’12 Weeks’ wins Best Film, 3 other awards at YCC’s 33rd Annual Circle Citations

Director Anna Isabelle Matutina’s 12 Weeks continues to garner accolades after dominating the 33rd Annual Circle Citations of the Young Critics Circle (YCC).

Matutina’s first feature-length film won Best Film, besting Ronald Espinosa Batallones’ Batsoy, Martika Ramirez Escobar’s Leonor Will Never Die, and Gutierrez Mangsakan II’s Topografia.

The 2022 film also bagged Best Screenplay, Best First Feature, and Best Performance by an Actress for Max Eigenmann for her “finely-shaded portrayal of Alice.”

12 Weeks centers on Alice, a 40-year-old woman who is dealing with an unexpected pregnancy after breaking up with her boyfriend.

Aside from Eigenmann, the film also starred Bing Pimentel, Vance Larena, and Claudia Enriquez.

Eigenmann shared the good news in her Instagram story, along with high five emojis.

The multi-awarded filmmaker, meanwhile, thanked the award-giving body and congratulated the cast and crew of 12 Weeks in a Facebook post.

The awarding ceremony will be held in October, the YCC said.

12 Weeks premiered at the 2022 Cinemalaya Film Festival, where it bagged the Best Actress award for Eigenmann and the NETPAC award, along with Zig Dulay’s Black Rainbow. 

It was then screened at the 2022 QCinema International Film Festival and had its international premiere at the New York Asian Film Festival in July 2023.

Past recognitions

The YCC recognition is the second Best Film award given to 12 Weeks.

In March 2023, the Society of Filipino Film Critics named Matutina’s masterpiece as the best Filipino film of 2022 in its 3rd Pinoy Rebyu Awards. 

It was also awarded Best Screenplay, Best First Feature, Best Lead Performance for Eigenmann, and Best Supporting Performance for Enriquez.

Other YCC winners

Lawrence Ang’s Leonor Will Never Die took home the Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Design awards. 

Meanwhile, Sheenly Gener’s Bula Sa Langit was named Best Sound and Aural Orchestration.