Vilma Santos wins Best Actress at 1st MIFF in LA

“She’s vindicated,” exclaimed Filipino entertainment journalist Art Tapalla as Vilma Santos was adjudged Best Actress for the film “When I Met You in Tokyo” at the awards night Friday (US time) of the very first Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) held at the Directors Guild of America Theater Complex in Los Angeles, California.

The ten official entries to the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), one of them “When I Met You in Tokyo” where Vilma also won Best Actress, were shown at the maiden edition of MIFF in LA.

The other films screened at the inaugural fest were Cineko Productions’ “Family of Two”; GMA Films’ “Firefly”; Viva Films’ “Penduko”; Quantum Films’ “(K)Ampon”; BMC Films’ “Broken Hearts Trip”; The IdeaFirst Company’s “Becky & Badette”; Mentorque Productions’ “Mallari”; Jesuits Communications’ “GomBurZa” and Star Cinema’s “Rewind.”

“Talagang napatunayan ni Vilma na siya pa rin ang pinakamahusay sa lahat ng aktres na naglaban-laban sa Amerika (She was able to prove that she’s the best who competed in America),” opined Art.

Right after she was proclaimed Best Actress, Vilma, direct from Lipa City thanked the judges of the contest, the festival, her fellow actors, creatives and JG Productions that produced her film.

“Mabuhay ang pelikulang Pilipino (Long live Philippine cinema),” exclaimed Santos who sat in a native chair surrounded by a wall and a porch built on indigenous materials.

While Vi was in the Philippines, Christopher de Leon, her leading man in the movie personally attended its showing.

“Ang balita ko, sold out ang mga tiket (I heard thet tickets were sold out),” smiled Ate (a term of endearment to an older sister by blood or affinity) Vi.

While the actress also thanked in the middle of her video clip Christopher de Leon as her associate director whom she teasingly referred to as Bru as in Bruho (male witch).

“Ako naman Bruh, Bruha (And I am a female witch),” she then burst into laughter.

Meanwhile, GMA Public Affairs’ “Firefly” won Best Picture and Jesuits Comminucations’ “GomBurZa” took home the 2nd Best Picture award.

Piolo Pascual and Dingdong Dantes tied for Best Actor for the films “Mallari” and “Rewind,” respectively.

Alessandra de Rossi got the Best Supporting Actress nod for “Firefly” while Pepe Herrera brought home the Best Supporting Actor trophy for “Rewind.”

Zig Dulay romped away with the Best Director Award.

Angeli Atienza won Best Screenplay for “Firefly” while Carlo Mendoza snagged the Best Cinematography Award for “GomBurZa.”