2018: Achievers in int’l filmfests

So who says that the Philippine film industry is lagging behind those of other (Asian) countries? Definitely not where harvest of awards is concerned. In 2018, Filipino artists were “picking apples” in international film festivals, very timely because the industry is celebrating its centennial year.

In recognition of the country’s film industry’s sterling accomplishments, the 23rd Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in South Korea handed the Achievement Award by the 2018 Marie Claire Star Awards to the Philippine Team led by chair Liza Diño (of the Film Development Council of the Philippines) with director Brillante Mendoza, Christopher de Leon, Joel Torre, Sandy Andolong, Piolo Pascual and Max Collins.

The achievers:

• Recently proclaimed National Artist for Film Eric de Guia a.k.a. Kidlat Tahimik (photo) was honored with the Prince Claus Award presented by HRH Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, Honorary Chair of the Board of the Prince Claus Fund on Dec. 6 in the presence of their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima and their Royal Highnesses Princess Beatrix and Princess Mabel of the Netherlands at the Royal Palace Amsterdam.

• Brillante Mendoza (photo) –– The second highest award, the Special Jury Prize for Alpha: The Right to Kill in the 66th San Sebastian Film Festival (SSFF), Spain.  

• Lav Diaz (photo) –– Two awards for Ang Panahon ng Halimaw, Best Film (Gems Section) in the 58th International Film Festival of Cartegana de Indias in Colombia and Bildrausch Ring of Film Art in the 8th Bildrausch Filmfest Basel in Switzerland.

• Joel Lamangan (photo) — Special Jury Prize for Bhoy Intsik in the Orient Express Section of the 38th Festival Internacional de Cinema do Porto in Portugal.

• Ngiti ng Nazareno by Louie Ignacio –– Best Short Film in the 41st Lucas International Festival for Young Film Lovers in Frankfurt, Germany.

• Die Beautiful by Jun Robles Lana (photo) –– Best Feature Film in the 1st Newcastle International Film Festival in the North East of England.

• Zig Dulay (writer-director of Bagahe) — The Golden Cyclo Award, the top plum in the 24th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema in France. He also won the International Fiction Feature Award in the Asia Independent Film Festival in Bangalore, India; and the Audience Choice and Special Mention Critics’ Choice Awards in the 15th Transsaharien International Film Festival in Zagora, Morocco.

• Alberto “Treb” Monteras II, director and co-writer of Respeto — Three awards in the 16th International Cyprus Film Days Festival: Best Film, Best Director and Audience Choice Awards. 

• Sonny Calvento — Three awards for his debut film Nabubulok: Best Film, Newcomers Category in the 15th Asian Film Festival in Bologna, Italy; Best Narrative Feature in the 17th Asian Film Festival of Dallas in Texas, USA, and Best Talent for Directing/Producing in the 5th Hanoi International Film Festival (Campus and Film Project Market) in Vietnam.

• PJ Raval (photo, for his documentary Call Her Ganda) ­— the Jury Award for Best Documentary in the 29th Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in Florida, USA.; the Best Documentary Film in the 28th Inside Out LGBT Film Festival in Toronto, Canada; and the Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Documentary (Non-Fiction Feature Section) in the 34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival in Southern California, USA. 

• Carlo Obispo for 1-2-3 (Gasping for Air) romped away with four awards in the 4th Northern Virginia International Film and Music Festival in Fairfax, North Virginia, U.S.A.: Best Director (Obispo), Best Actor (for Carlos Dala), Best Cinematography (Carlo Mendoza) and Best Editing (Thop Nazareno).

• Raymund Ribay Gutierrez (for Judgement) — Three awards: the Golden Angel Award for an innovative and original language and a dense portrayal in a film in the Shortcut Competition of the 16th Torun International Film Festival in Poland, the Best Short Film Award in the 29th Stockholm International Film Festival in Sweden, and the Silver Star Award for Short Film in the Second El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt. 

• Shireen Seno (for Nervous Translation) — The Jury Special Mention Award in the 16th Pacific Meridian International Film Festival PMIFF in Vladivostok, Russia; and Best Screenwriter — Asian New Talent in the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival in China.

• Carlo Fransico Manatad (for Jodilerks Dela Cruz: Employee of the Month) — Best Director in the 27th DaKINO International Film Festival in Bucharest, Bulgaria; and the Special Jury Mention Narrative Short in the 61st San Francisco International Film Festival SFIFF in California, USA.

• Joji Alonso’s Last Order was adjudged Best Short Film in the 16th Pyongyang International Film Festival (PIFF) in North Korea. 

• Jet Leyco — Golden Gurke Award for Women of Wiesbaden in the 31st Exground Film Festival in Wiesbaden, Germany.

• Nash Ang (for 35-minute film No Man Is An Island) — the Special Jury Award in the 1st Ulsan New Media Film Festival (UNMFF) in Korea.

• Don Falsario II’s Tubbataha: A National Treasure — Best Biodiversity Preservation Tourism Film in the 7th Zagreb TourFilm Festival in Zagreb, Croatia.

• Allen Dizon (photo) — Best Actor for his role as an ill-fated deaf-mute in Ralston Jover’s Bomba in the 16th Dhaka International Film Festival in Bangladesh; and Best Actor for Sekyu by Joel Lamangan in the 8th International Film Festival Manhattan in New York, USA. 

• Ian Veneracion (photo) — Best Actor for Dan Villegas’ Ilawod (The Water Spirit) in the Fantasy Films Section of the 38th Festival Internacional de Cinema do Porto in Portugal.

• Christian Bables (photo) — Best Actor for Signal Rock, directed by Chito Roño, in the 5th Hanoi International Film Festival in Vietnam. 

• Timothy Castillo — Best Actor for his role as Toto (who was recruited by a notorious death squad) in Mikhail Red’s Neomanila in the 34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival in Southern California, USA.

• Ryza Cenon — Yakuzi Pearl Award for her role as Gela in Mr. and Mrs. Cruz, directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, in the 13th Osaka Asian Film Festival (OAFF) in Japan. 

• Andi Eigenmann (photo) — Best Actress for her role as Margo, an OFW, in The Maid in London in the 8th International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM) in New York, USA. 

• Angeli Bayani (photo) — Best Actress for Bagahe in the 15th Transsaharien International Film Festival (TIFF) in Zagora, Morocco.

• Odette Khan (photo) –– Best Supporting Actress for Lemuel Lorca’s Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil in the Five Continents International Film Festival (FCIFF) in Venezuela.

• Dido de la Paz  — Best Supporting Actor for Respeto in the 58th Asia Pacific Film Festival in Taipei, Taiwan. Ryan Cayabyab also won the Best Musical Score Award and Gino Gonzales got the Best Art Design Award, both for Ang Larawan (directed by Loy Arcenas).

• Baby F. Go –– Lifetime Achievement Award for Producing in the 8th International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM) in New York, USA. Other winners: Mark Dela Cruz (Best Director Short for Public Service), Black Palette (Best Short by Fritz Solorio), Kiss (Best Student Film by Harlene Bautista), Chop Chop Blues (Best Production Design by Fritz Solorio), Who Am I? by Mark Justine Aguillon (IMFF Most Popular), Independent Achievement Award: Am-Amma by Dexter Macaraeg and Kadena by Arvin Belarmino/Patsy Ferrer/Dan Masinsin; Ruru Madrid for Magpakailanman - Takbo ng Buhay Ko (Honorable Mention) and Mariz Umali for I Witness — Behind the Banquet (Honorable Mention).    —With a report from Celso de Guzman Caparas

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