Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic on the film industry in the past year—from the temporary closing of cinemas and losing P16 billion, Filipino filmmakers continued to make history on the global stage and bring pride to the country.
To honor their works and the recognition brought by them, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has named 77 honorees and special awardees for its 6th Film Ambassadors’ Night.
Established in 2017, the FDCP’s Film Ambassadors’ Night has been honoring film projects, film workers, and artists who received international citations.
In a statement, FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño said: “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 [their] talent, creativity, and passion to the world. We created this night to celebrate you,” she continued.
This year’s A-list category includes On The Job: The Missing 8 actor John Arcilla, Carlo Francisco Manatad’s film Kun Maupay Man It Panahon (Whether the Weather is Fine), and Brillante Mendoza’s Gensan Punch. The A-list category is defined by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations as those who took home awards in prestigious international film festivals.
The A-List Citation category unveiled thirteen honorees: Mendoza’s Payback (Resbak), Daniel Palacio’s The Brokers, Petersen Vargas’ How To Die Young In Manila, Jun Robles Lana’s Big Night!, Venice Atienza’s Last Days At Sea, Khavn Dela Cruz’s Love Is A Dog From Hell and Gunam-Gunam X Guni-Guni (Rumi X Phantasm), Adjani Arumpac’s Count, Arden Rod Condez’s Random People, Avid Liongoren’s Hayop Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story, Sonny Calvento’s Excuse Me Miss, Miss, Miss, Erik Matti’s On The Job: The Missing 8, and Mikhail Red’s Arisaka.
Aside from these major categories, FDCP will also bestow special awards to “some of the paragons of Philippine cinema.” The Camera Obscura Artistic Excellence Award, the highest honor given by the FDCP, will be given to Arcilla and Matti’s film On The Job: The Missing 8.
Arcilla has earned numerous awards and nominations through the years. In 2021, the actor made history as the first Southeast Asian to win the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 2021 Venice Film Festival for his performance in On The Job: The Missing 8.
FDCP will also award FAMAS award-winning actress Rosa Rosal and Jesse Ejercito the Ilaw ng Industriya and Haligi ng Industriya awards, respectively, for their outstanding cinematic contributions through the years.
The 6th Film Ambassadors’ Night is scheduled to take place on February 27 at the reopened Manila Metropolitan Theater.
Check out the full list of honorees below:
A-List John Arcilla for On The Job: The Missing 8 Whether The Weather Is Fine (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon) by Carlo Francisco Manatad Gensan Punch by Brillante Mendoza
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 by Avid Liongoren 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
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 Verzosa 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
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 by 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
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