MANILA, Philippines — A regional film sweeping major awards, an unexpected tie for Best Actress, a 15-year-old winner with a powerful message against abuse were just some of the standout moments at the awards night of the recently-concluded Cinemalaya Bente.
Best (Full-Length) Film went to “Tumandok” for its “highly effective filmmaking in defense of the rights of the indigenous people to their ancestral domain,” as told through an impressive ensemble cast of non-professional actors.
Iloilo-based filmmakers Richard Jeroui Salvadico and Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay were accompanied by members of the Ati community in focus in the documentary-fiction set in Sitio Kabarangkalan in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, as they received not just one but five Balanghai trophies.
Aside from Best Picture, “Tumandok” also bagged the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema) Jury award, Best Supporting Actor for Felipe Ganancial, Best Screenplay for Arden Rod Condez with Sumagaysay, and Best Original Score for Paulo Almaden and the Ati People of Kabarangkalan and Nagpana.
“Although this is our first feature film, we take ourselves out of it because it's the symbol of (the Ati People's) bravery in facing us, sa pag-gawa, yung drive nila na gawin ang pelikula. They consider this as their hope to get their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT),” Arlie told The STAR in a post-awards interview at Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
“Yung mapapangako namin sa kanila, hindi matatapos sa Cinemalaya, sa ‘Tumandok,’ yung pagmamahal namin sa kanila because we stayed there (in the community) for five years. Mag-ste-stay pa rin kami for five years or hanggang makuha namin yung CADT nila.
Jaime Pacena II was, on the other hand, declared Best Director for his Japan-set debut film “Kono Basho.” He was cited for his story about personal loss and family grief amid the trauma of a disaster, while exploring themes of self-discovery and diaspora.
“Sorry in shock pa ako, ‘di ko talaga siya ini-expect,” Jaime said. “All of us in the roster, we’re all very close to each other, we support each other, the whole team, and all the 10 (full-length) finalists. We were really rooting for each other. I'm actually rooting for the team of ‘'Tumandok.’ So, this is really something that I'm grateful for.”
The award proved to be a validation of sorts for the artist, art curator and music video director to finally dive into filmmaking. “Takot ako. Kaya tamang-tama yung theme na Lakas, Loob, Lalim. It was really a push for me. If I won't be doing this at my age, baka hindi ko na magawa. So, it's really one step at a time.”
A groundbreaking development at this year's Cinemalaya was having a documentary, “Alipato at Muog” by J.L. Burgos, named as competition finalist and Special Jury Prize winner at Sunday's awards ceremony. It was recognized for “its effective use of the resources of documentary cinema to shed light on an actual case of enforced disappearance” of his older brother, Jonas Burgos, in 2007.
“This award means a lot. We came to Cinemalaya and wanted to say, we want to look for my brother Jonas and that's the only objective that we have,” J.L. said. “And getting this makes my heart full because hindi lang kami ang naghahanap, kasama namin ang Cinemalaya sa paghahanap ng aking kapatid.”
He’s also grateful for the platform given by Cinemalaya to docu filmmakers. “I'm really proud of my community and fellow documentary filmmakers because they're really, really good,” he added, hoping that this will open more opportunities for directors like him. “Ang independent films are marginalized, lalo na ang documentary, mas marginalized siya sa marginalized so having sold out four cinemas in two days, nakakataba ng puso.”
J.L. also expressed his support for the docu “Lost Sabungeros,” saying he believes in the stand for independent cinema. The docu’s world premiere at Cinemalaya was earlier canceled due to “security concerns.”
Meanwhile, one of the most anticipated awards on Sunday night were the top acting honors. Outshining his more senior and seasoned counterparts, 15-year-old Enzo Osorio took home the Best Actor prize for his stirring performance as a deaf and mute boy sexually abused by a priest in Lawrence Fajardo's “The Hearing.”
“‘Di po talaga ako makapaniwala and sa totoo lang, talagang nagpapasalamat ako kay direk Law (Fajardo) kasi kung hindi naman dahil sa kanila, wala ako dito po,” an emotional Enzo told The STAR.
He revealed that he almost didn't get to star in the film. “The school didn't want to let me go (to the audition) because of the guidance and rules and then pinilit ng pinilit ng mommy ko. I'm super thankful kasi hinintay po talaga ako nila Ma'am Krisma (Fajardo, producer), nila direk, to audition and they allowed me to show what I'm capable of.”
For fellow young people, Enzo hopes the film will inspire them with its central message about fighting against abuse. “‘Wag kayong matakot magsabi sa mga magulang niyo. In either way, don't let people threaten you and don't let people take advantage of what you have, what you are.”
The Best Actress recognition was shared by “Balota” actress Marian Rivera for her “spirited portrayal of a public school teacher risking life and limb to protect the sanctity of the ballot” and by “Kono Basho” actress Gabby Padilla for her “moving portrayal of a young woman navigating cultural complexities of a foreign funeral while coming to terms with family grief.”
It was an advanced birthday gift for Marian, who noted that it's her “first acting award at the age of 40.”
It also served as an affirmation of GMA Network's prized female star's decision to venture into indie films via the Kip Oebanda political satire.
“Sabi ko nga pag-gawa nitong pelikula, siguro bonus nalang itong trophy na ‘to. But the fulfillment in making the film, sa mga nakasama ko dito, in front and behind the camera, sabi ko talaga, ito yata yung sa loob ng ilang years na ako sa showbiz, ngayon ko naramdaman yung fulfillment sa sarili ko at sa trabaho ko,” she shared.
As for Gabby, who co-starred with Japanese rising star Arisa Nakano in the film “Kono Basho,” she paid tribute to Marian when asked how she felt about the Best Actress tie.
“Nung ina-announce si Ate Marian, kinukwento ko ito kay Arisa, ‘I watched her, I watched her film, she's so good!’ Tapos biglang meron pa. Sobrang pino-process pa rin ng utak ko ngayon,” Gabby said. “Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala. Masaya po ako na nanalo si Ate Marian kasi napanood ko po siya sa ‘Balota’ and deserve na deserve po niya ang award. So to be able to share this moment with her, it’s is a great blessing and I'm so grateful.”
Gabby, who personally connected to the film's narrative about the loss of a father, remembered her own dad who passed away a few years ago as she received her first-ever acting award.
“Ever since we lost him, I'd like to think that he's always been there, that he's always been guiding me,” she said.
The rest of the awardees in the full-length film category were Sue Prado (Best Supporting Actress, “Kantil”); Dominic Bekaert (Best Editing, “An Errand”); Dan Villegas (Best Cinematography, “Kono Basho”); Eero Yves Francisco (Best Production Design, “Kono Basho”); Jedd Dumaguina and Mario Consuji (Best Sound, “An Errand”); and BC Amparado (Audience Choice Award, “Gulay Lang, Manong”).
Now on its 20th year, the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival's awards night also celebrated the best of the best in the short film category. These were Sam Manacsa’s “Cross My Heart and Hope to Die” for Best Film and Best Director; Sonny Calvento’s “Primetime Mother,” Best Screenplay; P.R. Monencillo Patindol’s “Abogbaybay,” NETPAC Award; Breech Asher Harani’s “Pamalandong sa Danow,” Special Jury Prize; and Sonny Calvento's “Primetime Mother,” Audience Choice Award.