Dayoc’s ‘Women of the Weeping River’ is best film in 2016 QCinema fest

Director Sheron Dayoc bags the “Best Picture” award for his film “Women of the Weeping River”. Photo by Marinel Cruz

Sheron Dayoc’s “Women of the Weeping River,” about a widow caught in an escalating blood feud stretching back generations, was heralded the best picture at the 2016 QCinema International Film Festival awards ceremony on Wednesday night.

The film, shot in Zamboanga City, also bagged the best actress award for Laila Putli Ulao for her portrayal of the lead character Satra. Taha Daranda copped the best supporting actress honor.

“Zamboanga is a peaceful place,” Dayoc told the Inquirer shortly after the awards show at the QCX Museum in Quezon City Memorial Circle.

“The conflicts there were usually brought by those who transferred from Southern Mindanao. I get to witness everyday blood feud between families so I thought it would be an interesting and important story to tell. The Mindanao conflict is bigger, but there are deeply rooted ones that have become integrated within the culture there. My hope is for these conflicts to be solved before we focus all our efforts in finding a solution for the politically motivated one.”

Dayoc’s film also brought home a cash prize of P300,000.

JC De Vera wins best actor in his first indie film titled “Best. Partee. Ever,” Photo by Marinel Cruz

JC de Vera won his first acting award for his performance as an imprisoned gay drug pusher in the HF Yambao film “Best. Partee. Ever,” which is also De Vera’s first indie film.

Director Prime Cruz took home the best director honor for his “Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B.” Photo by Marinel Cruz

Prime Cruz took home the best director honor for his “Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B.” Vangie Labalan won the best supporting actress award, also for this film about a woman named Jewel whose secret has led her to live a solitary life.

Bagane Fiola’s “Baboy Halas” bagged the Netpac Jury Prize, as well as a cash prize of P250,000. The film, about an indigenous family coping with the unusual changes in their environment, also won the best cinematography trophy for Raphael Meting and Mark Limbaga.

Roderick Cabrido’s “Purgatoryo,” which tells the adventures of a character named Ilyong, won the best screenplay for Joseph Laban and Denise O’Hara.

Victor Villanueva’s road-trip movie “Patay na si Hesus” won the Audience Choice Award for the Circle Competition category, as well as a cash prize of P50,000. The film about a family’s trip from Cebu to Dumaguete to see the body of its dead patriarch, also took home the Gender Sensitive Film Award.

The best film trophy for the #QCShorts category was handed to Aedrian Araojo’s “Hondo.” It also brought home a cash prize of P150,000.

“Papa’s Shadow” by Inshallah Montero bagged the Special Jury Prize for #QCShorts category.

The short film “Contestant #4,” by Kaj Palanca and Jared Koven, won the Audience Choice Award, as well as a P50,000 cash prize.

The best film trophy for the Asian Next Wave category is “By the Time It Gets Dark” (Thailand) by Anocha Suwichakornpong. It tells of multiple stories of Thailand whose connections are as spiritual as they are incidental.

The 2016 QCinema International Film Festival will run until Oct. 22.

The films are screened in four venues: Gateway Cineplex, Trinoma Mall Cinema, Robinson’s Movieworld Galleria, UP Town Center Cinema and at the QCX Museum. TVJ

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