ShareThisPASIG CITY — “One More Try” was the surprise Best Picture winner in the 38th Metro Manila Film Festival for 2012 even as it romped away with six awards at the Awards Night or Gabi ng Parangal last Thursday at the Meralco Theater in Pasig City.
NORA AUNOR
Prior to the awards night, the bio-pic on President Emilio Aguinaldo, “El Presidente,” which starred Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito, was bruited about as winner because of its historical and cultural value but it ended up only as the second Best Picture.
The best actress award went to Nora Aunor for her portrayal in “Thy Womb” and the best actor award was won by Dingdong Dantes in “One More Try.”
The historical drama “El Presidente” was the most awarded film with eight including the runner-up 2nd Best Picture as the country’s brightest stars gathered last week to witness the annual recognition two days after the film festival officially opened in various theaters nationwide.
The results were immediately criticized by award-winning director Brillante Mendoza and others who expressed surprise why the movie “Thy Womb” was not considered for the Best Picture Award, which was won by “One More Try,” “El Presidente” and “Sisterkas.”
Aside from Aunor’s Best Actress trophy, “Thy Womb” also won awards for Best Director (Brillante Mendoza), Best Production Design (Brillante Mendoza), Best Original Story (Henry Burgos), Gender Sensitivity Award, and the Gatpuno Villegas Award.
Mendoza said that with those awards, it would have followed that “Thy Womb” should have been declared the Best Picture in the festival.
“We were thinking that we will get the Best Picture award because it follows when you have these major awards in any festival or in any award-giving body, it follows that you will get the Best Picture. So we were quite surprised,” Mendoza said during an interview with ANC as reported by ABS-CBN.com.
Despite the results on the Best Picture Award, Mendoza said he was happy that “Thy Womb” was part of the festival. ”We are happy that we are part of this festival and that we are hoping that we will be part of it until the very end.
Despite the loss, the director said he is “happy with what we got,” he told ANC
Mendoza appealed to Filipino audiences to support “Thy Womb”, saying that theaters are planning to pull out the movie because “[there is] no audience.”
After initially failing to earn a slot in the MMFF, “Thy Womb” went on to reap recognition from international award-giving bodies, including the Toronto International Film Festival and its counterpart in Venice, Italy.
Aunor also appealed to moviegoers to patronize “Thy Womb.”
Actress Angel Locsin, who was a serious contender for the Best Actress award for her role in “One More Try,” congratulated Ms. Aunor.
Locsin told ABS-CBN she has no hard feelings despite failing to win the Best Actress award.
On Twitter, Locsin congratulated veteran actress Nora Aunor for bringing home the award for her internationally acclaimed film “Thy Womb”.
“Sa tensyon ko, naiwan ko tuloy tong cell ko, hehe :p Congratulations po Ate Guy 🙂 ikaw pa rin :)” she said, referring to Aunor, who is dubbed as the country’s “Superstar”.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News on Wednesday during the special screening of “One More Try”, Locsin said she was hoping to be named Best Actress in this year’s MMFF due to her highly acclaimed performance in the movie which won the Best Picture award eventually.
The complete list of winners in the 38th Metro Manila Film Festival follows:
Youth Choice Award: “El Presidente”
Best Festival Float: “El Presidente”
Best Sound: “El Presidente”
Best Musical Score: “El Presidente”
Best Theme Song: “El Presidente”
Best Make Up: “El Presidente”
Best Child Performer: Miguel Vergara for “One More Try”
Full Length New Wave Best Actor: Allan Paule for “Dayak”
Full length new wave Best Actress: Liza Dinno for “In Nomine Matris”
New Wave Best Picture: “The Grave Bandits”
New Wave Special Jury Prize: “Ad Ignoratiam”
New Wave Best Director: Tyrone Acierto for “The Grave Bandits”
Best Visual Effects: “Shake Rattle and Roll 14: The Invasion”
Best Production Design: “Thy Womb”
Best Editing: Vito Cahilig for “One More Try”
Best Cinematographer: Odyssey Flores for “Thy Womb”
Most Gender Sensitive Award (Mainstream): “Thy Womb”
FPJ Memorial Award of Excellence: “One More Try”
Best Supporting Actor: Cesar Montano for “El Presidente”
Best Supporting Actress: Wilma Doesnt for “Sisterakas”
Best Original Story: Henry Burgos for “Thy Womb”
Best Screenplay: “One More Try”
Best Director: Brillante Mendoza for “Thy Womb”
Gatpuno Villegas Cultural Award: “Thy Womb”
3RD Best Picture: “Sisterakas”
2ND Best Picture: “El Presidente”
Best Picture: “One More Try”
Best Actor: Dingdong Dantes for “One More Try”
Best Actress: Nora Aunor for “Thy Womb”
SPECIAL AWARDS:
Male Star of the Night: Former President Joseph Estrada
Female Star of the Night: Nora Aunor
SMDC Five Star Male Celebrity of the Night: Zanjoe Marudo
SMDC Five Star Female Celebrity of the Night: Bianca King.