Green Bones scores big win at 50th MMFF

MANILA, Philippines — It was a back-to-back win for GMA Pictures, GMA Public Affairs and filmmaker Zig Dulay after bagging the Best Picture award for “Green Bones” at the 50th edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival Gabi ng Parangal on Friday at the Solaire Resort in Parañaque City.

Last year, GMA and Dulay’s “Firefly” also won the Best Picture award.

The inspirational drama “Green Bones” likewise earned Dennis Trillo a Best Actor in a Leading Role award, Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Ruru Madrid, Best Screenplay for Ricky Lee and Angeli Atienza, Best Cinematography for Neil Daza and Best Child Performer award for Sienna Stevens.

The film follows the story of soon-to-be-released prisoner Domingo Zamora (Trillo). However, newly assigned prison guard Xavier Gonzaga (Madrid) makes it his personal mission to keep Zamora behind bars.

It is co-produced with Brightburn Entertainment, Trillo’s film production outfit with wife Jennylyn Mercado.

“I always say that this Christmas Day, I don’t want to stress myself with competition o pakikipagpagalingan with anyone because we already felt that we already won when we got in the 50th anniversary of MMFF. So let’s applaud ourselves. We are all winners. Thank you very much. I will never forget this,” Trillo said in his speech.

Directors Crisanto Aquino and Michael Tuviera were named Best Director for “My Future You” and “The Kingdom,” respectively.

The family drama “The Kingdom,” produced by APT Entertainment, MQuest Ventures and MZet Television Productions, took home the second Best Picture award, Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award, Best Production Design for Nestor Abrogena and Best Visual Effects for Riot Inc.

“My Future You,” on the other hand, was recognized as third Best Picture and earned Seth Fedelin the Breakthrough Performance Award for his role in the movie and Best Editing for Vanessa Ubas de Leon.

The fourth Best Picture is the musical film “Isang Himala,” which also received the Special Jury Prize, Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Kakki Teodoro, Best Original Theme Song for Juan Karlos (Ang Himala ay Nasa Puso) and Best Musical Score for Vincent de Jesus.

Judy Ann Santos was adjudged Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in “Espantaho.”

“Sa lahat po ng kasama sa MMFF and all the beautiful 10 films, dun pa lang, we’re all winners. Of course, this award is for my inspiration, my life, my rock, my husband Ryan; to my three beautiful babies, Yohan, Lucho and Luna... And to dear Lord, thank you, I never thought that I will be here again,” Santos said in her speech.

The action-packed “Topakk,” meanwhile, was given with Special Jury Prize, FPJ Memorial Award and Best Float award at the event.

Vice Ganda was presented with Special Jury Citation and Jun Robles Lana’s “And the Breadwinner is…” with Gender Sensitivity Award.

Best Sound went to Ditoy Aguila for the movie “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Hospital Killer” and another Best Float award to “Uninvited.”

Former president Joseph “Erap” Ejercito-Estrada was honored with Lifetime Achievement Award for his notable contributions to Philippine cinema.

The best student short film was awarded to University of Makati for “Saan Aabot ang 50 Pesos Mo?”

Malabon City University’s “A Delivery Rider” bagged the 2nd Best Student Short Film award, followed by the University of the Philippines Mindanao’s “PNB 12-50.”

MMFF spokesman Noel Ferrer issued a statement on the controversy on why the MMFF snubbed Aga Muhlach (Uninvited) and Eugene Domingo (And The Breadwinner Is…) in the awards race.

“YOU MAY AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THEIR CHOICES … but the integrity of each and every member of the Jury since we took charge in 2016, especially on this 50th Edition of the MMFF, cannot be assailed. They have exhaustively deliberated and decided on the nominees and the winners from 9 a,m.-4:30 p.m. yesterday … No leaks, definitely no cooking show … only the Jury chair and the MMFF executive director knew the results, not even I or any member of the Execom. Rest assured, there was due process and the judgment was fair and sound AND FINAL!!!,” he said.