Erik Matti’s Seklusyon took the lion’s share of the awards with eight, at the 42nd Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), which was held on Thursday night at the Kia Theater in Cubao, Quezon City.
A horror thriller which explores good versus evil, Seklusyon won the Best Director plum for Matti and several other awards, including Best Screenplay for Anton Santamaria.
But it was the documentary by Babyruth Villarama, Sunday Beauty Queen, which won the Best Picture prize. It was the first time a documentary was accepted and won at the MMFF. It also won the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award, and the plum for Best Editing.
Eat Bulaga mainstay Paolo Ballesteros won the Best Actor award for his role as the transgender Trisha in Die Beautiful, directed by Jun Robles Lana; while Irma Adlawan was voted Best Actress for his role as the Kapitana in Oro, a movie based on a true story.
Paolo won as Best Actor at the Tokyo International Film Festival also for Die Beautiful. He was unable to accept the MMFF award due to sickness, and it was Lana, who accepted Paolo’s trophy.
Paolo won over Joshua Garcia (Vince & Kath & James), Kean Cipriano (Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2) and Joem Bascon (Oro).
“Who would have thought that I would be standing right here in front of you accepting the MMFF Best Actress award,” said Irma Adlawan, who beat Nora Aunor [Kabisera], Eugene Domingo [Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2], Julia Barretto [Vince & Kath & James], and Rhian Ramos [Saving Sally]. “Ang usual role ko ay nanay ni ganito, kapatid ni ganyan…. Ipagpatuloy natin ang pagbabago ng pelikulang Pilipino!”
Ironically, Irma’s role in Oro was first offered to Nora, who did a day’s work on the movie but was replaced in the project.
Christian Bables was named Best Supporting Actor as the gay best friend of Paolo in Die Beautiful, while showbiz newbie Phoebe Walker took the Best Supporting Actress honors for her role as the mysterious nun in Seklusyon.
“Akala ko last chance ko na. Nagbunga ang katigasan ng ulo ko. Salamat sa mga nagtiwala!” said Christian Bables, who was a favorite to win. He added this win will deepen his passion for acting.
Phoebe Walker was also shocked over her win. She thanked Erik Matti for trusting her with the role.
“Walang indie, walang mainstream. We are one,” said Babyruth Villarama-Gutierrez, who worked on Sunday Beauty Queen for four years. She said they were pleasantly surprised to have been selected as an official entry in the festival, which was already an honor. “We didn’t expect anything like this,” said Villarama, who was joined onstage by two of her stars who worked as domestic helpers in Hong Kong.
For his part, Ting Nebrida of TBA who helped Villarama finished her film, said in his speech: “If we don’t [produce/distribute] this film, it’s denying your own humanity.”
Besides direction and screenplay, Seklusyon also won awards for Rhed Bustamante (Special Jury Prize for Breakthrough Performance), Best Sound Design, Best Cinematography, Best Theme Song and Best Production Design.
Oro won the Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award and Best Ensemble Award.
Die Beautiful won the My Favorite Movie/Audience Choice Award, as well as the trophy for Best Float.
The Children’s Choice Award was shared by Saving Sally, Sunday Beauty Queen, and Vince & Kath & James. The other awards-night winners were Ronnie Alonte (Male Celebrity of the Night) and Rhian Ramos (Female Celebrity of the Night).
In the short film category, the winners were:
- Best Screenplay: Mitatang
- Special Jury Prize: Manila Scream
- Best Picture Short Film: EJK