John Lloyd Cruz bagged the Boccalino d’oro (Golden Jug) award for Best Actor at the 76th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.
The Boccalino d’oro is an award given by the Independent Critics Jury in five categories. The actor was recognized for his performance in the film Essential Truths of the Lake directed by award-winning filmmaker Lav Diaz.
In his acceptance speech, John Lloyd said, “Para sa Pilipinas. Para sa Pilipino. Para sa mga namatay at mga naiwan nila.”
Essential Truths of the Lake is the only Southeast Asian film in the annual Swiss film fest’s main competition Concorso Internazionale.
The film tells the story of a police officer who struggles “to find resolution to a 15-year-old case around a volcanic ash laden landscape and an impenetrable lake.”
John Lloyd, together with Diaz, and co-stars Shaina Magdayao and Hazel Orencio, attended the film’s world premiere last Aug. 7.
The movie also stars Bart Guingona and Agot Isidro.