The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
by Boy Villasanta
In two consecutive nights, local cinema has enjoyed appreciation from two respected award-giving bodies.
Sunday evening saw the harvests of Philippine films in their glorious distinction.
After ten (10) days of showing full-length features and short films, the 2025 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival handed out its bests of the best during its awarding ceremony at the Red Carpet Cinema of the Shangri-La Mall in Mandaluyong City.
Taripnong Cagayan Valley, Hyperfocus and WAF Studios romped away with the Best Film plum in the Full-Length Section for Noni Abao’s “Bloom Where You Are Planted” about the struggles of farmers in Cagayan Valley and the arrests of two women activists, namely Agnes Mesina and Amanda Echaris who fought for peasants’ rights.
In the Short Film Category, Anna Valerio, Carlos Ortiz, Leo Liban and Jon Galvez’s production of Carl Joseph Papa’s “The Next 24 Hours” about pains not talked about, bagged the trophy.
Sari Dalena clinched the Best Director award for “Cinemartyrs,” a foray into a young filmmaker’s vision on the forgotten heroes of the Philippine-American wars at the turn of the century.
In the Short Film Division, Elian Idioma’s “I’m Best Left Inside My Head,” a depiction of man’s guilt, memory and identity, got the nod of the jury.
The Special Jury Prizes for Full-Length and Short Feature were given to “Cinemartyrs” and Maria Estela Paiso’s exploration of the West Philippine Sea in “Kay Basta Arangkabo Yay Bagay Ibat Ha Langit (Objects Don’t Fall Randomly from the Sky),” respectively.
The Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) awards went to Renei Dimla’s “Republika ng Pipolipinas,” a tale of a woman land grabbed who created her own micronation for the Full-Length and Daniel de la Cruz’s “Hasang” about a rural resident witnessing the transformation of his grandma into a tilapia for the Short Feature.
Meanwhile, the Audience Choice Awards were garnered by Tim Rone Villanueva’s “Child No. 82,” a young man’s search for his real father, for the Full-Length, while Hannah Silvestre’s “Ascension from the Office Cubicle” about a young woman’s obsession of a young man, for the Short Film.
In the acting department, Jojit Lorenzo earned the Best Actor award for “Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan” and Mylene Dizon took home the Best Actress award while Fernando Josef, also known as Nanding Josef, clinched the Best Supporting Actor accolade, both for the same movie.
Ex-Sexbomb Dancer Rochelle Pangilinan impressed the board of judges with her acting in “Child No. 82” to merit her Best Supporting Actress award.
The Best Screenplay trophies were awarded to Villanueva’s “Child No. 82” for Full-Length and Handiong Kapuno’s “Figat” about a young girl’s creative pursuits to sustain heritage of the indigenous culture for Short Feature.
Lamberto Casas, Jr. got the Best Sound award for Ryan Machado’s “Raging,” a story of a young man who seeks justice when he was raped by one of his peers.
Teresa Barrozo won Best Music for “Cinemartyrs.”
Jeric de los Angeles brought home the Best Production Design bacon for “Padamlagan,” a sordid account on the collapse of Colgante Bridge in Naga City in time for the feast of the Virgin of Penafrancia.
Che Tagyamon and Arnex Nicolas jointly won Best Editing for “Bloom Where You Are Planted.”
Theo Lozada received the Best Cinematography for “Raging.”
On Saturday’s Gawad Urian awarding by the prestigious Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP) held at the Teresa Yunchengco Auditorium of the De La Salle University in Manila, Pulang Langgam Media Productions’ “Alipato at Muog” (a documentary drama on the forced disappearance of Filipino activist Jonas Burgos) was proclaimed Best Film.
The Urian Best Director award was jointly granted to Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay and Richard Jeroul Salvadico for their outstanding direction of “Tumandok,” a creative documentary in the life and times of the Ati tribe in the Western Visayas.
Dennis Trillo collected the Best Actor honors for his realistic portrayal of a killer imprisoned whose freedom is being opposed by the brother and uncle of his victims in Zig Dulay’s “Green Bones.”
Arisa Nakano was adjudged Best Actress for her impressive giving life to a half-Japanese sister who is reunited with her half-sibling (Gabbie Padilla) in Jaime Pacena II’s “Kono Basho.”
Akano is currently in Japan, Gabbie instead received the award on her behalf.
Kakki Teodoro bested five other nominees to be declared Best Supporting Actress for Pepe Diokno’s “Isang Himala,” a musical derivative of Ishmael Bernal’s “Himala.”
Felipe Ganancial, who died on May 13, 2025 was bestowed the posthumous Best Supporting Actor for Arlie Sweet Sumagayday and Richard Jeroul Salvadico’s “Tumandok,” a documentary on the struggles of Ati tribe in Panay Island which also won for Sumagaysay and Salvadico the Best Screenplay award.
JL Burgos brought home the Best Editing prize for “Alipato at Muog.”
Janina Mikaela Minglanilla and Michaela Docena were named winners for the Best Sound award for “The Hearing,” a story about a deaf boy who serves as a complainant and witness to a high-profile court case.
Paulo Almaden was awarded Best Music for “Tumandok.”
Marxie Maolen Fadul was recognized for the Best Production Design for “Green Bones.”
Dan Villegas won Best Cinematography for “Kono Basho.”
“Alipato at Muog” was proclaimed Best Documentary while “Bisan Abo, Wala Bitin (Even Ashes, Nothing Remains),” a doc about a little girl who witnesses the mystery of a tree to heal diseases by Maria Kydylee Torato as declared Best Short Film.
Meanwhile, Dante Rivero was conferred the Natatanging Gawad Urian, the highest award of the MPP for hua illustrious and significant contributions to Philippine cinema.