FDCP to Hold a Night of Celebration for PH Cinema’s Global Wins

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will once again be honoring the stalwarts of Philippine cinema whose performances and cinematic work have brought recognition to our country through their awards and citations from the foremost international film festivals of the world, at the 6th Film Ambassador’s Night on February 27, 2022 at the reopened historical Manila Metropolitan Theater. 

Every year, the Film Ambassador’s Night aims to recognize the films and filmmakers that gave pride to the Philippines in the past year— films that competed and screened on the global stage, placing Filipino talent side by side to the finest ones in the world. 

For the past five years of this gathering of some of the brightest artists of the Philippine film industry, FDCP has honored a total of 319 Film ambassadors. The list grows even longer with the addition of 77 awardees for this year’s awarding. 

“It’s another year’s worth of victories with the best of the best Filipino films being recognized around the world, highlighting our cultural heritage in cinema over the years. As we have continued to reach altitudes on the global stage, we applaud each filmmaker who shared his or her talent, creativity, and passion to the world. We created this night to celebrate you,” FDCP Chairperson and CEO, Liza Diño expressed her excitement for this year’s awarding.

The annual ceremony will also be presenting the special honors of the evening — the Camera Obscura Award, as the highest honor granted by the FDCP to a film worker or a film project with extraordinary achievements with two recipients and the Gabay ng Industriya Award (Ilaw ng Industriya and Haligi ng Industriya), given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions during their lifetime becoming respected pillars of the Philippine film industry. Honorees for these will be unveiled by the Agency in the coming days. 

The year 2021 was a challenging one for the industry with the global pandemic limiting distribution opportunities, on-ground events, and filming logistics. As the Philippine cinema continues to transition and overcome challenges, recognitions and notable participations in the major leagues of the international film scene is a worthy cause of celebration in this much-awaited occasion. 

The 6th Film Ambassador’s Night will be an exclusive, invitational event for this year’s honorees at the MET Theater—a fitting home for this very important event—the cultural gem of Manila which recently celebrated its 90th anniversary. The event held in hybrid format will be telecast on the FDCP Channel on a later date. 

Last year, Filipino films and filmmakers were feted at A-list international film festivals. Among the three of the biggest are: John Arcilla for On the Job: The Missing 8, Whether the Weather is Fine (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon) by Carlo Franciso Manatad for its numerous citations in the biggest international film festivals—74th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, Guanajuato International Film Festival in Mexico, 46th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Canada, and at the 52nd International Film Festival of India. Also bagging Asia’s top film fests recognitions is Gensan Punch by Brillante Mendoza—34th Tokyo International Film Festival in Japan, and 2 awards from the 26th Busan International Film Festival in South Korea.

Here is the list of this year’s Film Ambassador’s Night honorees.

A-LIST

1. John Arcilla – On the Job: The Missing 8 
2. Whether The Weather Is Fine (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)  by Carlo Francisco Manatad
3. Gensan Punch by Brillante Mendoza

A-LIST CITATION

1. Count by Adjani Arumpac
2. Random People by Arden Rod Condez
3. Gunam-Gunam X Guni-Guni (Rumi X Phantasm) by Khavn De La Cruz
4. Hayop Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story produced by Rocketsheep
5. Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss by Sonny Calvento
6. On The Job: The Missing 8 by Erik Matti
7. Arisaka by Mikhail Red
8. Payback (Resbak) by Brillante Mendoza
9. The Brokers by Daniel Palacio
10. How To Die Young In Manila by Petersen Vargas
11. Big Night! by Jun Robles Lana
12. Last Days At Sea by Venice Atienza
13. Love Is A Dog From Hell by Khavn Dela Cruz

SHORT FILMS 

1. Here, Here by Joanne Cesario
2. The Visitor by Joey Agbayani
3. Venganza by Joey Agbayani
4. Harana by Marie Jamora
5. My House by Adam Dumaguin
6. Confession by Arjanmar Rebeta
7. Miss You, George! by Mark Moneda
8. Ang Lihim Ni Lea by Rico Gutierrez
9. Filipiñana by Rafael Manuel
10. Naiiba (Unique) by Rey Coloma 
11. Bukal (Wellspring) by Jeffrey Smith “Epy” Quizon
12. Mga Salitang Inanod (Drifted Thoughts) by Gabriel Carmelo
13. Iamannika by Dan Verzosa
14. Mito Ng Maynila (Myth Of Manila) by Janus Victoria
15. Ora Miss Mo by Khent Cacho
16. Ana Bikhayr  (Okay Lang Ako) by Hannah Ragudos 
17. Bakpak by Carlos Dala
18. Silang Mga Naligaw Sa Limot by Vahn Pascual
19. How To Die Young In Manila by Petersen Vargas
20. Siil by Will Fredo
21. An Sadit Na Planeta by Arjanmar Rebeta

SHORT FILM ACTORS

1. Jek Jumawan for  Pas-An (Carried Burdens)
2. Frencheska Farr for Harana
3. Jeyrick Sigmaton for Dayas
4. Janice De Belen for Wounded Blood

DOCUMENTARIES

TV DOCUMENTARY

1. Fedelina: A Stolen Life by ABS-CBN’s DocuCentral 
2. Miguel’s Wounds (Mga Sugat Ni Miguel) by GMA-7’s Reporter’s Notebook
3. 24 Oras: Special Coverage Of Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses) In Luzon –  GMA Network

SHORT DOCUMENTARY

1. To Calm The Pig Inside by Joanna Vasquez Arong
2. Maliit Na Hakbang by Richard Legaspi
3. Bullet-Laced Dreams by Kristoffer Brugada And Cha Escala

FULL-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY

1. A Thousand Cuts by Ramona Diaz
2. Sa Layag Ng Bangkang Paurong (The Boats That Sail Backward) by Mark Giddel Liwanag
3. Aswang By Alyx Ayn Arumpac

CREATIVE AWARDS

1. Eric Ramos for In The Name Of The Mother
2. Arlyn Dela Cruz Bernal for Ecq Diary (Bawal Lumabas)

ACTORS

1. Rogelio Balagtas for Islands
2. Kit Thompson for Belle Douleur
3. Elijah Canlas for Kalel,15
4. Snooky Serna for In The Name Of The Mother
5. Julio Cesar Sabenorio for Guerrero Dos, Tuloy Ang Laban
6. Janine Gutierrez for Dito At Doon (Here And There)
7. Cedrick Juan, Anna Luna and Noel Comia Jr for Gitarista (Guitarist)

DIRECTORS

1. Carlo Ortega Cuevas for Guerrero Dos, Tuloy Ang Laban 
2. Carlo Francisco Manatad for Whether The Weather Is Fine (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)
3. Maria Diane Ventura for Your Color (Deine Farbe)
4. Mcarthur Cruz Alejandre

FEATURE FILMS 

1. Tagpuan (Crossroads) by Mcarthur Cruz Alejandre
2. Belle Douleur by Josabeth Alonso
3. In The Name Of The Mother by Joel Lamangan
4. Balangiga: Howling Wilderness by Khavn De La Cruz
5. Fan Girl by Antoinette Jadaone
6. Latay (Battered Husband) by Ralston Jover
7. Gitarista (Guitarist) by Jason Orfalas
8. Midnight In A Perfect World by Dodo Dayao
9. Metamorphosis By J.E. Tiglao

SPECIAL CITATION

1. Vice Ganda- Everybody, Sing! – ABS-CBN