The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Alvin I. Dacanay
Box-office hit Heneral Luna led all contenders in the 34th Luna Awards of the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) with 11 nominations, the latest addition to the long list of honors earned by the acclaimed screen biography of the iconic Philippine Revolutionary Army commander.
A list posted on the FAP website last Monday showed that Heneral Luna was nominated for picture; Jerrold Tarog for director, screenplay (shared with Henry Francia and E.A. Rocha), editing and musical scoring; John Arcilla for actor, Nonie Buencamino for supporting actor and Mylene Dizon for supporting actress; cinematography; production design; and sound.
Heneral Luna’s nominations came after the biopic clinched four trophies, including best director, at the 39th Gawad Urian in June; scored three 10th Asian Film Award nods, including best actor, in March; and was selected last September as the country’s official foreign-language film entry to the 88th Academy Awards in February.
“I’m very thankful [for] all the recognitions I’ve been receiving,” Arcilla told The Market Monitor in response to the news of his nomination. “It is an affirmation that people and organizations believe [in] what I believe in as an artist and as a citizen of this planet.”
“It is nice to know that I can also serve my country or the earth in the things that I love to do. That I can both entertain, educate and impart significant impact to the public, and I like it that way, because that’s my real intention. I just don’t want to be an actor, but it is important that my work can inspire and influence people,” he said.
Buencamino, who played lawyer Felipe Buencamino, who frequently clashes with Luna in the biopic, said he’s “pleasantly surprised” about his nomination.
“I’m happy that I’m…one of the nominees, and I’m grateful to the award-giving body. I didn’t expect [it],” he said in an interview.
Trailing behind Heneral Luna with nine nominations each—including for picture—are top 2015 QCinema International Film Festival winner Apocalypse Child, controversial crime thriller Honor Thy Father, and sports drama Kid Kulafu.
Apocalypse Child, which focuses on a surfing instructor who’s reputedly a son of famed American filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, garnered nods for helmer Mario Cornejo and performers Sid Lucero, Gwen Zamora, RK Bagatsing, Ana Abad Santos and Annicka Dolonius.
Monster Jimenez, who produced and co-wrote Apocalypse Child, expressed excitement over the fact the film’s “five major actors got their well-deserved nominations.”
“I’d like to thank [the] FAP for including us in their list. It’s a great privilege to be voted by your peers,” Jimenez said in a text message. “This news comes at a great time, as Apocalypse Child is screening in October. We’re all pumped to show the movie to everyone!”
Honor Thy Father, about a married couple facing financial ruin and violence after their involvement in a Ponzi scheme unraveled—and whose disqualification from the best picture race in last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival triggered an outcry and massive changes in that festival—earned citations for director Erik Matti, screenwriter Michiko Yamamoto, and actors John Lloyd Cruz, Meryll Soriano and Tirso Cruz III.
Kid Kulafu, Ten17 Productions’ movie about the early years of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao that it produced with top film studio Star Cinema, put Paul Soriano in the director category, Robert “Buboy” Villar in the actor lineup, and Alessandra de Rossi in the supporting actress derby.
Star Cinema made a strong showing in this year’s Luna nominations, with its romantic comedies The Breakup Playlist, Crazy Beautiful You and Para sa Hopeless Romantic (For the Hopeless Romantic); dramas Ex with Benefits and The Love Affair; and the Cinema One Originals sleeper hit it distributed, That Thing Called Tadhana, shortlisted in several categories.
Another biopic, Felix Manalo, about the founder of the Iglesia ni Cristo, also scored multiple nods, including for picture, director for Joel Lamangan, and actor for Dennis Trillo.
The FAP said the awards ceremony will be held at the Quezon City Sports Plaza on Sept. 18.
During the event, special awards will be given: the Golden Reel award to actress and Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto, the Fernando Poe Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award to director Emmanuel H. Borlaza, the Manuel de Leon Award for Exemplary Achievements to actor-director Herminio “Butch” Bautista; the Lamberto Avellana Memorial Award to the late Azucena “Nene” Vera Perez of Sampaguita Pictures; and a plaque of appreciation for actress Jaclyn Jose for winning the best-actress prize at the 69th Cannes International Film Festival in May.
Below is the complete list of nominations:
Picture: Apocalypse Child (Arkeo Films); The Breakup Playlist (Star Cinema); Crazy Beautiful You (Star Cinema); Felix Manalo (Viva Entertainment); Heneral Luna (Artikulo Uno); Honor Thy Father (Reality Entertainment); Kid Kulafu (Ten 17P/Star Cinema); The Love Affair (Star Cinema); That Thing Called Tadhana (Cinema One Originals/Star Cinema).
Director: Mario Cornejo, Apocalypse Child; Antoinette Jadaone, That Thing Called Tadhana; Joel Lamangan, Felix Manalo; Erik Matti, Honor Thy Father; Nuel Naval, The Love Affair; Paul Soriano, Kid Kulafu; Jerrold Tarog, Heneral Luna; Dan Villegas, The Breakup Playlist.
Actor: John Arcilla, Heneral Luna; John Lloyd Cruz, Honor Thy Father; JM de Guzman, That Thing Called Tadhana; Sid Lucero, Apocalypse Child; Dennis Trillo, Felix Manalo; Robert “Buboy” Villar, Kid Kulafu.
Actress: Bea Alonzo, The Love Affair; Angelica Panganiban, That Thing Called Tadhana; Meryll Soriano, Honor Thy Father; Gwen Zamora, Apocalypse Child; Dawn Zulueta, The Love Affair.
Supporting Actor: RK Bagatsing, Apocalypse Child; Bernardo Bernardo, Imbisibol; Nonie Buencamino, Heneral Luna; Tirso Cruz III, Honor Thy Father; Allen Dizon, Imbisibol; JM de Guzman, Imbisibol; Dennis Padilla, The Breakup Playlist.
Supporting Actress: Ana Abad Santos, Apocalypse Child; Mylene Dizon, Heneral Luna; Annicka Dolonius, Apocalypse Child; Rio Locsin, The Breakup Playlist; Ces Quesada, Imbisibol; Alessandra de Rossi, Kid Kulafu; Lorna Tolentino, Crazy Beautiful You.
Screenplay: Henry Francia, E.A. Rocha and Jerrold Tarog, Heneral Luna; Antoinette Jadaone, The Breakup Playlist; Antoinette Jadaone, That Thing Called Tadhana; Jancy E. Nicolas, Bianca Bernardino and Maan Dimaculangan-Fampulme, Crazy Beautiful You; Bienvenido C. Santiago, Felix Manalo; Vanessa R. Valdez, The Love Affair; Michiko Yamamoto, Honor Thy Father.
Cinematography: Ike Avellana, Apocalypse Child; Tey Clamor, Ex with Benefits; Odyssey Flores, Kid Kulafu; Pong Ignacio, Heneral Luna; Rody Lacap, Felix Manalo; Boy Yniguez, Tragic Theater.
Production Design: Christina Dy, Apocalpyse Child; Edgar Martin Littaua, Felix Manalo; Joey Luna, Kid Kulafu; Ericsson Navarro, Honor Thy Father; Benjamin Padero and Carlo Tabije, Heneral Luna.
Editing: Beng Bandong, The Love Affair; Jay Halili, Honor Thy Father; Marya Ignacio, Crazy Beautiful You; Jerrold Tarog, Heneral Luna; Benjamin Tolentino, Ex with Benefits; Benjamin Tolentino, That Thing Called Tadhana; Mark Victor, Kid Kulafu.
Musical Scoring: Robbie Factoran, Ricardo Jugo and Mark Villar, Kid Kulafu; Von de Guzman, Felix Manalo; Jesse Lucas, Crazy Beautiful You; Erwin Romulo, Honor Thy Father; Jerrold Tarog, Heneral Luna; Emerzon Texon, That Thing Called Tadhana; Emerzon Texon, Tragic Theater.
Sound: Kokoy Amante, Heneral Luna; Aurel Claro Bilbao, The Love Affair; Bebet Casas and Roy Santos, Para sa Hopeless Romantic; Albert Michael Idioma and Lamberto Casas Jr., Felix Manalo; Arnel Labayo, Crazy Beautiful You; Arnel Labayo, Ex with Benefits; Mikko Quizon, Kid Kulafu; Addis Tabong, The Breakup Playlist; Addiss Tabong, That Thing Called Tadhana; and Alex Tomboc and Albert Michael Idioma, Tragic Theater.