We present the winners of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2017 that took place from August 4th – 13th, in Manila, Philippines.

Full-length Feature Category
Best Film

Respeto by Treb Monteras II

When an amateur rapper and a seasoned poet are thrown together in a moment of violence, they learn to write verses with new found clarity.

Best Director

Joseph Israel Laban for Baconaua

After a particularly strong squall, a sleepy fishing village on a tiny island in Southern Tagalog wakes up to an astonishing sight – their sea has turned red. Floating on their waters are thousands of apples. No one knows where they came from. Some suspect this is a bad omen from the baconaua – a creature of myth. Few believe it to be a miracle from heaven, while others fear a more sinister source.

Best Actress

Angeli Bayani for her role in Bagahe by Zig Dulay

Raped and pregnant, an OFW rids herself of unwanted baggage on the flight back home.

Best Actor

Noel Comia, Jr. for his role in Kiko boksingero by Thop Nazareno

Kiko, an 11-year-old boy left aimlessly alone with his nanny after the recent death of his mother, rekindles a long lost relationship with his father in an attempt to find a new lease on life.

Best ScreenplayBest Actress

Bagahe by Zig Dulay

Special Jury Prize

Baconaua by Joseph Israel Laban

NETPAC Jury Prize

Respeto by Treb Monteras II

Best Supporting Actress

Yayo Aguila for her role in Kiko boksingero by Thop Nazareno

Best Supporting Actor

Dido de la Paz for his role in Respeto by Treb Monteras II

Best Cinematography

TM Malones for Baconaua by Joseph Israel Laban

Ike Avellana for Respeto by Treb Monteras II

Best Production Design

Marxie Maolen Fadul for Nabubulok by Sonny Calvento

A husband takes flight when his wife goes missing.

Best Editing

Lawrence Ang for Respeto by Treb Monteras II

Best Original Music Score

Pepe Manikan for Kiko boksingero by Thop Nazareno

Best Sound

Corinne de San Jose for Respeto by Treb Monteras II

Audience Choice Award

Respeto by Treb Monteras II

Short Feature Category
Best Film

Hilom by P.R. Patindol

In a fishing village that’s been ravaged by a strong typhoon, the bond of twin brothers is disrupted by another young boy. Hilom follows the journey of the brothers, Andres and Gael, as they find healing against the harsh landscape of an island that’s also trying to recover.

Best Director

E Del Mundo for Manong ng Pa-Aling

Manong ng Pa-¬Aling, directly translated as Man of Pa-¬Aling, is the incredible story of man’s natural relationship with the ocean. And amidst physical frailty, and of his age, Manong decides what he will do next after retiring from his only known profession, to be a fisherman.

Best Screenpaly

Duwi Monteagudo for Bawod by TM Malones

On the eve of her school’s annual Talent Show in a small rural village in the mountains of Iloilo, twelve-year-old Thirdy is worried she will not be able to perform because she could not afford to rent a traditional costume and pay the required contribution.

Her ailing but affable grandfather, Cesario, acts as her sole guardian. He works as a bamboo farmer, but they could barely make ends meet. In the midst of all these, Thirdy starts having visions of a mysterious man. She believes the apparition is that of her long dead father while everyone else dismisses her visions as nothing more than fantasies or illusions. On the day of the Talent Show, everything unravels as village problems and family secrets finally collide

NETPAC Jury Prize

Aliens Ata by Karl Glenn Barit

Two young brothers deal with the sudden loss of their father. Their overseas-filipino-worker mother goes back home for the funeral but will soon had to depart for work again. For kids, some things are hard to grasp that’s why they look at the sky for answers. Could it be aliens?

Special Jury Prize

Fatima Marie Torres and the invasion of space shuttle pinas 25
by Carlo Francisco Manatad

Set during the launch of the first space shuttle of the Philippines – an ordinary old couple living in the suburbs attempts to go about their life during this strange day.

Audience Choice

Nakauwi Na by Marvin Cabangunay & Jaynus Olaivar

A brave battle against grief, anger and injustice. “Nakauwi Na” follows Mang Jerry as he finds ways to earn enough money to get his son, a victim of extra judicial killings, out of the funeral home.

Gawad 29 Cinemalaya Category
Short Feature Winners
1st Prize
Sa Saiyang Isla (In his island) by Christian Candelaria – University of the Philippines Diliman)

2nd Prize
Proxy by Alfonso Silva (De la Salle – College of St. Benilde)

3rd Prize
Auntwo Susan by Andrea Arias, Mia Rosero (Benilde Films / Suntanned Productions)

Honorable Mentions
Ma’am La by Vince Sevillano (De la Salle-College of Saint Benilde)
Santa Nena! by Time Rone Villanueva (Benilde Film / TV Films)

Documentary Winners
1st Prize
Sa kalagitnaan ng gabi (In the middle of the night) by Bryan Kristoffer Brazil (Manila Montage Inc.)

2nd Prize
Spring by the Sea by Aleia Garcia (Mapúa University)

3rd Prize
Timbre: Isang Dokumentaryo Tungkol sa laban kontra droga by Camille Samonte and Pam Bareao (St. Scholastica’s College, Manila)

Honorable Mention
BAI: A video documentary on the plight of ata-manobo women in Talaingod, Davao del Norte by Bianca Aquino, Angelina Gahoy, Rhianne Raval, and Hermes Tunao (St. Scholastica’s College, Manila)

Animation Winners
1st Prize
Diskarte by Agu Crisostomo, Mich Cervantes (De La Salle – College of St. Benilde)

2nd Prize
Sorcerace by Sofia Abellera (De La Salle – College of St. Benilde)
Pinagrok by Maybelle dV. Escaro (Ateneo de Naga University)

3rd Prize
Litrato by Marc Jon B. Villanea (Ateneo de Naga Universty)

Honorable Mention
Pasada by Cesar E. Asuncion III (De La Salle – College of St. Benilde)

Experimental Winners
1st Prize
Recurrencia by Carmina Cruz (Bakunawa Productions)

2nd Prize
Ang pagkalaglag ng ginantuang salamin ng pagkakilanlan by Tricia Sotaso (Mapúa University)

Honorable Mentions
Chapter 2: On the vanity of existence by Mathieu Padilla (Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film Institute)
Philippine Cinema: A Century Hence by Epoy Deyto (Independent – TollidBilly Productions)