SEVERAL Filipino stars shone brightly on Friday night, gracing the Gabi ng Parangal of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
Filipino talents behind the official entries for the 2024 film festival came together at the Solaire Grand Ballroom in Parañaque to celebrate and receive recognition for their exceptional work.
This year’s MMFF showcases 10 Filipino films with different genres: “My Future You,” “Uninvited,” “Topakk,” “Hold Me Close,” “Espantaho,” “And the Breadwinner is…,” “Strange Frequencies: Haunted Hospital,” “Green Bones,” “Isang Himala,” and “The Kingdom.”
GMA Pictures’ “Green Bones” took home the most number of awards including the most coveted recognition, Best Picture. Kapuso stars Dennis Trillo, Ruru Madrid, and Sienna Stevens were named Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Child Performer, respectively, for their roles in the 2024 drama film.
In “Green Bones,” Trillo gives life to the character of a convict named Domingo Zamora who is found guilty of murdering his sister. As he is set for release from prison, Madrid’s character, Xavier Gonzaga, enters the picture as the new prison guard who suspects Domingo of planning to escape from the largest penal colony outside Metro Manila.
“Green Bones” is directed by Zig Dulay, who helmed the MMFF 2023 Best Picture “Firefly.”
The Pepe Diokno-helmed musical film, “Isang Himala,” bagged five awards including the fourth Best Picture.
Meanwhile, Unkabogable star Vice Ganda, who returns to MMFF this year with “And the Breadwinner is…,” received the Special Jury Citation for proving his “growth as an artist“ and tackling “issues relevant to contemporary society.”
More Filipino talents were recognized during the Gabi ng Parangal. The complete list of winners is as follows:
- Best Picture: “Green Bones”
- Second Best Picture: “The Kingdom”
- Third Best Picture: “My Future You”
- Fourth Best Picture: “Isang Himala”
- Best Director: Crisanto Aquino of “My Future You” and Michael Tuviera of “The Kingdom”
- Best Actress: Judy Ann Santos of “Espantaho”
- Best Actor: Dennis Trillo of “Green Bones”
- Best Supporting Actress: Kakki Teodoro of “Isang Himala”
- Best Supporting Actor: Ruru Madrid of “Green Bones”
- Breakthrough Performance Award: Seth Fedelin of “My Future You”
- Best Child Performer: Sienna Stevens of “Green Bones”
- Best Screenplay: Ricky Lee and Angeli Atienza of “Green Bones”
- Best Production Design: Nestor Abrogena of “The Kingdom”
- Best Cinematography: Neil Daza of “Green Bones”
- Best Editing: Vanessa Ubas de Leon “My Future You”
- Best Original Theme Song: “Ang Himala Ay Nasa Puso” by Juan Karlos from “Isang Himala”
- Best Sound: Ditoy Aguila of “Strange Frequencies, Taiwan Killer Hospital”
- Best Musical Score: Vincent de Jesus of “Isang Himala”
- Best Visual Effects: Riot Inc. for “The Kingdom”
- Best Float: “Uninvited” and “Topakk”
- Gender Sensitivity Award: “And The Breadwinner is…”
- Special Jury Citation: Vice Ganda
- Special Jury Prize: “Topakk” and “Isang Himala”
- Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award: “Topakk”
- Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award: “The Kingdom”
- MMFF Lifetime Achievement Award: Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada
Heartfelt speeches
The night turned emotional as Santos, Madrid, and Stevens went up to the stage to receive their acting awards.
During her acceptance speech, Santos shared her Best Actress award to individuals whom she worked with for “Espantaho,” including her co-stars, thanking them for their “great support.”
“Acting is reacting. Naniniwala akong hindi ko magagawa ‘yung tabaho ko kung hindi dahil sa inyo,” she said.
Madrid delivered a hopeful message, highlighting that everything is possible if one believes in themselves.
“Buong buhay ko, lagi po akong underdog. Lagi akong talo, na-a-underestimate—lagi akong binababa. Nung una nasasaktan ako, iniisip ko, ‘Bakit?’ but then I realized na kaya pala siya nangyayari sa’kin, para ‘pag dumating ‘yung araw na ibibigay na sa’kin ‘yung kapalit non, katulad po nito [Best Supporting Actor Award], hindi ko po ite-take for granted lahat ng ‘yon,” he said.
In her earnest message, Stevens thanked her family and the cast and crew of “Green Bones” for guiding and trusting her.
“Hindi ko po magagawa nang maayos ang role na ito kung [hindi dahil] sa inyong lahat. Sa ‘Green Bones’ family, thank you,” the child star said.
Trillo, on the other hand, said it was a “huge honor” for him to receive the Best Actor Award, which he dedicated to his family.
“Sila po talaga ang nag-i-inspire sa’kin para pagbutihin ‘tong ginagawa ko na ’to, na i-maximize lahat ng opportunity na binibigay sa’kin. Maraming salamat po, hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan ‘to,” said the actor.
The 50TH MMFF entries will be shown in Philippine cinemas until January 7, 2025.
Many netizens have joined calls for equal distribution of screenings among the 10 local films, after “Isang Himala” director Pepe Diokno revealed that his film loses screening venues.
Winning student short films
Aside from the 10 official entries, the MMFF collaborated with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to hold the Student Short Film competition, featuring 10 short films submitted by different universities and colleges nationwide.
The initiative served as a platform for young Filipino filmmakers to share their narratives and cinematic talents with a wider audience.
Several works of these student filmmakers were honored at the Gabi ng Parangal:
- Best Student Short Film: “Saan Aabot ang 50 Pesos Mo?“ directed by Selina Claire Napano from the University of Makati
- Second Best Student Short Film: “A Delivery Rider” directed by Jennissie Gilbuena from the City of Malabon University
- Third Best Student Short Film: “PNB 12-50” directed by Ryan Paolo Resuena from the University of the Philippines Mindanao
- Special Jury Prize: “Inang Wak-Wak” directed by Drenzel Calopez from the Mindanao State University – General Santos City
