13-year-old actress wins against Nora Aunor in 1st CineFilipino Film Festival

MANILA, Philippines - Teri Malvar, the 13-year-old star of the film “Ang Huling Cha-cha ni Anita,” pulled a big upset by winning the Best Actress award against Nora Aunor during the 1st CineFilipino Film Festival awards night held at the Genting Club in Resort World Manila on Sunday, Sept. 22.

The child star plays Anita, who is enamored with the new woman in town, played by Angel Aquino, who won Best Supporting Actress.

“Ang Huling Cha-cha ni Anita,” Teri’s first acting project, also won the Best Acting Ensemble award.

Related article: “Ang Huling Cha-cha ni Anita” – A serious theme with a light treatment

But Nora’s entry in the film festival, “Ang Kwento ni Mabuti,” did not go home empty-handed. It was named the Best Feature Film, along with “Ang Huling Cha-cha ni Anita.” Its director, Mes de Guzman, also won the Best Director and Best Screenplay awards.

Karl Medina was named Best Actor, while Bong Cabrera won Best Supporting Actor, both for “The Guerilla is a Poet.”  

Medina is the son of actor Ping Medina, and the brother actors Pen and Alex Medina. Alex also entered showbiz via the independent film “Palitan,” an entry in last year’s Cinema One Originals film festival.

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“The Guerilla is a Poet” also won the Best Musical Score and the Best Cinematography awards. Meanwhile “Puti” won awards for Best Sound, Best Production Design and Best Best Cinematography.

The CineFilipino Film Festival, which is spearheaded by TV5 together with the PLDT-Smart Foundation, will run until September 24.