Ai-Ai Best Actress in 1st LAPIFF

MANILA, Philippines — The second Annual Los Angeles Philippine International Film Festival (LAPIFF) concluded last Sunday with an awards ceremony graced by FDCP chair Liza Diño-Seguerra held at the Champagne Ballroom of the Double Tree Hilton Hotel near LAX airport in Los Angeles. The four-day festival, which ran from Oct. 26 to 29 at the Cinemark in South Bay Pavilion, featured 10 narrative feature films in the main competition section, 10 short film finalists and three outstanding documentaries. Also included in the program were selected short films made by LA-based filmmakers who are collectively called Fil-Am Creative. The curated short films were presented in the opening gala night of the festival attended by LA Consul General Adelio Cruz.

Birdshot, a gripping crime drama and the country’s official submission to the Oscars, was adjudged Best Film together with Imbisibol, a moving immigrant story set in Japan, which also took the screenplay and audience awards. Comedy Queen Ai-Ai delas Alas was the unanimous choice for Best Actress for her stellar performance as an aging prostitute in the powerful drama Area.

This writer is part of the five-member jury that selected the winners. Other members of the jury were Marie Jamora, an award-winning director, editor and producer of the acclaimed film Ang Nawawala; Oliver Carnay, CEO of International PR & Talent Management based in Hollywood; Edwin Santos, award-winning producer and actor, and a member of the Fil-Am Creative; and Josephine Atienza, founding member and past president of the Society of Film Archivists (SOFIA).

From left: Ku Aquino of Birdshot, Krisma Fajardo (Imbisibol), Lawrence Fajardo (Imbisibol), FDCP chair Liza Diño-Seguerra, Abe Pagtama, Bernardo Bernardo, Louie Ignacio, Leon Miguel and TJ Collanto

The winners are:

•Jury Best Film: Imbisibol and Birdshot

•Jury Best Documentary: Tiffany Hsuing (The Apology)

•Jury Best Short Film: Phil Giordano (Supot) and TJ Collanto (Diliman)

•Jury Best Director: Mikhael Red (Birdshot)

•Jury Best Screenplay: Herlyn Gail Alegre and John Paul Bedia (Imbisibol)

•Jury Best Actress: Ai-Ai delas Alas (Area)

•Jury Best Actor: Arnold Reyes (Birdshot) and Tommy Abuel (Dagsin)

•Audience Award: Imbisibol

•Founders Award: Laut