‘Manang Biring’ is Cinema One best picture

“I FEEL so overwhelmed. I still can’t believe my film won,” Joseph Papa said after his film, “Manang Biring,” won best picture at Sunday’s 2015 Cinema One awards ceremony at the Dolphy Theater, ABS-CBN compound, in Quezon City.

“Manang Biring” shows a dying but feisty woman’s fight with death as she awaits the return of her long-estranged daughter on Christmas Day.

“Each of the finalists offer something unique, but I think our film caught the attention of the jury members and the audience because it carries a theme that’s close to their hearts—it’s the story of a mother,” Papa explained.

Papa’s inspiration for the film was his own mother, who died of cancer three years ago. He said the film was his way of coping with grief.

He added that the most challenging aspect of making “Manang Biring” was its animation component.

“I’ve done a number of animated shorts in the past. I want to show to the world what Filipino animators are capable of doing,” he shared with the Inquirer.

According to Papa, he’s planning to share the P300,000 cash prize with his production team then save some to finance his third film.

Papa’s first film, “’Di Paglimot Ng Alaala,” debuted at the 2014 QCinema Film Festival and won the prestigious Netpac Award.

Cinema One awards also paid tribute to pioneering indie directors, Raymond Red, Nick Deocampo and Joey Agbayani, as well as animators Rox Lee and Mike and Johnny Alcazaren.

“Seeing them tonight was inspiring,” Papa said. “I feel that animation in the Philippines is underrated. These people paved the way for animation to be recognized here. I also hope that with my film, I was able to help spread awareness for this particular form of art.”

Dino Pastrano, best actor for “Baka Siguro Yata” PHOTOS BY ALANAH TORRALBA-

Dinno Christopher Parafina copped the best music trophy, also for “Manang Biring.”

Special Jury Prize

The Special Jury Prize was given to Ralston Jover’s “Hamog,” which tackles the lives of the notorious batang hamog loitering in main thoroughfares such as Edsa.

Therese Malvar, 15, beat four other opponents for the best actress award with her performance in “Hamog.” Bor Lentejas, 11 years old, was chosen best supporting actor also for his work in the movie.

“I didn’t expect to win that was why I didn’t wear a gown, and my speech was senseless,” Malvar told the Inquirer after the awards show.

This was Malvar’s second best actress win. She also received one from the 2013 CineFilipino Film Festival for Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s “Ang Huling Cha-Cha Ni Anita.”

Charliebebs Gohetia won the best editing honor, also for “Hamog.”

Dino Pastrano brought home the best actor award for his first film, “Baka Siguro Yata” by Joel Ferrer.

The movie is about the idea of love as understood and perceived by couples from three different generations.

Pastrano, who also dabbles in directing, had to audition for the part of Carlo, a 29-year-old graphic artist whose only dream is for his band to make it big in the music scene. “It’s my first time and I’m thankful to direk for the opportunity. This movie made me realize how much I enjoy acting,” said Pastrano, adding that having a sexy leading lady like Valerie “Bangs” Garcia was a bonus. “My first kissing scene was with her!”

Bor Ocampo was chosen best director for his work on “Dayang Asu,” about a son who is out to prove to his father that he is fit to survive in a dog-eat-dog world.

THERESE Malvar, best actress for “Hamog,”

Ara Chawdhury brought home the best screenplay award for “Miss Bulalacao,” while cast member Chai Fonacier got the best supporting actress trophy.

The film tells the story of a young drag queen, Dodong, who joins a barangay gay pageant to gain acceptance in his community.

Sheron Dayoc’s “Bukod Kang Pinagpala” won three technical awards—best sound for Jess Carlos, best production design for Harley Alcasid and best cinematography for Dustin Uy.

The film tells of the struggles of a woman against the religious fanaticism of her mother, who has difficulty differentiating between pious fervor and demonic possession.

The following were also in the recently concluded Cinema One Originals 2015 lineup: Ivan Andrew Payawal’s “The Comeback,” Sari Dalena’s “Dahling Nick” and Raymond Red’s “Mga Rebeldeng Walang Kaso.”

New category

Festival director Ronald Arguelles meanwhile announced that the annual Cinema One Originals Film Festival will feature a documentary category starting 2016.

He added that Cinema One will provide a subsidy of P1.5 million to 10 documentary films. The winning docu would likewise receive a P300,000 cash prize.

“The mechanics are still subject to change. We’re also considering reducing the number of docus so that we can raise the budget to P2 million each,” said Arguelles, who is also Cinema One’s channel head.

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