We present the winners of the 42nd Metro Manila Film Festival that is taking place from December 25th, in various cities around the Philippines.
Best Picture
Sunday Beauty Queen by Baby Ruth Villarama – Philippines | 2016 – 94 min.
In Hong Kong, Filipina domestic helpers spend hours of back-breaking work, serving families and individuals, both kind and unkind. They suffer loneliness, accept low pay and inhuman working conditions, and are forever insecure about their jobs. But on Sunday, nothing but nothing can stop them from organizing, joining or watching the beauty contests which have become occasions for entertainment, socialization, fund-raising for a loan fund, and racial solidarity. In these contests, the working girls are magically and suddenly transformed into beauty queens.
Best Director
Erik Matti for Seklusyon – Philippines | 2016 – 86 min.
In 1947 those aspiring to be priest, are sent to a remote convent to live in seclusion (Seklusyon) on the last day of their training. The purpose is to shield them from evil of the world. The plot thickens when a mysterious young girl comes to the convent but the question is whether she is really sent by God or by the Evil. This is the challenge awaits the candidates.
Best Actress
Irma Adlwan for her role in Oro (Alvin Yapan) – Philippines – 95 min.
A remote mining community finds its traditional way of life suddenly imperilled when it faces depredations at the hands of an armed group that misrepresents government authority. Rural idyll is shattered, as are the modest plans and dreams of simple people. One saving grace is the resolute leadership provided by their barangay captain, a lady who has served her constituency for decades. But her courage and moral ascendancy are not enough to prevent tragic consequences in this characteristic conflict when “small people” suffer the greed of others who rule by the gun.
Best Actor
Paolo Ballesteros for his role in Die Beautiful (Jun Robles Lana) – Philippines | 2016 – 119 min.
After being verbally and physically abused by his father for years, Patrick is finally thrown out of the house for being gay. But as one door closes, many others open. Patrick transforms into the ravishing transgender Trisha, his long-time dream. Refusing to be bitter about her rejection and a gang rape in high school, she becomes a loving mother to an adopted daughter, a devoted partner to her lover, and a loyal confidante to her gay sisters. She also wins a beauty contest. Through her gay sisters’ machinations, she even gets her final bucket wish list.
Special Jury Prize for Acting
Rhed Bustamante for his role in Seklusyon (Erik Matti) – Philippines | 2016 – 86 min.
Best Supporting Actress
Phoebe Walker for her role in Seklysyon (Erik Matti) – Philippines | 2016 – 86 min.
Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bables for his role in Die Beautiful (Jun Robles Lana) – Philippines | 2016 – 119 min.
Best Ensemble Cast
Oro by Alvin Yapan – Philippines | 2016 – 95 min.
Best Screenplay
Seklysyon by Erik Matti – Philippines | 2016 – 86 min.
Fernando Poe Sr. Memorial Award
Oro by Alvin Yapan – Philippines – 95 min.
Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award
Sunday Beauty Queen by Baby Ruth Villarama – Philippines | 2016 – 94 min.
Best Cinematography
Seklusyon by Erik Matti – Philippines | 2016 – 86 min.
Best Editing
Sunday Beauty Queen by Baby Ruth Villarama – Philippines | 2016 – 94 min.
My Most Favorite Film Award
Die Beautiful by Jun Robles Lana – Philippines | 2016 – 119 min.
Best Production Design
Seklysyon by Erik Matti – Philippines | 2016 – 86 min.
Best Sound Design
Seklusyon by Erik Matti – Philippines | 2016 – 86 min.
Best Musical Soring
Saving Sally by Avid Liongoren – Philippines | 2016 – 94 min.
There is much going for this multi-genre film mounted by a small team of young animators who engaged in a ten-year effort to come up with an atypical youthful love story replete with child-like fantasy elements as applied through 2D animation. Chivalry among the youth is manifested as a realistic element that also lightens up the urban setting, apart from adding to the innovative sources of delight.
Best Original Theme Song
Dominus Miserere by Francis de Veyra – (Seklusyon)
Children’s Choice
Vince & Kath & James by Theodore Boborol – Philippines | 2016 – 116 min.
Vince and Kath and James (stylized as Vince & Kath & James) is an upcoming 2016 Filipino teen romantic film directed by Theodore Boborol. The film is based on Vince and Kath, an online series written by Jenny Ruth Almocera, which went viral, that told the story of two lovestruck teens, Vince and Kath, through text messages.
Saving Sally by Avid Liongoren – 94 min.
Sunday Beauty Queen by Baby Ruth Villarama – Philippines | 2016 – 94 min.
Best Float
Die Beautiful
Short Film Section
Best Short Film
EJK by Bor Ocampo
Special Jury Prize
Manila Scream by Roque Lee & Blair Camilo
Best Screenplay
Mitatang by Arvin Jezer Gagui
To know more about this festival please visit the FESTIVAL PROFILE or go to the official webpage HERE.
Categories: News
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