‘Iti Mapukpukaw,’ ‘Rookie’ dominate Cinemalaya with 3 wins each

PROJECT 8 Projects films Iti Mapukpukaw and Rookie emerged as the biggest winners of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2023, as they brought home the major awards at the closing ceremony on Sunday. 

The first-ever animated entry at the Cinemalaya, Iti Mapukpukaw by Carl Joseph Papa, snatched the Best Film for the full-length category. 

Veteran actress and Golden Globes nominee Dolly De Leon also won the trophy for Best Supporting Actress under the full-length category for her performance in Iti Mapukpukaw.

De Leon portrayed the role of Rosalinda, the mother of Eric (played by Carlo Aquino), the film’s protagonist who is an animator.

The animated film was also given the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) award for full-length film, which is given to recognize exceptional films and to discover new talents.

Meanwhile, the queer coming-of-age film Rookie directed by Samantha Lee snatched the Audience Choice Award for the full-length category.

Newcomer Pat Tingjuy, who played the character Ace in Rookie, also won her first acting award upon receiving Best Actress at this year’s Cinemalaya.

The Lee-helmed film also earned the Best Editing award.

The other winners at the 2023 Cinemalaya are:

• Audience choice (short film): Hinakdal
• Best Sound Design: Gian Arre for Tether
• Best Original Musical Score: Kindred for When This is all Over
• Best Production Design: Kaye Banaag for When This is all Over
• Best Cinematography: Martika Ramirez-Escobar for When This is all Over
• Best Screenplay (short film): Alvin Belarmino and Kyla Romero for Hinakdal
• Best Screenplay (full-length feature film): Jopy Arnaldo for Gitling
• Best Supporting Actor: Bon Andrew Lentejas for Huling Palabas
• Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) award for short film: Alvin Belarmino for Hinakdal
• Best Actor: Mikoy Morales for Tether
• Best Ensemble Performance Award: Ang Duyan ng Magiting
• Cinemalaya Special Jury Award (short film): Hm Hm Mhm by Sam Villa-Real and Kim Timan
• Cinemalaya Special Jury Award (full-length feature film): Ang Duyan ng Magiting by Dustin Celestino
• Best Director (short film): Mike Cabarles for Makoko sa Baybay
• Best Director (full-length feature film): Ryan Machado for Huling Palabas

This year’s Cinemalaya festival revolved around the theme ilumiNasyon. With 10 full-lengths and 10 shorts, the independent film festival delivered stories that covered topics ranging from LGBTQIA+ romance to illegal recruitment.