MULTI-AWARDED actor John Lloyd Cruz has added another feather to his cap when he bagged the Boccalino D ‘Oro prize (Golden Jug award) for Best Actor at the 76th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland for his performance in the Lav Diaz masterpiece Essential Truths of the Lake.
The film is set during the bloody war on drugs of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In his speech, Cruz dedicated his award to all those who perished and their families.
“Para sa Pilipinas, para sa Pilipino, para sa lahat ng pinatay at mga naiwan nila,” he said.
Cruz is the second FIlipino to win the award after his film co-star Hazel Orencio, who also brought home the same award in 2014 for another Diaz film, Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon.
Cruz flew to Switzerland along with Diaz, producer Bianca Balbuena, Brad Liew, Joaquim Sapinho, and his ex-girlfriend and film co-actor Shaina Magdayao.
Among the first to congratulate Cruz was Film Development Council of The Philippines Chairman Tirso Cruz III.
“It is with great joy and pride that I congratulate one of the most talented artists of our country, Mr. John Lloyd Cruz, for having won the Boccalino d’Oro prize (Golden Jug Award) for Best Actor at the 76th Locarno Film Festival (LFF) in Switzerland,” Tirso Cruz III said.
“This award is much deserved by an artist of his caliber. Lloydie, congratulations and thank you for bringing honor to our country,” he ended.
The 10-day film festival began last August 2 and will end on August 12.
John Lloyd and Lav
Essential Truths of the Lake isn’t the first movie that the powerhouse duo of Cruz and Diaz did together. Their previous projects include Ang Babaeng Humayo (2016), Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis (2016), History Ni Ha (2021), Servando Magdamag, and A Tale of Filipino Violence (2022).
Accolades
With a career spanning over two decades, Cruz shows off an impressive resume as an actor, with awards under his belt from both local and international organizations.
He was the first Filipino and Southeast Asian actor to win the Star Asia Awards in the New York Asian Film Festival 2016 for the movie Honor Thy Father, which he starred in and produced. He also won the Gawad Urian Best Actor award for the same film.
John Lloyd’s comeback
Cruz’ victory came two years after his showbiz comeback. He went on hiatus in 2017 and left his home network of 20 years, ABS-CBN, to attend to personal issues.
It was during this time that he became a father to Elias Modesto, his son with Ellen Adarna.
He returned to television on GMA via the sitcom Happy 2GetHer which aired from December 26, 2021 to August 6, 2022.
He is currently under Crown Artists Management owned by his good friend, actress Maja Salvador.
