Jude Cartalaba, On April 28, 2012

QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Amidst the many award-giving bodies that honor excellent works in Philippine film industry, the 35th Gawad Urian in cooperation with Cinema One, the country’s number one cable channel will soon hold its awards night on June 14 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo and will be aired on June 16 via ABS-CBN.

“We are pleased to collaborate with Cinema One once again, a pioneer in digital cinema that retains the free spirit and cutting edge in today’s national cinema,” says Grace Javier-Alfonso, chair of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP), as she revealed the list of this year’s set of nominees during the press launch held at 9501 Resto, 14th Floor Bohol Chronicle Lounge of ELJ Building.

Present during the launch were: MPP member Tito Valiente, MPP president Dr. Grace Javier-Alfonso, MPP member Dr. Bien Lumbera, and MPP member Dr. Nicanor Tiongson.

Urian is known to be giving awards to films and its workers with artistic vision without any compromise.

National Artist, Prof. Bien Lumbera sees positive indications regarding the movies they are giving recognitions each year. He breaks the good news of, “The movies are allowing the Filipinos widen the appreciation of geography. The settings are no longer limited to the city and its outskirts, but the entire nation.”

Prof. Lumbera also stresses that his taste in films is no special since it’s been a long time that he has embraced the reality of films as popular form of entertainment. He is standing side by side along with the changes that are occurring.

Gawad Urian lists its nominees:

Best Sound: Albert Michael Idioma and Addiss Tabong (‘Amok’ and ‘Ang Babae sa Septic Tank’); Albert Michael Idioma (‘Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story’); Albert Michael Idioma and Alex Tomboc (‘Bisperas’); Raffy Magsaysay (‘Boundary’); and Aguila, Junel Valencia, and Mark Locsin (Liberacion).

Best Screenplay: Antoinette Jadaone (‘Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay’); Charliebebs Gohetia (The Natural Phenomenon of Madness’); John Bedia (‘Amok’); Bonifacio P. Ilagan (‘Deadline’); Paul Sta. Ana (‘Bisperas’); Rody Vera (‘Niño’); Sari Lluch Dalena and Keith Sicat (‘Ka Oryang’); Alvin Yapan (‘Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa’); and Chris Martinez (‘Ang Babae sa Septic Tank’).

Best Editing: Keith Sicat (‘Ka Oryang’); Danny Añonuevo (‘Niño’); Ike Veneracion (‘Ang Babae sa Septic Tank’); Mai Dionisio (‘Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa’); Lawrence Fajardo (‘Amok’); Chuck Gutierrez (‘Busong’); and Leo Valencia and Glenn Ituriaga (‘Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay’).

Best Music: Jerrold Tarog (‘Niño’); Waway Linsahay Saway (‘Sakay sa Hangin’); Teresa Barrozo (‘Ka Oryang’); Lawrence Fajardo (‘Amok’); Diwa de Leon (‘Busong’); Christine Muyco and Jema Pamintuan (‘Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa’).

Best Cinematography: Neil Daza and Kiri Dalena (‘Ka Oryang’); Albert Banzon (‘Liberacion’); Arvin Viola (‘Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa’); Robert Yniguez (“Bisperas’); Louie Quirino (‘Amok’); Regiben Romana (“Sakay sa Hangin’); Carlo Mendoza (‘Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story’); and Louie Quirino (‘Busong’).

Best in Production Design: Maulen Fadul (‘The Natural Phenomenon of Madness’); Rodrigo Ricio (Bisperas); Regiben Romana (‘Sakay sa Hangin’); Reji Regalado (‘Ang Babae sa Septic Tank ‘); Lawrence Fajardo (‘Amok’); Laida Lim (‘Niño’); Fritz Silorio (‘Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story’); and Rodrigo Ricio (‘Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay’).

Best Supporting Actress: Angeli Bayani (‘Ka Oryang’); Julia Clarete (‘Bisperas’); Jean Garcia (‘Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa’); Shamaine Buencamino (‘Niño’); and Solenn Husef (‘Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow’).

Best Supporting Actor: Bembol Rocco (‘Isda’); Jojit Lorenzo (‘Anatomiya ng Korupsyon’); Marvin Agustin (‘Patikul’); Mark Gil (‘Amok’); John Regala (’Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story’); Dido dela Paz (‘Amok’); Art Acuña (’Niño’); Joem Bascom (’Ka Oryang’); Jake Cuenca  ‘In The Name of Love’); Garry Lim ‘Amok”); and Ronnie Lazaro (‘Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story’).

Best Actress: Lilia Cuntapay (’Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay’); Raquel Villavicencio (‘Bisperas’); Eugene Domingo (‘Ang Babae sa Septic Tank’); Maja Salvador (‘Thelma’); Opaline Santos (‘The Natural Phenomenon of Madness’); Isabel Lopez (‘Cuchera’); Alessandra de Rossi (‘Ka Oryang’); Fides Cuyugan (‘Niño’); Cherie Pie Picache (‘Isda’); and Diana Zubiri (‘Bahay Bata’).

Best Actor: Bong Cabrera (‘Sa Ilalim ng Tulay’); Tirso Cruz III (‘Bisperas’); Paulo Avelino (‘Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa’); Alfred Vargas (‘Teoriya’); Ronnie Lazaro (‘Boundary’); Raymond Bagatsing (‘Boundary’); TJ Trinidad (‘Deadline’); Martin Escudero (‘Zombadings’); JM de Guzman (‘Ang Babae sa Septic Tank’); Kean Cipriano (‘Ang Babae sa Septic Tank’); and Jess Mendoza (‘The Natural Phenomenon of Madness’).

Best Film: The Natural Phenomenon of Madness (The Grit Project and Outpost Visual Frontier in cooperation with Noel D. Ferrer Production); Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (Cinemalaya, Martinez Rivera Films, Quantum Films and Straight Shooters Media); Busong (Solito Arts Production); Bisperas (Cinemalaya Foundation, Quantum Films and HongKong-Asia Films Financing Forum); Amok (Cinemalaya Foundation, Pelikulaw and Wild Coyote Pictures); Ka Oryang (Cinema One Originals, Kino Arts Production in association with Optima Digital); Niño (Cinemalaya Foundation in cooperation with Handurawan Films); Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (Vim Yapan/Alem Chua Production in cooperation with Big Top Media Productions, Inc., SQ Film Laboratories, Inc., Optima Digital and Far Eastern University); Boundary (Bigtop, Optima Digital, Voyage Studios and Wanderlustproject Films); and Six degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay (Cinema One Originals and Post Manila).

Best Director: Sari Lluch Dalena (‘Ka Oryang’); Lawrence Fajardo (‘Amok’); Benito Bautista (‘Boudary’); Loy Arcenas (‘Niño’); Marlon Rivera (‘Ang Babae sa Septic Tank’); Alvin Yapan (‘Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa’); Jeffrey Jeturian (‘Bisperas’); Antoinette Jadaone (‘Six degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay’); and Auraeus Solito (‘Busong’).

Most of the nominated actors, actresses, even directors as well as other production people came from theater practitioners like Eugene Domingo, JM de Guzman, Kean Cipriano, Angeli Bayani, Shamaine Buencamino, and Auraeus Solito who crossed-over to making independent films and according to Dr. Nicanor Tiongson—these artists have made great impact in the film industry because they have the ‘discipline’ and are already adjusted. He cited the film ‘Amok’ which comprised mostly theater people.


Other expected highlights

This year’s Gawad Urian promises to be another celebration of regional, multicultural, multilingual cinema that highlighted Philippine Cinema last year. This is a cutting-edge attempt to encourage and support the indie spirit. Also this year’s Natatanging Gawad Urian will be given to an artist in the film industry for his/her exemplary contribution to the country’s development of filmmaking. National Artists Fernando Poe, Jr., Gerardo de Leon, Lamberto Avellana, and Eddie Romero, Anita Linda, Rosa Rosal, Gloria Romero, Nida Blanca, Dolphy, Eddie Garcia, Pancho Magalona, Mona Lisa, and creative artists like cinematographers, editors, and scriptwriters were the previous recipients of this special award.

Last year, the Urian’s Natatanging Aktor ng Dekada Award has also been given to the paramount actors of every decade. Gina Pareño, Cherry Pie Picache and Coco Martin were honored with the Dekada award for their accomplishments in the first decade of the century. Vilma Santos, Nora Aunor, Gina Alajar and Philip Salvador took the award in the ‘80s, and Nora and Vilma again received the award in the ‘90s with Richard Gomez.

Also, this year’s venue—the CCP main theatre or Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo—is most appropriate for the prestigious and historic Gawad Urian show. The CCP was built in 1966 to promote and preserve Filipino arts and culture. The main theater is the largest performance venue inside the CCP and can accommodate up to 1,853 people. The hall was built to meet sound requirements of various types of presentations like opera and orchestra performances without further amplification.

The Gawad Urian is given annually since 1977. Its objectives are “to examine Filipino films, bolster the interest of the masses and the Philippine film industry, study and celebrate the achievement that will help define the good Filipino film, and cultivate the knowledge and skills that the film medium was designed for, which is to be a medium of communication and expression of our culture according to the standards and conditions of filmmaking in our country.”

Source: www.TheModernScribe2010.wordpress.com