Tough competition at the Urian

As Ricky Lo said in his Funfare column last Saturday, we are already in the peak of the awards season – with the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) handing out the Star Awards for Movies last March 13, the FAMAS staging a non-controversial awards night last Saturday and the first-ever Golden Screen Awards of the Entertainment Press Society (Enpress) to be presented this Saturday at the Meralco Theater.

However, as the May 10 elections near, the awards season will have to be halted temporarily for at least two unofficial reasons: 1) It would be difficult to get movie stars to participate in the awards show because most of them are out there campaigning for the politicians they are endorsing and 2) Let’s face it, everyone’s interest is focused on the elections.

Holding an awards presentation two or three weeks after the elections is not a good idea either because this is still a period of uncertainty – and what with those losers complaining about how they were "cheated" in the elections.

The Film Academy Awards I understand will be held in late May. The 27th Gawad Urian of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, on the other hand, will be staged in June yet – on June 19 at the AFP Theater (to be telecast on RPN 9).

The Manunuri members, however, have already completed its list of nominees. Here it is below:

Best Film – Babae sa Breakwater (Entertainment Warehouse), Bridal Shower (Seiko Films), Crying Ladies (Unitel Pictures) and Magnifico (Violett Films).

Best Director – Jeffrey Jeturian (Bridal Shower), Mark Meily (Crying Ladies), Mario O’Hara (Babae sa Breakwater), Jose Javier Reyes (Malikmata) and Maryo de los Reyes (Magnifico).

Best Screenplay – Chris Martinez (Bridal Shower), Mark Meily (Crying Ladies), Mario O’Hara (Babae sa Breakwater) and Mitchiko Yamamoto (Magnifico).

Best Actor – Cogie Domingo (Anghel sa Lupa), Kristoffer King (Babae sa Breakwater), Jiro Manio (Magnifico) and Aga Muhlach (Kung Ako na Lang Sana).

Best Actress – Dina Bonnevie (Bridal Shower), Katherine Luna (Babae sa Breakwater), Ara Mina (Huling Birhen sa Lupa), Elizabeth Oropesa (Homecoming), Cherry Pie Picache (Bridal Shower) and Maricel Soriano (Filipinas).

Best Supporting Actor – Alcris Galura (Babae sa Breakwater), Mark Gil (Magnifico), Albert Martinez (Magnifico), Victor Neri (Filipinas), Julio Pacheco (Crying ladies), Eric Quizon (Crying Ladies), Jericho Rosales (Noon at Ngayon) and Alfred Vargas (Bridal Shower).

Best Supporting Actress – Mickey Ferriols (Kung Ako na Lang Sana), Hilda Koronel (Crying Ladies), Sherry Lara (Crying Ladies), Isabella de Leon (Magnifico), Celia Rodriguez (Magnifico), Gloria Romero (Magnifico), Girlie Sevilla (Magnifico) and Lorna Tolentino (Magnifico).

Best Cinematography – Odyssey Flores (Magnifico), Katrina Holigores and Nap Jamir (Bridal Shower), Rey de Leon (Babae sa Breakwater), Lee Meily (Crying Ladies) and Regiben Romana and Lito Mempin (Malikmata).

Best Editing – Danny Anonuevo (Crying Ladies), Vito Cajili (Malikmata), Manet Dayrit (Magnifico), Tara Illenberger (Bridal Shower) and Bert Vasadre (Babae sa Breakwater).

Best Production Design – Raymond Bajarias (Bridal Shower), Reji Regaladao (Crying Ladies), Gerry Santos (Magnifico) and Melody Teodoro (Babae sa Breakwater).

Best Music – Francis Guevarra and Ferdie Marquez (Malikmata), Vincent de Jesus (Crying Ladies) and Jesse Lucas (Babae sa Breakwater, Bridal Shower and Filipinas).

Best Sound – Albert Mike Idioma (Malikmata), Raffy Magsaysay (Crying Ladies), Ledoy Maralit (Babae sa Breakwater), Arnold Reodica (Bridal Shower and Magnifico).