MMFF 2023 winners: 'Firefly' is Best Picture; newcomer Cedrick Juan beats Christopher de Leon, Piolo Pascual
MANILA, Philippines — The little film that could, "Firefly," took home three awards at the Metro Manila Film Festival Gabi ng Parangal 2023, including the 1st Best Picture honor.
The movie's two other wins were writer Angeli Atienza for Best Screenplay and its star Euwenn Mikaell for Best Child Performer.
"Firefly" director Zig Dulay, in his first-ever "mainstream" and MMFF entry, quipped that his movie could now screen in more cinemas — this as "Firefly" initially had the least theater appearances among all entries, though most cinemas it screened in were sold out.
Historical drama "GomBurZa" finished just behind "Firefly" as it won six other awards, the biggest haul for any entry this year, including Best Director for Pepe Diokno and Best Actor for Cedrick Juan.
"Mallari" and "When I Met You In Tokyo" were the 3rd and 4th Best Picture winners respectively, both winning four awards apiece.
HAPPENING NOW: The Metro Manila Film Festival Gabi ng Parangal 2023 is underway at Quezon City's New Frontier Theater.
— Kristofer Purnell (@kjpurneII) December 27, 2023
Ten (10) films are vying for Best Picture, among other awards. @PhilstarShowbiz @PhilstarNews
The thespian Juan was victorious in a strong nominees list that had Alden Richards for "Family of Two," Piolo Pascual for "Mallari," Derek Ramsay for "Kampon," Dingdong Dantes for "Rewind," and Christopher de Leon for "When I Met You In Tokyo."
In his acceptance speech, Juan dedicated his win to victims of injustice like the titular priests of his film and invited other people to "sumugal sa pagmamahal ng pag-arte."
"When I Met You In Tokyo" also saw its star Vilma Santos win Best Actress, who fought through tears explaining the production team only ever wanted to make a simple love story for people of her and de Leon's age.
Santos acknowledged her co-star de Leon who was capturing her on video backstage, as well as her fellow nominees Sharon Cuneta from "Family of Two," "Becky & Badette" stars Eugene Domingo and Pokwang, and "inaanak" Marian Rivera from "Rewind," inviting them to share the win with her.
Domingo went on stage to accept her film's two trophies, Best Original Song and the Gender Sensitivity Award, pointing out the importance of the latter and initiated a call for respect.
Awards count for MMFF 2023:
— Kristofer Purnell (@kjpurneII) December 27, 2023
"GomBurZa" - seven (7)
"Mallari" - four (4)
"When I Met You In Tokyo" - four (4)
"Firefly" - three (3)
"Becky & Badette" - two (2)
"Kampon" - one (1)
"Family of Two" - one (1)@PhilstarShowbiz @PhilstarNews
There was a technical issue during the Best Supporting Actress category as eventual winner Miles Ocampo from "Family of Two" — the movie's sole win — was not in the nominees video, while clips of Domingo replaced that of her co-star Agot Isidro.
Ocampo brushed aside the incident and managed to joke in her acceptance speech concerns that accepting her role after undergoing thyroid surgery seem that she might look like Richards' mother instead.
"GomBurZa" led all nominees with a whopping 17 nods. Behind it in close succession were "Becky & Badette" (16), "Firefly" (15), and "GomBurZa" (14). "Kampon" and "When I Met You In Tokyo" both had 11 nods while "Family of Two" had nine nominations.
"Rewind" (10 nominations), "Penduko" (six nominations), and "Broken Hearts Trip" (three nominations) all went home empty-handed.
Related: MMDA calls out fake MMFF 2023 first day earnings; Facebook admin fired
Here are the full list of winners at the MMFF Gabi ng Parangal 2023:
1st Best Picture - "Firefly"
2nd Best Picture - "GomBurZa"
3rd Best Picture - "Mallari"
4th Best Picture - "When I Met You In Tokyo"
Best Director - Pepe Diokno for "GomBurZa"
Best Actor - Cedrick Juan for "GomBurZa"
Best Actress - Vilma Santos for "When I Met You In Tokyo"
Best Supporting Actor - JC Santos for "Mallari"
Best Supporting Actress - Miles Ocampo for "Family of Two"
Best Screenplay - Angeli Atienza for "Firefly"
Best Child Performer - Euwenn Mikaell for "Firefly"
Best Original Theme Song - "Finggah Lickin" from "Becky & Badette,"
Best Musical Score - "Mallari"
Best Editing - "Kampon"
Best Cinematography -"GomBurZa"
Best Sound - "GomBurZa"
Best Production Design - "GomBurZa"
Best Visual Effects - "Mallari"
Best Float - "When I Met You In Tokyo"
Gender Sensitivity Award - "Becky & Badette"
Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award - "GomBurZa"
Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence - "When I Met You In Tokyo"
Marichu Vera-Perez Macheda Memorial Award - Mother Lily Monteverde
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