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| (Image Source: Film Development Council of the Philippines) |
For the first time in its 37 years of existence, the Film Development
Council of the Philippines (FDCP) joins the Film Academy of the Philippines
(FAP) in co-organizing the prestigious Luna Awards which is highly regarded as
the Philippine counterpart of the Academy Awards in the United States. The new
partnership between FDCP and FAP shows their commitment to work hand-in-hand in
ensuring competence and excellence in the Philippine movie industry.
On November 12, 2019, sixteen movies were recognized as nominees for
this year's Luna Awards which is set to take place on November 30, Saturday, at
the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. The
award-giving body has a distinct voting process where the nominees in different
categories were voted on and chosen by industry professionals. Leading the nominees
are "Signal Rock" by Chito Roño and "Liway" by Kip Obeanda.
"Signal Rock", a story about Intoy who looks into his family in
Biri, Samar and communicates with his sister who is overseas by going to various
unusual rock formations in an island, earned nine nominations including Best
Picture, Best Director (Chito Roño), Best Actor (Christian Bables), Best
Supporting Actor (Mon Confiado), Best Supporting Actress (Daria Ramirez), Best
Screenplay (Rodolfo Vera), Best Sound (Albert Michael Idioma and Alex Tomboc),
Best Production Design (Mark Sabas) and Best Cinematography (Neil Daza). In the
2018 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the movie based on a true story in the 1990s
won the Special Jury Prize, Critics' Choice and Best Performance by an Actor
for Bables.
On the other hand, "Liway", a story that dates back to the
Martial Law era, is nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Kip Obeanda), Best
Actress (Glaiza De Castro), Best Supporting Actor (Soliman Cruz), Best Screenplay
(Kip Obeanda and Zig Dulay), Best Production Design (Aped Santos), Best
Cinematography (Pong Ignacio), Best Musical Score (Nhick Ramiro Pacis) and Best
Editing (Chuck Gutierrez). Based on a true story, the movie revolves around a
boy named Dakip who is born inside a prison because his parents are political detainees
and lives in a world where political detainees and criminals are housed inside
a prison camp. "Liway" won three major awards in the 2018 Cinemalaya
International Film Festival including Audience Award in the Main Competition,
Special Jury Commendation and Special Jury Prize for Acting for Kenken Nuyad
who portrayed Dakip.
Other top contenders in this year's Luna Awards are Erik Matti's "Buy
Bust" with eight nominations including Best Picture, Best Director and
Best Supporting Actor (Arjo Atayde) as well as "Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral"
garnering seven nominations such as Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor (Carlo
Aquino, Epy Quizon). On the other hand, the Luna Awards Board of Governors have
selected two late directors, a veteran actress and a longtime film producer as
recipients for its Special Awards, namely: Wenn Deramas and Soxie Topacio for
the Lamberto Avellana Memorial Award (Posthumous), Best Supporting Actress nominee
Nora Villa for the Manuel De Leon Exemplary Award and Regal Films matriarch
Lily "Mother Lily" Monteverde for the Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) Lifetime
Achievement Award.
Here is the complete official list of nominees in the 37th Luna Awards.
BEST MOTION PICTURE
Liway (Exquisite Aspect Ventures, VY/AC Productions, and Cinemalaya)
Buy Bust (Viva Films and Reality Entertainment)
Signal Rock (CSR Productions)
Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral (TBA Studios and Globe Studios)
Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus (Epicmedia Productions,
CineFilipino, Unitel, and Cignal Entertainment)
BEST DIRECTOR
Chito Roño (Signal Rock)
Dwein Baltazar (Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus)
Erik Matti (Buy Bust)
Kip Oebanda (Liway)
Irene Villamor (Meet Me in St. Gallen)
BEST ACTOR
Eddie Garcia (Rainbow’s Sunset)
Christian Bables (Signal Rock)
Nicco Manalo (Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus)
Daniel Padilla (The Hows of Us)
Dingdong Dantes (Sid & Aya)
BEST ACTRESS
Angelica Panganiban (Exes Baggage)
Glaiza de Castro (Liway)
Ai Ai delas Alas (School Service)
Anne Curtis (Sid & Aya)
Agot Isidro (Changing Partners)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Arjo Atayde (Buy Bust)
Soliman Cruz (Liway)
Carlo Aquino (Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral)
Epy Quizon (Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral)
Mon Confiado (Signal Rock)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Aiko Melendez (Rainbow’s Sunset)
Daria Ramirez (Signal Rock)
Max Collins (Citizen Jake)
Nova Villa (Miss Granny)
Sunshine Dizon (Rainbow’s Sunset)
BEST SCREENPLAY
Carmi Raymundo, Gillian Ebreo, Crystal San Miguel, and Cathy
Garcia-Molina (The Hows of Us)
Rodolfo Vera (Signal Rock)
Rodolfo Vera and Jerrold Tarog (Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral)
Irene Villamor (Meet Me in St. Gallen)
Zig Dulay and Kip Oebanda (Liway)
BEST SOUND
Albert Michael Idioma and Alex Tomboc (Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral)
Albert Michael Idioma and Alex Tomboc (Signal Rock)
Whannie Dellosa and Steven Vesagas (Buy Bust)
Axel Fernandez (Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus)
Jason Conanan, Mikko Quizon, and Kat Salinas (Meet Me in St. Gallen)
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Michael Español and Roma Regala (Buy Bust)
Aped Santos (Liway)
Mark Sabas (Signal Rock)
Roy Lachica (Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral)
Maolen Fadul (Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Neil Derrick Bion (Buy Bust)
Neil Daza (Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus)
Pong Ignacio (Liway)
Neil Daza (Signal Rock)
Tey Clamor (Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi)
BEST MUSICAL SCORE
Jerrold Tarog (Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral)
Jay Halili (Buy Bust)
Emerzon Texon (Meet Me in St. Gallen)
Nhick Ramiro Pacis (Liway)
Emerzon Texon (Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi)
BEST EDITING
Jay Halili (Buy Bust)
Marya Ignacio and Noemi Paguiligan (The Hows of Us)
Maynard Pattaui and Edlyn Tallada-Abuel (Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes)
Chuck Gutierrez (Liway)
Emerzon Texon (Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi)
Aside from the announcement of winners in various categories, the Luna
Awards Night will include a special "Sine Sandaan" feature on the 100
Years of Philippine Cinema which is currently celebrating until September 11,
2020 pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 622, Series of 2018. With the
Luna Awards and joint endeavors in the foreseeable future, FDCP and FAP will
continue to promote the local cinema industry which is assuming to be
flourishing during the Centennial celebration.
