Joel, Ian winners at Portugal fest

MANILA, Philippines — Joel Lamangan’s Bhoy Intsik won the Special Jury Prize, Orient Express Section while Ian Veneracion was hailed as Best Actor for Dan Villegas’ Ilawod (The Water Spirit), Fantasy Films Section, in the 38th Festival Internacional de Cinema do Porto in Portugal on March 3. 

Written by Ronald Carballo, Bhoy Intsik is “the story of two small-time felons (played by Raymond “RS” Francisco and Ronwaldo Martin) with disparate personas cross paths: one is a principled tough gay; the other is a scheming, street-smart teenager.”  It was an entry to the 2017 Cinemalaya and 2017 Sinag Maynila Film Festival.  Francisco won Best Actor in Sinag Maynila and 34th PMPC Star Awards for Movies.

Ian won for his role as Dennis, a website reporter who accidentally invites the ilawod, the elemental of water that flows downstream into his home, where it latches onto his young son. The film, written by Palanca awardee Yvette Tan, also stars Iza Calzado, Therese Malvar, Xyriel Manabat and Harvey Bautista. Villegas received the award for Ian. 

 Also present at the awarding ceremony was producer Ferdy Lapuz who belatedly received the trophies of Pamilya Ordinaryo, directed by Eduardo Roy, Jr., which won Best Film and Best Actress for Hasmine Killip last year.