FDCP Reveals Honorees, 5th Film Ambassadors’ Night

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has named the 60 honorees and special awardees for this year’s 5th Film Ambassadors’ Night (FAN) as well as the performers for the online event that will take place on February 28.

The FAN, an annual event spearheaded by the FDCP since 2017, recognizes Filipino film industry creatives, artists, filmmakers, and films of various formats that gained recognition from established international film festivals and award-giving bodies in the past year.

Leading the FAN 2021 honorees are the A-Listers, filmmakers Rafael Manuel and Lav Diaz.

• 

• 

The Feature Films category has six honorees: “Sunshine Family” by Kim Tai-Sik, “Write About Love” by Crisanto Aquino, “Latay (Battered Husband)” by Ralston Jover, “Pan de Salawal” by Che Espiritu, “Lingua Franca” by Isabel Sandoval, and “John Denver Trending” by Arden Rod Condez. The honorees in the Directors category are Maria Diane Ventura for “Dein Fabre,” Mallorie Ortega for “The Girl Who Left Home,” and Derick Cabrido for “Clarita.”

The Actors category will award Cristine Reyes for “UnTrue,” Ruby Ruiz for “Iska,” Elijah Canlas for “Kalel, 15,” Louise Abuel for “Edward,” Isabel Sandoval for “Lingua Franca,” Alden Richards for “Hello, Love, Goodbye,” Lovi Poe and Allen Dizon for “Latay,” and the cast of “Kaputol” led by Cherie Gil, Alfred Vargas, Angel Aquino, and Ronwaldo Martin.

• 

• 

Through the Film Ambassadors’ Night, we celebrate their efforts and laud their achievements,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

The FAN has other categories such as Short Films, Documentaries, Creative Awards, and Special Citation. The two Special Citation recipients are veteran television and film director Luisito Lagdameo Ignacio and the late filmmaker and International Film Festival Manhattan co-founder Gerry Balasta.

Cinemadvocates, Gabay ng Industriya & Camera Obscura

The FAN will bestow special awards to pay tribute to the invaluable contributions of film industry stakeholders who continuously work for the betterment of Philippine Cinema.

Cinemadvocates is a special segment of this year’s FAN to laud individuals and groups that tirelessly champion the welfare of film workers and the development of the industry.

• 

• 

• 

• 

The Gabay ng Industriya Award is a new citation to honor those who serve as Philippine Cinema’s guiding light and inspiration. The industry is grateful and honored to have witnessed their admirable artistry, incredible work ethic, and encompassing love for film. Cinematography icon Romy Vitug is the Haligi ng Industriya Award recipient and legendary actress Gloria Romero is the Ilaw ng Industriya Award recipient.

• 

• 

This year’s Camera Obscura awardees are Jun Juban of Philippine Film Studios, Inc., multi-awarded documentary “Aswang” by Alyx Arumpac, and former NCCA Commissioner Teddy Co.

Juban’s Philippine Film Studios, Inc. has been a critical figure in the country’s film and audiovisual industry, having produced and co-produced numerous films and audiovisual content, the most notable of which are Academy Award winners “Born on the Fourth of July” and “Platoon” by Oliver Stone, “The Bourne Legacy” by Tony Gilroy, Metro Manila Film Festival Best Picture “10,000 Hours” by Bb. Joyce Bernal, and several editions of reality television programs “The Amazing Race” and “Survivor.”

• 

• 

Arumpac’s “Aswang” was an A-Lister in FAN 2020 after taking home the Fipresci Prize in the 2019 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). The full-length documentary went on to win eight international awards in 2020, including Best International Feature-Length Documentary at Festival Film Dokumenter in Indonesia, Grand Prize-Best International Feature at the RIDM Montreal International Documentary Festival in Canada, Amnesty International Human Rights Award at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Greece, and White Goose Award (Grand Prize) at the DMZ International Documentary Festival in South Korea.

• 

• 

Teddy Co, a former NCCA Commissioner of the Arts and Head of National Committee on Cinema, is a director, curator, and archivist, who significantly helped in the repatriation and restoration of lost films by Manuel Conde, Gerardo de Leon, and Nonoy Marcelo, among others. He co-founded Cinema Rehiyon, which he continues to curate, and is a selection committee member for Cinemalaya, Cinema One Originals, and QCinema International Film Festival.

The first virtual FAN

Those who want to watch the FAN 2021 may sign up for free at fdcpchannel.ph.

The FAN is supported by the CCP through the participation of its resident symphony orchestra, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO). The PPO will perform in various production numbers alongside the country’s premiere performers such as Bamboo, Tres Marias (Bayang Barrios, Cooky Chua, and Lolita Carbon), Bituin Escalante, Beverly Salviejo, Karla Gutierrez, Lawrence Jatayna, and The Pogi Boys.

For updates on FAN 2021, follow the national film agency on social media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FDCP.ph Twitter: www.twitter.com/FDCPHInstagram: www.instagram.com/fdcpofficial

THE 5TH FILM AMBASSADORS’ NIGHT HONOREES & SPECIAL AWARDEES:

SHORT FILMS

1. L.O.L. by Mark Justine Aguillon

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD 11th Macau International Short Film Festival China

INDEPENDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD International Film Festival Manhattan United States

2. SULYAP (THE GLANCE) by Geraldo Jumawan, Sherwin Compendio

INDEPENDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD International Film Festival Manhattan United States

3. GARBO (PRIDE) by Alan Filoteo

INDEPENDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD International Film Festival Manhattan United States

4. BLUE ROOM FEELINGS by Ruka Azuma

INDEPENDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD International Film Festival Manhattan United States

5. FISH HEAD by Marcos Durian

JURY AWARD BEST SHORT FILM International Film Festival Manhattan United States

6. VIRAL KIDS by Arjanmar Rebeta

SILVER AWARD (ASIAN NEW FORCE CATEGORY) 25th Incubator for Film & Visual Media in Asia AwardsHong Kong

7. TARANG (LIFE’S PEDAL) by Arvin Belarmino

BERLIN-BRANDENBURG SHORT AWARD – BEST FILM 36th International Short Film Festival Berlin (Interfilm Berlin) Germany

SHORT FILM ACTORS

8. TERI ONOR

Best Actor (Short Film) for “Biyaheng Madilim (A Night’s Journey)” International Film Festival Manhattan United States

9. MADISON ROJAS

Jury Award Best Performance Actor for “Fish Head” International Film Festival Manhattan United States

10.  GERALDO B. JUMAWAN

Best Actor for “Nagbuwa Nga Gugma (Unfaithful Love)” Lake City International Film Festival (LCIFF) New Delhi, India     

SHORT FILM DIRECTORS

11.  JOEY PARAS

Best Director for “Igib” 2020 FilMay International Short Film Festival Kumanovo, Macedonia

12.  LUISITO LAGDAMEO IGNACIO

Best Director for “Biyaheng Madilim (A Night’s Journey)” International Film Festival Manhattan United States

DOCUMENTARIES

TV DOCUMENTARY

1. ALAB (ABLAZE) – ABS-CBN Corporation

BRONZE AWARD – DOCUMENTARY HEROES New York Festivals TV & Film Awards United States

2. BRIGADA (THE BRIGADE): AETA SQUADRON/FEMALE SPIES – GMA News TV (GMA Network, Inc.)

BRONZE AWARD – DOCUMENTARY HISTORY & SOCIETY New York Festivals TV & Film Awards United States

3. TAO PO (IS ANYBODY HOME?) – ABS-CBN Corporation

BRONZE AWARD – DOCUMENTARY HUMAN CONCERNS New York Festivals TV & Film Awards United States

4. LOCAL LEGENDS: ENVIRONMENTAL ARTIST – ABS-CBN News Channel, ABS-CBN Corporation

SILVER AWARD – DOCUMENTARY HEROES CATEGORY New York Festivals TV & Film Awards United States

5. THE ATOM ARAULLO SPECIALS: BABIES4SALE.PH – GMA Network, Inc.

SILVER AWARD – NEWS: PROGRAM BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORT New York Festivals TV & Film Awards United States

DOCUMENTARY FILMS

Short Documentary

6. ANG PAGPAKALMA SA UNOS (TO CALM THE PIG INSIDE) by Joanna Vasquez Arong

DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM AWARD

40th Hawaii International Film Festival United States

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT HONOR

2020 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival United States

BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY AWARD

15th Shorts Mexico Festival Internacional de Cortometrajes de Mexico

Full-Length Documentary

7. IN PAGLAYAG A SULU STORY by Rhadem Morados

JURY AWARD BEST DOCUMENTARY International Film Festival Manhattan United States

8. A THOUSAND CUTS by Ramona Diaz

GLOBAL IMPACT AWARD – DOCUMENTARY FEATURE 36th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival United States

CREATIVE AWARDS

1. 1LT BALARAM TAMAYO

BEST SCREENPLAY for “Kagitingan: A True Story of Valor” International Film Festival Manhattan United States

2. VINCENT SOBERANO

BEST SCREENPLAY for “Circle of Bone Horror Haus Film Festival United States

3. CHE ESPIRITU

BEST SCREENPLAY for “Pan de Salawal” Calella Film Festival Spain

4. BENJAMIN TOLENTINO

BEST EDITING for “Kalel, 15” 59th Asia-Pacific Film Festival Macau

5. VALERIE CASTILLO MARTINEZ

SPECIAL JURY AWARD – SCREENWRITING International Narrative Feature for “Death of Nintendo” 36th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival United States

ACTORS

1. DINGDONG DANTES

ASIAN STAR PRIZE for “Descendants of the Sun” (GMA Network, Inc.) Seoul International Drama Awards South Korea

2. ARJO ATAYDE

BEST ACTOR for “Bagman” (ABS-CBN/IWant Series) 3rd Asian Academy Creative Awards Singapore

3. CHERIE GIL, ALFRED VARGAS, ANGEL AQUINO, RONWALDO MARTIN

BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD for “Kaputol” 4th Innuendo International Film Festival Milan, Italy

4. LOVI POE

Best Actress Feature Film for “Latay (Battered Husband)”            International Film Festival Manhattan United States

5. ALLEN DIZON

Best Actor Feature Film for “Latay (Battered Husband)” International Film Festival Manhattan United States

6. ALDEN RICHARDS

ASIAN STAR PRIZE for “Hello, Love, Goodbye” Seoul International Drama Awards South Korea

7. ELIJAH CANLAS

BEST ACTOR for “Kalel, 15” 17th Asian Film Festival Rome, Italy

8. LOUISE ABUEL

BEST ACTOR for “Edward” 18th Dhaka International Film Festival Bangladesh

9. MADISON ROJAS

Jury Award Best Performance Actor for “Fish Head” International Film Festival Manhattan United States

10.  GERALDO B. JUMAWAN

Best Actor for “Nagbuwa Nga Gugma (Unfaithful Love)” Lake City International Film Festival (LCIFF) New Delhi, India     

SHORT FILM DIRECTORS

11.  JOEY PARAS

Best Director for “Igib” 2020 FilMay International Short Film Festival Kumanovo, Macedonia

12.  LUISITO LAGDAMEO IGNACIO

Best Director for “Biyaheng Madilim (A Night’s Journey)” International Film Festival Manhattan United States

DOCUMENTARIES

TV DOCUMENTARY

1. ALAB (ABLAZE) – ABS-CBN Corporation

BRONZE AWARD – DOCUMENTARY HEROES New York Festivals TV & Film Awards United States

2. BRIGADA (THE BRIGADE): AETA SQUADRON/FEMALE SPIES – GMA News TV (GMA Network, Inc.)

BRONZE AWARD – DOCUMENTARY HISTORY & SOCIETY New York Festivals TV & Film Awards United States

3. TAO PO (IS ANYBODY HOME?) – ABS-CBN Corporation

BRONZE AWARD – DOCUMENTARY HUMAN CONCERNS New York Festivals TV & Film Awards United States

4. LOCAL LEGENDS: ENVIRONMENTAL ARTIST – ABS-CBN News Channel, ABS-CBN Corporation

SILVER AWARD – DOCUMENTARY HEROES CATEGORY New York Festivals TV & Film Awards United States

5. THE ATOM ARAULLO SPECIALS: BABIES4SALE.PH – GMA Network, Inc.

SILVER AWARD – NEWS: PROGRAM BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORT New York Festivals TV & Film Awards United States

DOCUMENTARY FILMS

Short Documentary

6. ANG PAGPAKALMA SA UNOS (TO CALM THE PIG INSIDE) by Joanna Vasquez Arong

DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM AWARD

40th Hawaii International Film Festival United States

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT HONOR

2020 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival United States

BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY AWARD

15th Shorts Mexico Festival Internacional de Cortometrajes de Mexico

Full-Length Documentary

7. IN PAGLAYAG A SULU STORY by Rhadem Morados

JURY AWARD BEST DOCUMENTARY

International Film Festival Manhattan

United States

8. A THOUSAND CUTS by Ramona Diaz

GLOBAL IMPACT AWARD – DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

36th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

United States

CREATIVE AWARDS

1. 1LT BALARAM TAMAYO

2. VINCENT SOBERANO

BEST SCREENPLAY for “Circle of Bones” HorrorHaus Film Festival United States

3. CHE ESPIRITU

BEST SCREENPLAY for “Pan de Salawal” Calella Film Festival Spain

4. BENJAMIN TOLENTINOBEST EDITING for “Kalel, 15” 59th Asia-Pacific Film Festival Macau

5. VALERIE CASTILLO MARTINEZ

SPECIAL JURY AWARD – SCREENWRITING International Narrative Feature for “Death of Nintendo” 36th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival United States

ACTORS

1. DINGDONG DANTES

ASIAN STAR PRIZE for “Descendants of the Sun” (GMA Network, Inc.) Seoul International Drama Awards South Korea

2. ARJO ATAYDE

BEST ACTOR for “Bagman” (ABS-CBN/IWant Series) 3rd Asian Academy Creative Awards Singapore

3. CHERIE GIL, ALFRED VARGAS, ANGEL AQUINO, RONWALDO MARTIN

BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD for “Kaputol” 4th Innuendo International Film Festival Milan, Italy

4. LOVI POE

Best Actress Feature Film for “Latay (Battered Husband)”            International Film Festival Manhattan United States

5. ALLEN DIZON

Best Actor Feature Film for “Latay (Battered Husband)” International Film Festival Manhattan United States

6. ALDEN RICHARDS

ASIAN STAR PRIZE for “Hello, Love, Goodbye” Seoul International Drama Awards South Korea

7. ELIJAH CANLAS BEST ACTOR for “Kalel, 15” 17th Asian Film Festival Rome, Italy

8. LOUISE ABUEL

BEST ACTOR for “Edward” 18th Dhaka International Film Festival Bangladesh

9. ISABEL SANDOVAL

BEST ACTRESS for “Lingua Franca” 18th Pacific Meridian International Film Festival Russia

10.  RUBY RUIZ

BEST ACTRESS for “Iska” Harlem International Film Festival 2020 New York, United States

BEST ACTRESS for “Iska” 6th Herat International Women’s Film Festival Afghanistan

11.  CRISTINE REYES

BEST ACTRESS for “UnTrue” 40th Fantasporto – Oporto International Film Festival Portugal

DIRECTORS

1. MARIA DIANE VENTURA

BEST DIRECTION (Low Budget Category) for  “Dein Fabre” 5th Calella Film Festival Spain

2. MALLORIE ORTEGA

EMERGING FILMMAKER AWARD for “The Girl Who Left Home” 36th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival United States

3. DERICK CABRIDO

BEST DIRECTOR for “Clarita” 40th Fantasporto – Oporto International Film Festival Portugal

FEATURE FILMS

1. SUNSHINE FAMILY by Kim Tai-Sik, produced by Spring Films

BEST DRAMA

Korea UHD Awards 2020, Korean Ministry of Science and ICT South Korea

2. WRITE ABOUT LOVE by Crisanto Aquino

ABC TV AWARD (MOST ENTERTAINING FILM OF ALL ENTRIES)

Osaka Asian Film Festival 2020 Japan

3. LATAY (BATTERED HUSBAND) by Ralston Jover 

GOLD AWARD 2nd Wallachia International Film Festival Romania

JURY AWARD BEST NARRATIVE GLOBAL

International Film Festival Manhattan United States

4. PAN DE SALAWAL by Che Espiritu

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE | AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD Calella Film Festival Spain

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM

FesticineKids 22 Cartagena Colombia

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD 8th

Seoul Guro International Kids Film Festival South Korea

5. LINGUA FRANCA by Isabel Sandoval

BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE

15th Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival Israel

SPECIAL MENTION AWARD

10th Divergenti – International Festival of Trans Cinema Italy

6. JOHN DENVER TRENDING by Arden Rod Condez

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD

CRITIC’S CHOICE AWARD 26th Festival International Des Cinemas D’Aise Vesoul France

SPECIAL CITATION

1. GERRY BALASTA

POSTHUMOUS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for the filmmaker and Co-founder of International Film Festival Manhattan United States

2. LUISITO LAGDAMEO IGNACIO

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for the veteran television and film director International Film Festival Manhattan United States

A-LISTERS

1. RAFAEL MANUEL

SILVER BEAR JURY PRIZE for “Filipiñana” 70th Berlin International Film Festival Germany

2. LAV DIAZ

BEST DIRECTOR for “Lahi, Hayop (Genus Pan)” Orizzonti Section – Venice International Film Festival Italy

CINEMADVOCATES

1. PANGASINAN 4TH DISTRICT REP. CHRISTOPHER “TOFF” DE VENECIA
2. NCCA CHAIRMAN AND CCP PRESIDENT ARSENIO “NICK” LIZASO
3. LOCKDOWN CINEMA CLUB
4. INTER-GUILD ALLIANCE
5. DINGDONG DANTES
6. ANGEL LOCSIN

GABAY NG INDUSTRIYA

1. ROMY VITUG
2. GLORIA ROMERO

CAMERA OBSCURA ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AWARD

1. JUN JUBAN

2. “ASWANG” by Alyx Arumpac

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY

19th Festival Film Dokumenter Yogyakarta, Indonesia

GRAND PRIZE – BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

RIDM Montreal International Documentary Festival Quebec, Canada

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD

Thessaloniki International Film Festival Greece

GRAND PRIZE, WHITE GOOSE AWARD – Best International Feature Film

12th DMZ International Documentary Festival Goyang and Paju, South Korea

GRAND PRIX (NOUVEAUX TALENTS COMPETITION)

14th Corsica.Doc – AJACCIO International Documentary Film Festival France

BEYOND THE SCREEN AWARD

Docaviv International Documentary Film Festival Israel

PRIX DU PREMIER FILM PROFESSIONNEL

Festival Traces de Vies 2020 France

SPECIAL MENTION

Université Clermont Auvergne Student Jury Festival Traces de Vies 2020

3. TEDDY CO