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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