The Gawad Urian nominees

The Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, which stages the annual Gawad Urian, officially opens the awards season this year by releasing its list of nominees. The Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the local film critics’ group, is presently composed of Mario Hernando (chairman), Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso, Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, Dean Ellen Paglinauan, Bro. Miguel Rapatan, Dr. Nicanor Tiongson, Dr. Rolando Tolentino, Lito Zulueta and this writer. Below are the finalists of the 25th Gawad Urian:

Best Picture: Batang Westside (JMCN Productions), Hubog (Good Harvest Productions), La Vida Rosa (Star Cinema), Live Show (Regal Films) and Minsan, May Isang Puso (Regal Films).

Best Director: Lav Diaz (Batang Westside), Joel Lamangan (Hubog), Jose Javier Reyes (Live Show and Minsan, May Isang Puso) and Chito Roño (La Vida Rosa).

Best Screenplay: Lav Diaz (Batang Westside), Roy Iglesias (Hubog), Armando Lao (La Vida Rosa) and Jose Javier Reyes (Live Show and Minsan, May Isang Puso).

Best Actor: Carlo Aquino (Minsan May Isang Puso), Ricky Davao (Minsan May Isang Puso), Mark Anthony Fernandez (Dos Ekis), Cesar Montano (Bagong Buwan), Diether Ocampo (La Vida Rosa), Paolo Rivero (Live Show) and Joel Torre (Batang Westside).

Best Actress: Mylene Dizon (Gatas Sa Dibdib ng Kaaway), Jaclyn Jose (Minsan, May Isang Puso), Rosanna Roces (La Vida Rosa), Assunta de Rossi (Hubog) and Maricel Soriano (Mila).

Best Supporting Actor: Raul Arellano (Batang Westside), Simon Ibarra (Live Show), Jay Manalo (Hubog), Jiro Manio (La Vida Rosa), Carlo Muñoz (Yamashita: The Tiger’s Treasure) and Wendell Ramos (Hubog).

Best Supporting Actress: Priscilla Almeda (Batang Westside), Gloria Diaz (Batang Westside), Hazel Espinosa (Live Show), Klaudia Koronel (Live Show), Liza Lorena (La Vida Rosa) and Alessandra de Rossi (Hubog).

Best Cinematography: Romulo Araojo (Hubog), Neil Daza (La Vida Rosa), Miguel Fabie III (Batang Westside), Eduardo Jacinto (Bagong Buwan, Live Show and Minsan, May isang Puso) and Ja Tadena (Dos Ekis).

Best Editing: Joyce Bernal and Vito Cajili (La Vida Rosa), Vito Cajili (Live Show), Ron Dale (Batang Westside), Danny Gloria (Dos Ekis) and Tara Illenberger (Hubog and Minsan, May Isang Puso).

Best Production Design: Jake de Asis (Live Show and Minsan, May Isang Puso), Rodell Cruz (Dos Ekis), Cesar Hernando (Batang Westside), Larry Matic (Hubog) and Gerry Pascual (La Vida Rosa).

Best Music: Jay Durias (La Vida Rosa), Jessie Lasaten (Hubog), Jesse Lucas (Live Show), Joey Ayala (Batang Westside) and Lourd de Veyra (Dos Ekis).

Best Sound: Rudy Gonzales and Alex Tomboc (Batang Westside), Albert Michael Idioma (Hubog and Live Show), Albert Michael Idioma and Rudy Gonzales (Bagong Buwan) and Addiss Tabong and Alex Tomboc (La Vida Rosa).

This year’s recipient of the Natatanging Gawad Urian is Philippine Cinema legend Fernando Poe Jr.