MANILA, PHILIPPINES — 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 at the 6th Film Ambassador’s Night on Feb. 27 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 alongside the finest ones in the world.
For the past five years of this gathering, FDCP has honored a total of 319 Film ambassadors. The list grows longer with the addition of 77 awardees this year.
“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 said.
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; A-list Winners for winning at top international film festivals with three 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 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 in the major leagues of the international film scene is a worthy cause for celebration.
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 will be telecast on the FDCP Channel at a later date.
Here is the list of this year’s Film Ambassador’s Night honorees. Watch out for FDCP’s reveal of Camera Obscura, Gabay ng Industriya, and A-List awardees, coming soon
SHORT FILMS
- Here, Here by Joanne Cesario
- The Visitor by Joey Agbayani
- Venganza by Joey Agbayani
- Harana by Marie Jamora
- My House by Adam Dumaguin
- Confession by Arjanmar Rebeta
- Miss You, George! by Mark Moneda
- Ang Lihim Ni Lea by Rico Gutierrez
- Filipiñana by Rafael Manuel
- Naiiba (Unique) by Rey Coloma
- Bukal (Wellspring) by Jeffrey Smith “Epy” Quizon
- Mga Salitang Inanod (Drifted Thoughts) by Gabriel Carmelo
- Iamannika by Dan Versoza
- Mito Ng Maynila (Myth Of Manila) by Janus Victoria
- Ora Miss Mo by Khent Cacho
- Ana Bikhayr (Okay Lang Ako) by Hannah Ragudos
- Bakpak by Carlos Dala
- Silang Mga Naligaw Sa Limot by Vahn Pascual
- How To Die Young In Manila by Petersen Vargas
- Siil by Will Fredo
- An Sadit Na Planeta by Arjanmar Rebeta
SHORT FILM ACTORS
- Jek Jumawan for Pas-An (Carried Burdens)
- Frencheska Farr for Harana
- Jeyrick Sigmaton for Dayas
- Janice De Belen for Wounded Blood
DOCUMENTARIES
TV DOCUMENTARY
- Fedelina: A Stolen Life by ABS-CBN’s DocuCentral
- Miguel’s Wounds (Mga Sugat Ni Miguel) by GMA-7’s Reporter’s Notebook
- 24 Oras: Special Coverage Of Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses) In Luzon – GMA Network
SHORT DOCUMENTARY
- To Calm The Pig Inside by Joanna Vasquez Arong
- Maliit Na Hakbang by Richard Legaspi
- Bullet-Laced Dreams by Kristoffer Brugada And Cha Escala
FULL-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY
- A Thousand Cuts by Ramona Diaz
- Sa Layag Ng Bangkang Paurong (The Boats That Sail Backward) by Mark Giddel Liwanag
- Aswang By Alyx Ayn Arumpac
CREATIVE AWARDS
- Eric Ramos for In The Name Of The Mother
- Arlyn Dela Cruz Bernal for Ecq Diary (Bawal Lumabas)
ACTORS
- Rogelio Balagtas for Islands
- Kit Thompson for Belle Douleur
- Elijah Canlas for Kalel,15
- Snooky Serna for In The Name Of The Mother
- Julio Cesar Sabenorio for Guerrero Dos, Tuloy Ang Laban
- Janine Gutierrez for Dito At Doon (Here And There)
- Cedrick Juan, Anna Luna and Noel Comia Jr for Gitarista (Guitarist)
DIRECTORS
- Carlo Ortega Cuevas for Guerrero Dos, Tuloy Ang Laban
- Carlo Francisco Manatad for Whether The Weather Is Fine (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)
- Maria Diane Ventura for Your Color (Deine Farbe)
- Mcarthur Cruz Alejandre
FEATURE FILMS
- Tagpuan (Crossroads) by Mcarthur Cruz Alejandre
- Belle Douleur by Josabeth Alonso
- In The Name Of The Mother by Joel Lamangan
- Balangiga: Howling Wilderness by Khavn De La Cruz
- Fan Girl by Antoinette Jadaone
- Latay (Battered Husband) by Ralston Jover
- Gitarista (Guitarist) by Jason Orfalas
- Midnight In A Perfect World by Dodo Dayao
- Metamorphosis By J.E. Tiglao
SPECIAL CITATION
- Vice Ganda – Everybody, Sing! – ABS-CBN
A-LIST CITATION
- Count by Adjani Arumpac
- Random People by Arden Rod Condez
- Gunam-Gunam X Guni-Guni (Rumi X Phantasm) by Khavn De La Cruz
- Hayop Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story produced by Rocketsheep
- Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss by Sonny Calvento
- On The Job: The Missing 8 by Erik Matti
- Arisaka by Mikhail Red
- Payback (Resbak) by Brillante Mendoza
- The Brokers by Daniel Palacio
- How To Die Young In Manila by Petersen Vargas
- Big Night! by Jun Robles Lana
- Last Days At Sea by Venice Atienza
- Love Is A Dog From Hell by Khavn Dela Cruz