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Awards: FDCP reveals Honorees, Special Awardees & Performers of 5th Film Ambassadors’ Night

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MANILA, PHILIPPINES — 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 recognitions 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. A-Listers pertain to those who bagged awards in prestigious A-List international film festivals as declared by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). 

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Rafael Manuel was awarded the Berlinale Shorts Silver Bear Jury Prize for “Filipiñana” at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival in Germany while Lav Diaz won the Orizzonti Award for Best Director for “Lahi, Hayop (Genus Pan)” at the 77th Venice International Film Festival in Italy. 

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. Dingdong Dantes and Arjo Atayde are the television awardees who made it to the FAN 2021 Actors list.

“Philippine Cinema continues to thrive amid the pandemic because Filipino filmmakers and artists did not allow the global health crisis to derail them from sharing our stories to the world. 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. Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Christopher “Toff” de Venecia, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman and Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) President Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso, Lockdown Cinema Club, Inter-Guild Alliance, Dingdong Dantes, and Angel Locsin are the FAN 2021 Cinemadvocates.

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.

The Camera Obscura Artistic Excellence Award is the highest citation awarded by the FDCP to trailblazers and legends in the industry. 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

For its 5th edition, the FAN will be held in support of the NCCA’s National Arts Month. It is going to be streamed online for free on February 28, Sunday, at 8 p.m. exclusively on the FDCP Channel. 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. A special number featuring Ice Seguerra, Juris Fernandez, Princess Velasco, Sitti, Richard Poon, Kean Cipriano, and Duncan Ramos will also take place.

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

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FDCP.ph

Twitter: www.twitter.com/FDCPH

Instagram: 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
    ChinaINDEPENDENT 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 Awards
    Hong 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

  • TERI ONOR
    Best Actor (Short Film) for “Biyaheng Madilim (A Night’s Journey)”
    International Film Festival Manhattan
    United States
  • MADISON ROJAS
    Jury Award Best Performance Actor for “Fish Head”
    International Film Festival Manhattan
    United States
  •  GERALDO B. JUMAWAN
    Best Actor for “Nagbuwa Nga Gugma (Unfaithful Love)”
    Lake City International Film Festival (LCIFF)
    New Delhi, India

SHORT FILM DIRECTORS

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

  • ANG PAGPAKALMA SA UNOS (TO CALM THE PIG INSIDE) by Joanna Vasquez Arong
    DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM AWARD
    40th Hawaii International Film Festival
    United StatesBEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT HONOR
    2020 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
    United StatesBEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY AWARD
    15th Shorts Mexico Festival Internacional de Cortometrajes de Mexico
    Mexico

Full-Length Documentary

  1. IN PAGLAYAG A SULU STORY by Rhadem Morados
    JURY AWARD BEST DOCUMENTARY
    International Film Festival Manhattan
    United States
  2. A THOUSAND CUTS by Ramona Diaz
    GLOBAL IMPACT AWARD – DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
    36th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
    United States

CREATIVE AWARDS

  • 1LT BALARAM TAMAYO
    BEST SCREENPLAY for “Kagitingan: A True Story of Valor”
    International Film Festival Manhattan
    United States
  • VINCENT SOBERANO
    BEST SCREENPLAY for “Circle of Bones”
    HorrorHaus Film Festival
    United States
  • CHE ESPIRITU
    BEST SCREENPLAY for “Pan de Salawal”
    Calella Film Festival
    Spain
  • BENJAMIN TOLENTINO
    BEST EDITING for “Kalel, 15”
    59th Asia-Pacific Film Festival
    Macau
  • VALERIE CASTILLO MARTINEZ
    SPECIAL JURY AWARD – SCREENWRITING International Narrative Feature for “Death of Nintendo”
    36th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
    United States

ACTORS

  • DINGDONG DANTES
    ASIAN STAR PRIZE for “Descendants of the Sun” (GMA Network, Inc.)
    Seoul International Drama Awards
    South Korea
  • ARJO ATAYDE
    BEST ACTOR for “Bagman” (ABS-CBN/IWant Series)
    3rd Asian Academy Creative Awards
    Singapore
  • CHERIE GIL, ALFRED VARGAS, ANGEL AQUINO, RONWALDO MARTIN
    BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD for “Kaputol”
    4th Innuendo International Film Festival
    Milan, Italy
  • LOVI POE
    Best Actress Feature Film for “Latay (Battered Husband)”
    International Film Festival Manhattan
    United States
  • ALLEN DIZON
    Best Actor Feature Film for “Latay (Battered Husband)”
    International Film Festival Manhattan
    United States
  • ALDEN RICHARDS
    ASIAN STAR PRIZE for “Hello, Love, Goodbye”
    Seoul International Drama Awards
    South Korea
  • ELIJAH CANLAS
    BEST ACTOR for “Kalel, 15”
    17th Asian Film Festival
    Rome, Italy
  • LOUISE ABUEL
    BEST ACTOR for “Edward”
    18th Dhaka International Film Festival
    Bangladesh
  • ISABEL SANDOVAL
    BEST ACTRESS for “Lingua Franca”
    18th Pacific Meridian International Film Festival
    Russia
  •  RUBY RUIZ
    BEST ACTRESS for “Iska”
    Harlem International Film Festival 2020
    New York, United StatesBEST ACTRESS for “Iska”
    6th Herat International Women’s Film Festival
    Afghanistan
  •  CRISTINE REYES
    BEST ACTRESS for “UnTrue”
    40th Fantasporto – Oporto International Film Festival
    Portugal

DIRECTORS

  • MARIA DIANE VENTURA
    BEST DIRECTION (Low Budget Category) for  “Dein Fabre”
    5th Calella Film Festival
    Spain
  • MALLORIE ORTEGA
    EMERGING FILMMAKER AWARD for “The Girl Who Left Home”
    36th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
    United States
  • 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
    RomaniaJURY 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
    SpainBEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
    FesticineKids 22 Cartagena
    ColombiaAUDIENCE 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
    IsraelSPECIAL 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

  • GERRY BALASTA
    POSTHUMOUS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for the filmmaker and Co-founder of International Film Festival Manhattan
    International Film Festival Manhattan
    United States
  • LUISITO LAGDAMEO IGNACIO
    LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for the veteran television and film director
    International Film Festival Manhattan
    United States

A-LISTERS 

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

  • JUN JUBAN 
  • “ASWANG” by Alyx Arumpac
    BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY
    19th Festival Film Dokumenter
    Yogyakarta, IndonesiaGRAND PRIZE – BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
    RIDM Montreal International Documentary Festival
    Quebec, CanadaAMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD
    Thessaloniki International Film Festival
    GreeceGRAND PRIZE, WHITE GOOSE AWARD – Best International Feature Film
    12th DMZ International Documentary Festival
    Goyang and Paju, South KoreaGRAND PRIX (NOUVEAUX TALENTS COMPETITION)
    14th Corsica.Doc – AJACCIO International Documentary Film Festival
    FranceBEYOND THE SCREEN AWARD
    Docaviv International Documentary Film Festival
    IsraelPRIX DU PREMIER FILM PROFESSIONNEL
    Festival Traces de Vies 2020
    FranceSPECIAL MENTION
    Université Clermont Auvergne Student Jury
    Festival Traces de Vies 2020
  • TEDDY CO

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