MMFF best: Firefly wins best picture; Gomburza dominates

MANILA, Philippines — Fantasy drama film Firefly took home the Best Picture award while historical film GomBurZa raked in the most number of awards at the just-concluded 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Gabi ng Parangal at the New Frontier Theater on Wednesday night.

Firefly screenwriter Angeli Atienza won Best Screenplay and actor Euwenn Mikaell won Best Child Performer.

The film is helmed by Zig Dulay and stars award-winning actress Alessandra de Rossi, produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs.

GomBurZa, which tells the story of martyred priests Mariano Gomes, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora, bagged seven awards including 2nd Best Picture, Best Actor for Cedrick Juan, Best Director for Pepe Diokno, Best Sound for Melvin Q. Rivera and Louie Boy Bauson, Best Production Design for Ericson Navarro, Best Cinematography for Carlo Canlas Mendoza and the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award.

The movie is produced by JesCom Films and MQuest Ventures of MediaQuest in cooperation with CMB Film Services.

Piolo Pascual-starrer Mallari won 3rd Best Picture and When I Met You in Tokyo won 4th Best Picture.

When I Met You in Tokyo earned veteran actress Vilma Santos-Recto the Best Actress award, Best Float and the Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence.

As for Mallari, JC Santos won Best Supporting Actor while Von de Guzman won Best Musical Score and Gaspar Mangarin won Best Visual Effects.

The Best Supporting Actress award went to Miles Ocampo for Family of Two; Best Editing to Benjamin Tolentino for (K)ampon; Gender Sensitivity Award for comedy flick Becky and Badette and Best Original Theme Song for the film’s Finggah Lickin.

Mother Lily Yu Monteverde received the Marichu Vera Perez Maceda Memorial Award.

Other films that made it to this year’s MMFF are Penduko, Rewind and Broken Heart’s Trip.