Paolo B. wins best actor in Tokyo film fest

Paolo Ballesteros. Photo from Bayani San Diego

Paolo Ballesteros won best actor at the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival held at the Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills yesterday.

Ballesteros, known for his makeup transformations as Hollywood celebrities and for playing Lola Tidora in the kalyeserye of “Eat Bulaga,” won Best Actor for Jun Robles Lana’s “Die Beautiful.”

Ballesteros surprised the Tokyo audience by accepting his award as Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts. At the opening ceremony last week, he came dressed as Angelina Jolie.

In Lana’s film, Ballesteros portrays a transgender beauty queen whose passing inspires a colorful wake and funeral.

Ballesteros, in his acceptance speech, thanked Lana for “entrusting the character of Trisha” to him and the production staffers for their “professionalism and gift of friendship.”

He shared the award with his entire family—including their pet “cats and dogs.”

Lana’s film also brought home the Audience Choice award while Mikhail Red’s “Birdshot” won the top prize in the Asian Future section.