Deleter is big winner as MMFF makes full theatrical return   

The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2022 entry Deleter bagged the most number of awards at the Gabi ng Parangal held recently at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City.

The annual film festival organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) gave the Viva-produced techno-thriller the Best Picture, Best Director (Mikhail Red), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Nadine Lustre), Best Cinematography (Ian Alexander Guevara), Best Editing (Nikolas Red), Best Visual Effects (Gaspar Mangarin) and Best Sound recognitions.

Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told takes home the Second Best Picture award and Special Jury Prize for its 'ensemble acting.'

Nadine, who was also named the Star of the Night, thanked the MMFF and Team Deleter in her acceptance speech. “Sobrang unreal po sa pakiramdan na nandito yung Team Deleter ngayon kasi hindi po talaga namin in-expect na makakasama ang Deleter sa MMFF… We are very happy na nagbabalik na po ang pelikulang Pilipino sa sinehan.” She dedicated her award to her “family, friends, boyfriend Chris, Viva family and Team Deleter.”

Nadine Lustre is Best Actress in a Leading Role for Deleter.

Direk Mikhail, likewise, expressed his gratitude to Viva and the whole team of Deleter. He said, “It was such a difficult film to make and we wouldn’t be here without the team effort to complete this film.” He dedicated the award to “all the frontliners of the Internet, the content moderators and the deleters.”

He was equally proud of his younger brother Nikolas, who won the Best Editing award for his work in Deleter. “Ever since bata kami, gumagawa na kami ng mga short films with our mini DV cameras, telling stories together, so I’m very proud that we’re here making films (together). It’s such a dream and it’s such an honor. As storytellers and filmmakers, we really want our films to reach a wide audience, so thank you MMFF for this platform and everyone, who supported the film,” Mikhail shared.

On the other hand, Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told took home the Second Best Picture, Best Screenplay (Eric Ramos), Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award, and Best Original Theme Song (Aking Mahal by Ferdinand Topacio and Cristy Fermin) trophies. The historical-action movie is helmed by Lester Dimaranan under Borracho Productions headed by Topacio.

Additionally, the cast members of Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told were awarded the Special Jury Prize because of “its ensemble acting portraying the valor and heroism of young Filipinos fighting the war against terrorism,” the MMDA said in a statement.

“The announcement came late due to the technical glitch during the recently concluded awards night,” it added.

Meanwhile, direk Shugo Praico’s Nanahimik ang Gabi, under Rein Entertainment, received the Third Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Ian Veneracion), Best Supporting Actor (Mon Confiado), Best Production Design (Marielle Hizon) and Best Musical Score (Greg Rodriguez III) awards.

Ian, who also won the Star of the Night award, said thank you to his co-stars and direk Shugo. “This fictional movie has so many layers of truth underneath and I like to thank my co-stars, Mon and Heaven, because as actors, we just react to our co-actors. So, kumbaga sa sayaw, ang sarap dalhin at ang sarap magpadala sa mga kasama mo sa trabaho. Thank you so much.”

“I’ve been in the movie industry for 40 years and this is the first time I received a Best Actor Award. Thank you so much,” he added.

Likewise, direk Joel Lamangan’s My Father, Myself earned for Dimples Romana the Best Supporting Actress award and for Shawn Niño Gabriel the Best Child Performer award. It also won the Best Float trophy.

Family Matters, directed by Nuel Crisostomo Naval, and My Teacher, helmed by Paul Soriano, received the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award and Gender Sensitivity Award, respectively.

Although actress Agot Isidro “much appreciated” the cultural award received by Family Matters, she felt “disappointed” that the other aspects of her film got snubbed at the Awards Night.

“Umuwi na medyo disappointed na hindi napansin man lang ang iba’t-ibang aspeto ng aming pelikula. Although, salamat sa Gatpuno Villegas Cultural Award. Much appreciated,” she tweeted.

Agot stressed that what gave them consolation were the messages of support, glowing reviews, posts that break down the film and reactions of people coming out of cinemas.

“Hindi bale wala sa amin yun. If anything, dito pa lang sobrang panalo na kami. Maraming, maraming salamat sa suporta,” the actress said as she expressed hope that their film, still showing in more than 100 theaters, would attract more moviegoers.

Veteran actress and former congresswoman Vilma Santos was the recipient of the Marichu Vera Perez Maceda Memorial Award.

ABS-CBN Film Productions’ Labyu with an Accent and Partners in Crime are also part of this year’s MMFF.

The MMFF awards night was hosted by Giselle Sanchez, Cindy Miranda and BB Gandanghari.

The theme of the MMFF’s ongoing 48th edition is “Balik Saya” and the festival will run until Jan. 7.

The board of jurors for the MMFF 2022 included direk Laurice Guillen and Cong. Jojo Garcia as chairman and co-chairman, respectively, with Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) head Tirso Cruz III, Cong. Dan Fernandez, Raquel Villavicencio, Ino Manalo, Alex Cortez, Noah Tonga, Victor Pablo Trinidad and Lucky Blanco as members.

MMDA chairman, lawyer Romando Artes, shared in his opening speech how the past two years have been tough for the film industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He recalled that in 2018, the MMFF achieved its highest gross sales of more than P1 billion and in 2019, box-office earnings of over P900 million even though the country experienced a typhoon and earthquake at that time.

“Unfortunately, the pandemic happened (in 2020) due to COVID-19 and sinubukan po nating labanan at ipagpatuloy yung saya ng MMFF. We tried another platform, we went online (but) hindi po natin kinaya yung piracy,” Artes said.

The same happened in 2021, he continued. “We opened cinemas but because of restrictions brought about by the Omicron variant, hindi rin po tayo masyadong pinalad.”

But in the last two days of this latest MMFF, Artes noted the return of Filipino audiences in cinemas. “In fact, yung ating first day gross, masasabi ko lang, I think tinalo pa po yung recently na ipinalabas na international film. So, salamat po at mabuhay po tayong lahat.”

Following the success of the MMFF 2022, Artes announced that they will launch the Summer Film Festival that exclusively features local films. He also asked for more support for the film industry. “Magtulungan po tayong muli at siguradong-sigurado po sa ating pagsasama ang pelikulang Pilipino ay babangon muli.”

This year’s MMFF runs until Jan. 7, 2023.