang Guro Kong ’Di Marunong Magbasa” by Peng Mijares; “Ang Pamilyang Hindi Lumuluha,” Mes de Guzman; “Baconaua,” Joseph Israel Laban; “Bagahe,” Zig Dulay; “Lola Igna,” Eduardo Roy Jr.; “Nabubulok,” Sonny Calvento; “PacBoy,” Thop Nazareno; “Requited,” Nerissa Picadizo; “Respeto,” Treb Monteras II; and “Unang Patak ng Ulan sa Buwan ng Mayo,” Cenon Palomares.