Nora-Vilma rivalry heats up in 37th Gawad Urian

All is set for the night to honor and celebrate cinematic excellence, as the highly-anticipated ceremony for the 37th Gawad Urian fast approaches.

The list of nominees released on Tuesday, April 29, in a presscon held at the ABS-CBN 9501 restaurant, showed majority of the choices made by the Manunuri came from indie films. The presscon was attended by Manunuri members Grace Javier Alfonso, Mario Hernando and National Artist for Film Bienvenido Lumbera.

The Gawad Urian, considered the most prestigious film award-giving body in the country, has shaped the country’s cinematic history over the years.

This annual ceremony, to be held on June 17, is being mounted in a partnership between the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and Cinema One.

The 2014 awarding ceremony will be hosted by Piolo Pascual and Bianca Gonzales, along with Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino member Butch Francisco. Piolo and Bianca will be part of an even greater population of artists in the field of filmmaking—the biggest names in Philippine cinema and stars of all generations—who will be gathering in celebration of local cinema at Studio 9 and 10 of the ELJ Building this year to witness the awards convocation.

Tight competition is expected among this year’s nominees.

The 37th Gawad Urian nominations are dominated by Lav Diaz’s “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan” and Armando Bing Lao’s “Dukit” with 10 nominations each. They are followed by “On The Job” and “Porno,” with nine nominations each. “Transit” has eight nominations this year, and both “Riddles of my Homecoming” and “Ekstra” tie for six nominations each. Also part of those raking in a number of nominations are “Badil” and “Ang Kuwento ni Mabuti,” with four nominations each.

Competition in the acting awards is sure to heat up with long-time rivals Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos both in the running for their respective indie movies – “Ang Kwento ni Mabuti for Nora” and “Ekstra” for Vilma. Whenever Nora and Vilma are competing for awards, the ante is higher and is made more exciting. Some actresses however, even though nominated, sometimes get the feeling that they won’t win if Nora or Vilma are in the running because they feel with their track record, it seems next to impossible to beat them.

For his part, Mario Hernando said that while Nora and Vilma had turned in excellent work in their respective movies, he is likewise giving the other nominees fair chance of winning. He is hoping though that the fans of Nora and Vilma won’t get into a catfight in case any of their idols lose. Hernando said there was one time the Noranians heckled him when Nora lost in the best actress race. He is hoping the fans of Nora and Vilma will behave in case they would attend the awards night.

This year’s Gawad Urian is also made more meaningful and exciting with the Natatanging Gawad Urian being conferred to film director Mike de Leon. However, in a message sent to Cesar Hernando (Mike de Leon’s production designer) and relayed to Manunuri member Mario Hernando, the reclusive director told the Manunuri to “leave him alone.” He is bent on not receiving his award, since he is no longer active and not public.

Listed here are the nominees in the major categories:

BEST PICTURE: Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan, On the Job (OTJ), Transit, Ekstra, Riddles of My Homecoming, Badil, Ang Kwento ni Mabuti, Porno, Dukit.

BEST ACTOR: Mark Gil (A Philippino Story), Joel Torre (OTJ), Mimi Juareza (Quick Change), Sid Lucero (Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan), Ping Medina (Transit), Jhong Hilario (Badil), Alex Medina (Babagwa).

BEST ACTRESS: Nora Aunor (Ang Kuwento ni Mabuti), Vilma Santos (Ekstra), Angeli Bayani (Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan), Cherie Gil (Sonata), Eugene Domingo (Instant Mommy), Rustica Carpio (Ano ang Kulay ng mga Nakalimutang Pangarap?), Agot Isidro (Mga Anino ng Kahapon), Vivian Velez (Bendor), Lorna Tolentino (Burgos), Teri Malvar (Ang Huling Chacha ni Anita).

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Junjun Quintana (A Philippino Story), Art Acuña (Kabisera), John Arcilla (Metro Manila), Joey Marquez (OTJ), Yul Servo (Porno), Carlo Aquino (Porno), Victor Basa (Lauriana), Cesar Montano (Alamat ni China Doll), Archie Alemania (Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan), Bor Ocampo (Dukit).

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Angel Aquino (Ang Huling Chacha ni Anita), Angel Aquino (Porno), Mitch Smith (Angustia), Ruby Ruiz (Ekstra), Jasmine Curtis-Smith (Transit), Raquel Villavicencio (Dukit).

BEST DIRECTION: Erik Matti (OTJ), Lav Diaz (Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan), Jeffrey Jeturian (Ekstra), Peque Gallaga and Lorie Reyes (Sonata), Arnel Mardoquio (Riddles of My Homecoming), Hannah Espia (Transit), Alvin Yapan (Mga Anino ng Kahapon), Whammy Alcazaren (Islands), Chito Roño (Badil), Mes de Guzman (Ang Kuwento ni Mabuti), Adolf Alix, Jr. (Porno), Armando ‘Bing’ Lao (Dukit).

BEST SCREENPLAY: Lav Diaz and Rudy Vera (Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan/Wacky O Productions), Michiko Yamamoto and Erik Matti (OTJ/ABS-CBN Film Productions, Star Cinema Productions, Reality Entertainment, XYZ Films), Rody Vera (Badil/Film Development of the Philippines, Waray Republic), Giancarlo Abrahan and Hannah Espia (Transit/Cinemalaya Foundation, Ten17P), Jason Paul Laxamana (Babagwa/Cine­malaya Foundation, Quantum Films and Kalalangan Kamaru), Ralston Jover (Porno/Phoenix Features in association with CMB Film Services Inc.), Rody Vera (Death March/Forward Group [as Forward Entertainment] and Phoenix Features), Armando Lao and Honeylyn Joy Alipio (Dukit/Centerstage Productions and Betis Galleria).