TRANSIT, produced by Cinemalaya Foundation and TEN 17P, headed by Paul Soriano, bagged nine plums at the 11th Golden Screen Awards given by the Entertainment Society on October 4 at Teatrino Greenhills.
The debut film of Hannah Espia, the only female director among the nominees, also won for her the best direction award. The 27-year-old filmmaker beat an elite field—Lav Diaz (Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan); Jeffrey Jeturian (Ekstra); Erik Matti (On The Job); and Jose Javier Reyes—which makes her a giant slayer. She said the other nominees have long inspired her to do well at her craft, adding that she is looking forward to doing a mainstream movie.
Transit also took home the Best Motion Picture (Drama) plum, as well as the award for Best Original Screenplay, which Hannah Espia cowrote with Giancarlo Abrahan.
Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos Recto and veteran actress Rustica Carpio shared the honors for Best Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role (Drama). Both are first-time winners at the Golden Screen Awards.
Vilma won for her role as the bit player Loida Malabanan in her Cinemalaya movie Ekstra, while the ageless Rustica won for her performance as Teresa, the devoted nanny who is facing an uncertain future in her twilight years in Ano ang Kulay ng Mga Nakalimutang Pangarap?.
Vilma, who was not feeling well, was unable to attend the awards night, although she was ably represented by her Vilmanians, who came out in full force. The award was accepted on her behalf by Ekstra costar Ruby Ruiz, who was nominated as best supporting actress.
The great Rustica Carpio was visibly surprised when her name was called, also as a winner in the best-actress race. She rose from her seat with a smile and hugged her lady companion, and then walked slowly to the stage to accept her award.
The actress, who turned 84 years old in August, said she is more active now as an actress after retiring from teaching in academe. She was the dean of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, where she taught drama.
“I would like to thank the Lord for this blessing. This was unexpected,” Rustica said in Filipino. She started her acting career in 1976 in the Ishmael Bernal movie Nunal Sa Tubig. She did a guest spot on the new GMA series Hiram na Alaala.
Joel Torre won Best Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role (Drama) for his role as the assassin in the Erik Matti film On The Job. This is also his first acting trophy from the Golden Screen Awards. “It inspires me more to give my best, because winning awards means that you’re doing a good job,” he said in an interview with John “Sweet” Lapus, who hosted the event.
Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd, the lovable pair of Laida and Miggy in Cathy Garcia Molina’s It Takes a Man and a Woman, won the acting categories in the Musical or Comedy category. The Star Cinema film also bagged the Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) Award. Both stars, however, were a no show. Sarah was on an album tour in Fairview, while John Lloyd was on vacation in Cagayan de Oro.
Jasmine Curtis Smith and Marc Justine Alvarez won the Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actress and Actor, respectively, for Transit. Accepting the award on Jasmine’s behalf was her manager Betchay Vidanes.
Marc Justine, who played the young son of Ping Medina in Transit, sang live the Hebrew song he did in the movie for the Teatrino audience at the prodding of Sweet Lapus, who joked that the young actor was already asleep when his name was called as the winner.