Porno, Adolfo Alix Jr.’s triptych film of individuals linked through pornography, wins big at the Young Critics Circle’s 24th Annual Citations, bagging five of the six main awards, including Best Film and Best Performance for Carlo Aquino who tied with Jhong Hilario for Badil.
Porno also took the prizes for Best Screenplay and Best Sound and Aural Orchestration, and tied with Frasco Mortiz’s Pagpag for Best Editing.
Mel Chionglo’s Lauriana is named Best Cinematography and Visual Design.
Porno was one of the entries to the 2013 Cinemalaya Film Festival but, due to its mature content, was only exhibited in the Cultural Center of the Philippines, unlike the rest of the entries that were screened in select commercial theaters.
Alix has now won three Best Film awards from YCC, previously winning in 2009 for Adela and in 2012 for Haruo. He has also previously won for his production design in Kalayaan (2012).
Both Aquino and Hilario have been previously nominated for Best Performance by the academe-based group: Aquino for Minsan May Isang Puso (1999) and Baler (2008), and Hilario for Muro-Ami (1999).
Having previously narrowed down the year’s cinematic output to a long list of 22 films, the group last night further reduced it to a shortlist of 13, and, after more than six hours of intense deliberations, arrived at record-number nominations in most categories: Film (8), Performance (15), Screenplay (8), and Cinematography and Visual Design (11). The critics group does not confer any nomination to a film that does not qualify for the shortlist.
To encourage the growth of emerging filmmakers, YCC decided to introduce a new special category – Best First Features, to be given to the three most outstanding feature films of debuting filmmakers. This year, the recipients are Angustia (Kristian Sendon Cordero), Puti (Mike Alcazaren), and Ang Turkey Man Ay Pabo Rin (Randolph Longjas).
The awards ceremony is set on the third week of March, with the specific date and venue to be announced soon.
Below is the list of nominees for all categories:
FILM
Winner: Porno, directed by Adolfo Alix Jr. (Cinemalaya Foundation, Phoenix Features, Deus Lux Mea Films, Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum, CMB Film Services, Inc.; Arleen Cuevas, producer)
Nominees:
Mga Anino ng Kahapon, directed by Alvin Yapan (VYAC Productions; Alemberg Ang, producer)
Babagwa, directed by Jason Paul Laxamana (Cinemalaya Foundation, Quantum Films, Kamaru Productions; Josabeth Alonso, executive producer; Ferdinand Lapuz, producer; Chad Angelic Cabigon, associate producer)
Badil, directed by Chito Roño (Film Development Council of the Philippines; Rafaela May Ocampo, executive producer; Han Salazar, producer)
Dukit, directed by Armando Lao (Centerstage Productions, Betis Galleria; Armando Lao, producer; Brillante Mendoza and Florentina Canasa Layug, executive producers; Sonny Dobles and City Heights Hotel, associate producers)
Ang Kwento ni Mabuti, directed by Mes de Guzman (CineFilipino, PLDT-Smart Foundation, Studio 5, Unitel Entertainment, Cinelarga, SampayBakod Productions; Rhea Operaña de Guzman, producer)
Pagpag, directed by Frasco Santos Mortiz (Star Cinema, Regal Films; Charo Santos-Concio, Malou Santos, Lily Monteverde, and Roselle Monteverde, executive producers; Enrico Santos and Marizel Samson-Martinez, supervising producers)
Quick Change, directed by Eduardo Roy Jr. (Cinemalaya Foundation, Found Films; Almond Derla, executive producer; Ferdinand Lapuz, producer)
PERFORMANCE
Winners: Carlo Aquino, Porno and Jhong Hilario, Badil
Nominees:
Angel Aquino, Porno
Nora Aunor, Ang Kwento ni Mabuti
Adrian Cabido, Lauriana
Carlo Cruz, Mga Anino ng Kahapon
Allen Dizon, Lauriana
Ensemble cast of Porno
Cherie Gil, Sonata
Dick Israel, Badil
Alex Vincent Medina, Babagwa
Daniel Padilla, Pagpag
Joey Paras, Babagwa
Sue Prado, Ang Kwento ni Mabuti
TJ Trinidad, Mga Anino ng Kahapon
SCREENPLAY
Winner: Porno, Ralston Jover
Nominees:
Mga Anino ng Kahapon, Alvin Yapan
Babagwa, Jason Paul Laxamana
Badil, Rodolfo Vera
Debosyon, Alvin Yapan
Dukit, Armando Lao and Mary Honeylyn Joy Alipio
Ang Kwento ni Mabuti, Mes de Guzman
Quick Change, Eduardo Roy Jr.
EDITING
Winners: Pagpag, Jerrold Tarog and Porno, Aleks Castañeda
Nominees:
Badil, Carlo Francisco Manatad
Dukit, Diego Marx Dobles
CINEMATOGRAPHY AND VISUAL DESIGN
Winner: Lauriana, Nap Jamir (cinematography) and Edgar Martin Littaua (production design)
Nominees:
Mga Anino ng Kahapon, Dexter dela Peña and Jan Tristan Pandy (cinematography), Whammy Alcazaren (production design), Frances Grace Mortel and Rita Vargas (art direction), and Phyllis Grae Grande (set decoration)
Badil, Neil Daza (cinematography), Jayvee Taduran (production design), and Donald Camon (art direction)
Debosyon, Dexter dela Peña (cinematography), Dennis Corteza and Paolo Rey Mendoza Piaña (production design), Roy Dominguiano and Pat Noveno (art direction), and Omar Aguilar (visual effects)
Dukit, Triztan Garcia, Bruno Tiotuico, Jeffrey Icawat, and Diego Dobles (cinematography), Leo Abaya and Olga Marquez (production design)
The Guerilla Is a Poet, Kiri Dalena (cinematography) and Sari Dalena (production design)
Ang Kwento ni Mabuti, Albert Banzon (cinematography), Cesar Hernando and Mes de Guzman (production design)
Pagpag, David Diaz-Abaya (cinematography), Luis Custodio IV (production design), and Daren Francis Raña (visual effects)
Porno, Albert Banzon (cinematography), Adolfo Alix Jr. (production design), and Bobet Lopez (art direction)
Quick Change, Dan Villegas (cinematography) and Harley Alcasid (production design)
Sonata, Mark Gary (cinematography), Emilio Montelibano Jr. (production design), and Richard Francia (visual effects)
SOUND AND AURAL ORCHESTRATION
Winner: Porno, Albert Michael Idioma (sound design) and Ari Trofeo (sound)
Nominees:
Babagwa, Lucien Letaba and Joseph Lansang (music) and Addiss Tabong (sound design)
Badil, Carmina Cuya (music) and Addiss Tabong (sound design)
Debosyon, Teresa Barrozo and Jireh Pasano (music), Ray Andrew San Miguel and Andrew Millalos (sound design)
Dukit, Armando Lao (music and sound design)
Pagpag, Francis Concio (music) and Arnel Labayo (sound design)
FIRST FEATURE
Winners: Angustia (Kristian Sendon Cordero), Puti (Mike Alcazaren), and Ang Turkey Man Ay Pabo Rin (Randolph Longjas)
Aside from the 12 films nominated in the main categories, one other film, Arnel Mardoquio’s Riddles of My Homecoming, is included in the shortlist.
The YCC members who took part in the selection process and in the deliberations are Skilty Labastilla (Chair), Aristotle Atienza, Patrick Flores, Tessa Maria Guazon, Lisa Ito, J. Pilapil Jacobo, Nonoy Lauzon, JPaul Manzanilla, Jema Pamintuan, and Jaime Oscar Salazar.
Young Critics Circle Film Desk 
rose odulio
08 February 2014 at 07:23
nako, ycc! you do it every year!!! angustia?! really? i understand the need to champion the obscure, but if a film’s source of obscurity is the exploitation of bicolandia exotica, women and marginal identities, then shouldn’t you quarantine the film and make sure it doesn’t spread its disease of bad direction, pretentious and instagram-ish visuals, masturbatory notions of cinema and the overall failure of an amateur concept?
MJ
08 February 2014 at 16:07
Matagal na kayong walang credebility
Ka Dencio
11 February 2014 at 01:09
Ah hindi ba sila credeble? LOL. Aray koh, para akong nakainom ng pampatulog nito. hahahaha
gerald king
09 February 2014 at 01:34
Porno, in my opinion, is one of the most pretentious films I’ve seen. It got lost in its attempt to be different. Bad. Simply, bad.
missphilippines@gmail.com
09 February 2014 at 13:46
How about explaining your point properly and not thinking suddenly attacking a piece that was deliberated and went under a rigorous process of critique? Stop acting as if we owe this ugly opinion from you.
YCCrap
12 February 2014 at 07:59
nagpapaka-URIAN lang naman ang mga bagitong YCC NA NORANIANS…
pwede ba silang maglabas ng kanilang deliberation kung ano nakita nila sa PAGPAG at INAY noong 1993?
jluvra
09 February 2014 at 06:20
Vilma Santos nanalong Best Actress for “Ekstra” sa Cinemalaya, Gawad Tanglaw at Dhaka International Film Festival di man lang nominated sa Best Actress category at ang idolo nilang si Nora Aunor isa sa nominee nila sa best actress na tinalo ng isang baguhan na si Terri Malvar.. Come on ! Obvious na obvious ang pagka bias. Nagbigay pa kayo ng award. Maglokohan na lang kayo.
Ka Dencio
10 February 2014 at 15:57
Nakoh teh, eh waley naman tlg sa acting yang batang yan. di ko tlg ma-reach kung pano nanalo yan over the superstar. ayan, ni hindi nga napansin ng ycc.
YCCrap....
11 February 2014 at 11:51
inay, mas mahusay talaga ung bata kesa kay Nora….kasi walang ginawa si nora sa mabuti kundi kausapin ang aso at takbo, lakad at mag emote sa kawalan…parang ewan lang
floro
26 August 2014 at 17:53
i exactly have the same thing to say jluvra! never has this pretentious YCC the credibility
Diana Lopez
09 February 2014 at 10:25
Ano ba ang YCC? Young Critics Cuno???? Matatanda kayo di pa marunong kung ano ang good acting . Nanalo na si ate vi ng tatlong best actress both local at international last year at this year. Puro pa magaganda ang reviews nito kumpara sa kwento ni butete ni adik tinalo man lng ng isang di kilalang bata. Tapos di man lng na nominate anf ekstra. Mga sira yata ang utak nyo. Wala kayong credibility pinairal ang pag ka fan mentality. Tunay na mga Noranian ang grupo nyo. Di nyo matanggap na dapat si ate vi ang pinaka magaling na actress ngayong taon na to via ekstra.
missphilippines@gmail.com
09 February 2014 at 13:56
Vilma Santos, really now? She has nothing but her voice screeching, shrill, and all white noise. And by the way, aren’t you also pursuing your fan mentality here as you defends the bad acting of your idol and insist that the garbage ekstra is good? Vilma’s acting is as bad as her political leadership in Batangas.
missphilippines@gmail.com
09 February 2014 at 13:57
defend*
iluvdimsum
09 February 2014 at 14:46
voice screeching: at least may boses di tulad ng iba dyan nasira ang boses at hirap na mag salita at di na makakanta na naging daan sa pagsikat niya noon. Panay indie na lang ang ginagawa at pinagtitiyagaan ang maliit na TF, from rag to riches and back to rag. Nakakaawa naman!
Ka Dencio
09 February 2014 at 14:52
Ikaw mismo, fan mentality din meron. LOL
ben teodoro
09 February 2014 at 11:27
Obvious naman na maka-Nora ang grupo ng YCC na kritiko kuno sa pagpili ng The BEST.Nakakasuka naman ang choices ninyo para sa mga nominadong aktor/aktres sa taong nagdaan.Inisnab ang Vilma Santos sa kanyang makatotohanang pagganap.Tinalo pa ng isang ham actor na si Daniel Padilla ang Vilma Santos.Dapat sa inyo,sunugin ng patiwarik para matauhan.
missphilippines@gmail.com
09 February 2014 at 13:41
darling, your vilma santos is already over. Her acting is as bad as her politics and governance in Batangas. By the way, that woman should even be ousted!
Ka Dencio
09 February 2014 at 14:53
hahahahaha. KORAK!
karalicious
09 February 2014 at 11:38
at hindi man lang ninyo biniyayaan ng acknowledgements ang napakagaling na performance ni nikki gil!
Ka Dencio
09 February 2014 at 14:54
napakagaling? mala-ate vi umarte yan. hysterical!
Mama Monchang
09 February 2014 at 11:57
The Y in YCC stands for young. Young pa nga ba ang pananaw ng grupo na ito? This is another example of cheap award giving bodies. Puro fan mentality ang pinaiiral. Pwede ba stop giving awards kung puro basura lang naman ang mga ito. Nakakahiya kayo. Magsipag ayos nga kayo at ng hindi kayo napupulaan.
Ka Dencio
09 February 2014 at 14:54
let me spell BITTER for you. lol
missphilippines@gmail.com
09 February 2014 at 15:31
Mahusay, Ka Dencio!
Mama Monchang
09 February 2014 at 11:59
YCC stands for Your Credibility is Crap.
Ka Dencio
11 February 2014 at 01:11
No. YCC stands for “Your Contender did not make the Cut” hahahaha. Right, mama monchang?
Mike
09 February 2014 at 16:28
Bitter … No sana naisip ng YCC with 3 in a row DHAKA gawad Tanglaw cinemalaya tapos nomination ni Vlma Santos wala konting isip man Lang para nmn mas mataas pa ang YCC sa DHAKA sana nmn konting credibility man LNG Hindi man nanalo but where’s te nomination lokohan ba Ito
yccfilmdesk
09 February 2014 at 17:12
YCC rules state that members cannot confer any nomination to a film that is not included in the shortlist. Even if some members felt that Vilma Santos delivered a noteworthy performance, they could not nominate her because “Ekstra” did not make it to the shortlist.
YCCrap....
10 February 2014 at 11:33
ok po…Ang Pagpag..paano napasama sa short list at best film? ang Ekstra ay isa sa mga mahuhusay na pelikula last year ay di nakasama? mas ok pa ang Pagpag???
mas pinili ba ninyong hindi makasama ang Ekstra para sa ganoon ay hindi talaga makasama sa nominasyon si Vilma Santos? Huwag na po tayong magmaang-maangan pa, kahit noon pa man, ay Noranians na ang mga YCC…parang mga taga NCCA gayun din…
Ka Dencio
10 February 2014 at 16:00
napaka bakya naman kasi ng ekstra noh. para ka lang nanonood ng teleserye ni direk wendy ramas. hahahaha. ayan, at di pala qualified for best picture.
missphilippines@gmail.com
09 February 2014 at 18:25
could you give me clear evidences that DHAKA gawad Tanglaw is much prestigious than YCC? Since when that argument qualifies as valid? Maybe your credibility in making an argument is questionable at the same time.
Ka Dencio
11 February 2014 at 01:12
hahahaha. only in vilmanians’ dreams!
putrizk
09 February 2014 at 19:45
iba iba naman ng opinyon at panlasa ang mga award giving bodies eh kaya wala dapat bitter…
jeffrey burgos
10 February 2014 at 06:11
YCCs are Noranian Fanatics!So,now Daniel fans na rin sila.Di dapat seryosohin ang mga Gurong yan na pilit maging elitista.Gumaganti lang sila sa ginawa ng FAP kay orang sa Luna Awards.Kanya-kanyang grupo lang yan.Wag pansinin ang mga inggitera.Vilma will win other awards.
YCCrap....
10 February 2014 at 11:28
tama, nakakapagtaka na makapasok sa short list at best film ang Pagpag samantalang noong 2013 ay hindi nila pinansin ang The Healing ni ate vi…
Ka Dencio
10 February 2014 at 16:00
tumigil ka, bakla!
YCCrap
12 February 2014 at 07:56
the healing patok sa takilya…thy womb….half-day lang tinanggal na sa mga sinehan
hahahahha 🙂 maiingay na noranians ayaw naman panoorin ang movie ng idolo nila…
buti pa ako, pinanood ko ang the flor contemplacion story, nagustuhan ko naman
YCCrap....
10 February 2014 at 07:41
matagal ng noranians ang mga taga YCC, obvious naman, hindi kasama sa shortlist ang Ekstra pero mas napili pa nila ang Pagpag, napanood ko ang pagpag, pero para mapasama ito sa best film? kaduda-duda…at basta may Nora Aunor film “Mabuti” , tiyak na pasok at kahit hindi ganoon kaganda ay malamang pumasok, tignan mo na lamang ang pelikulang Inay ni Nora Aunor, ni hindi nga ito pinansin sa halos lahat ng award giving bodies, pero nagawang maipanalo si Nora…sa pelikulang Inay…inay ko po noong 1993 over Dolzura na hinakot ni ATe Vi ang lahat ng best actress award. At para di obvious, ka-tie si Aga Muchlach sa Hindi Kita Malilimutan kaya hayaan na natin ang mga mga taga-YCC…andun talaga ang fan mentality, sana nga lang maging fair sila…bagamat isa akong Vilmanian, nakaka-appreciate ako ng nora aunor movie tulad ng The Flor Contemplacion Story…at tama lang na manalo si Ate Guy sa movie na iyon, pero ang manalo sya sa INAY over DOLZURA..isang malaking kaduda-duda….
ang argumento, dahil sa hindi nakapasok sa shortlist ang Ekstra ay hindi pwedeng ma-nominate si Ate Vi….paano nga makakapasok sa short list kung pulos NORANIANS ang mga taga YCC…
may maisasagot kaya ang mga guro ko dito na mga taga UP na miyembro ng YCC?
Ka Dencio
10 February 2014 at 16:02
teh, balikan mo ang inay at makikita mong mahusay si ate guy don noh. eh ang dolzura, kahit sina nikki gil o heart evangelista, kayang kaya ang role na yan. obviously, taka ako kung bat grandslam dyan si ate vi.
YCCrap....
10 February 2014 at 18:30
napakapangit ng INAY, inisnab nga ng urian, fap, star awards, etc ang INAY KO PO, tanging YCC lang ang nagpumilit na ipasok sa best film at ipanalo si Ate guy kasi nga NORANIANS ang mga taga YCC..ginawa ang YCC para madagdagan ang awards ni ate guy…hahahah 🙂
tanong mo pa sa mga hurado na mga guro ng UP at Ateneo
YCCrap....
10 February 2014 at 18:45
1993 Gawad Urian Best Actress – Dolzura Cortez Story
1993 FAP Best Actress – Dolzura Cortez Story
1993 PMPC – Star for Movies Best Actress – Dolzura Cortez Story
1993 Movie Magazine Best Actress – Dolzura Cortez Story
1993 Manila Film Festival Best Actress – Dolzura Cortez Story
1993 Intrigue Peoples Choice Best Actress – Dolzura Cortez Story
1993 Fame Peoples Choice Best Actress – Dolzura Cortez Story
1993 FAMAS Circle of Excellence – Dolzura Cortez Story
1993 YCC Best Actress – Nora Aunor for INAYYYYYYYYYYYYY ko po….
vindicated si ATE VI, si nora pinanalo lang ng YCC
Ka Dencio
11 February 2014 at 01:15
oo naman. minaliit nila ang Inay dahil artemio marquez ang direktor. YCC lang ang sumeryoso sa pelikula. VIOLA! it’s a small gem of a movie, with a huge diamond performance by the Superstar. gets mo? at wag akong paandaran ng Urian ng time na yan dahil yan yung time na dominated ni Miss Butch ang Urian dahil siya ang naglalakad sa mga networks at advertisers para mai-telecast ang awarding nila noh. hahahhaha. sorry dahlin’
YCCrap....
11 February 2014 at 10:44
basura ang pelikulang INAY period pero kahit basura, sineryoso ng YCC kasi nga NORANIANS nga mga taga YCC, ask mo pa ung mga guro ng UP at Ateneo…alam na alam nila kung paano nila naipanalo si Nora sa Inayyyyyyyyyyyy ko po…tska tignan mo, vindicated si ate vi, lahat ng award giving bodies, nanalo siya
missphilippines@gmail.com
11 February 2014 at 05:49
Since when Vilma unlearned that shouting, screaming, endless histrionics and all forms of scratching her throat would never qualify as an example of good acting? Ate, I think it is time that Vilmanians should realize that the fight is over and Nora takes everything home.
YCCrap....
11 February 2014 at 10:45
pulos mata lang naman si NORA, di pa nya pwedeng pagalawin ang ibang parte ng katawan nya? hahahaha,…laging mapungay
cheng
12 February 2014 at 13:46
Pagpag was one of the shittiest films I’ve seen last year. Pulos pag papacute lang ang ginawa ng dalawang lead, gasgas at predictable ang storya, corny ang script. Kasing level niya ang Diplomat Hotel in terms of awfulness. Para lang din siyang isang mahabang commercial para sa KakaoTalk (na every 15 mins ata ay may appearance sa screen). Baka sponsored din ng KakaoTalk ang YCC? Or baka nababaklaan lang kay Daniel Padilla etong YCC member na ‘to na nagmoninate sa Pagpag?