The Film Desk of the Young Critics Circle cites Sheron Dayoc’s Women of the Weeping River, about a Tausug family caught in a bitter war with a rival clan, as the most distinguished film of 2016.
The film’s lead actor, Laila Putli P. Ulao, bested 14 other nominees to bag the Best Performance award, which the critics group bestows to the year’s most outstanding leading or supporting actor/s regardless of gender. The film also bagged Best Editing for Carlo Francisco Manatad.
Ralston Jover copped his fourth YCC Best Screenplay award for Mrs., directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr. Jover is one win away from the YCC record for most Best Screenplay wins, held by Jose Javier Reyes.
Another film from Mindanao, Baboy Halas, was cited for Best Cinematography and Visual Design, for the work of Raphael Meting and Mark Limbaga (cinematography) and Joel Geolamen (production design).
The sound and musical score of Ang Tulay ng San Sebastian by Hiroko Nagai (original score) and Jess Carlos (sound engineer) was cited for Best Sound and Aural Orchestration.
Two films were cited as Best First Features: Malinak Ya Labi (Jose Abdel Langit) and 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten (Petersen Vargas).
It is worth noting that this year’s winners are products of several local film festivals. Women of the Weeping River and Baboy Halas are from QCinema, Mrs. is from Sinag Maynila, Ang Tulay ng San Sebastian is from CineFilipino, while both Malinak Ya Labi and 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten are products of Cinema One Originals.
The Film Desk considered 128 movies released in Philippine cinemas in 2016 and narrowed the field to a long list of 17 films, and a further shortlist of nine. All nine shortlisted films received nominations.
The awarding ceremony is set on 27 April 2017, 3 pm at the Jorge B. Vargas Museum, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City.
Below is the list of winners and nominees:
BEST FILM
Winner: Women of the Weeping River, directed by Sheron Dayoc (Fernando M. Ortigas and E. A. Rocha, executive producers; Vincent Nebrida, Karim Aitouna, Thomas Micoulet, co-producers; Sheron Dayoc, producer)
Nominees:
Baboy Halas, directed by Bagane Fiola (Angely Chi, Aleli S. Billena-Rodriguez, Bebe Go, Beulah Lawanin Fiola-Laranjo, Ching Amor, Debbie Karol Butay, Glorypearl Dy, Kazami Joanne Amano, Lou Raphael Cañedo, Jay Rosas, McRobert Nacario, Ralph Elusfa, Pawlo Pascual, Rhon delos Santos, Rolyn Pregunta, Rudolph Ian Alama, Socorro Fiola, Yam Palma, producers)
Ma’ Rosa, directed by Brillante Ma Mendoza (Brillante Ma Mendoza, executive producer; Larry Castillo, producer)
Malinak Ya Labi, directed by Jose Abdel Langit (Ronald Arguelles, executive producer; Dennis Evangelista and Ferdinand Lapuz, producers)
Mrs., directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr. (Brillante Ma Mendoza and Wilson Tieng, executive producers; Adolfo Alix, Jr. and Ma. Lourdes Gopez, producers)
BEST PERFORMANCE
Winner: Laila Putli P. Ulao, Women of the Weeping River
Nominees:
Nora Aunor, Tuos
Ai-Ai de las Alas, Area
Barbie Forteza, Tuos
Luz Fernandez, Malinak Ya Labi
Jaclyn Jose, Ma’ Rosa
Jaclyn Jose, Patay Na Si Hesus
Elizabeth Oropesa, Mrs.
Daria Ramirez, Mrs.
Duo performance (Nora Aunor and Barbie Forteza), Tuos
Duo performance (Joem Bascon and Sandino Martin), Ang Tulay ng San Sebastian
Ensemble performance (Ai-Ai de las Alas, Allen Dizon, Sue Prado, Sarah Pagcaliwagan, Ireen Cervantes, Tabs Sumulong, Sancho de las Alas, Francisco Guinto, Cecile Yumul, Bambalito Lacap, Eurocina Peña, Rein Gutierrez, Vicky Vega-Cabigting), Area
Ensemble performance (Jaclyn Jose, Julio Diaz, Baron Geisler, Jomari Angeles, Neil Ryan Sese, Mercedes Cabral, Andi Eigenmann, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Felix Roco, Mon Confiado, Maria Isabel Lopez, Rubi Ruiz, John Paul Duray), Ma’ Rosa
Ensemble performance (Allen Dizon, Angeline Quinto, Luz Fernandez, Richard Quan, Dexter Doria, Menggie Cobarrubias, Marcus Madrigal, Althea Vega, Timothy Castillo, Dante Balois, Tabs Sumulong, Raul Tamayo, Shiela Paragas, Karla Zabala, Angela Alfero), Malinak Ya Labi
Ensemble performance (Jaclyn Jose, Chai Fonacier, Melde Montañez, Vincent Viado, Mailes Kanapi, Olive Nieto, Sheen Gener, Albert Chan Paran), Patay Na Si Hesus
BEST SCREENPLAY
Winner: Mrs. (Ralston Jover)
Nominees:
Area (Robby Tantingco and Ferdinand Dizon Lapuz)
Ma’ Rosa (Troy Espiritu)
Malinak Ya Labi (Jose Abdel Langit)
Patay Na Si Hesus (Fatrick Tabada and Moira Lang)
Ang Tulay ng San Sebastian (Alvin Yapan)
Women of the Weeping River (Sheron Dayoc)
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY AND VISUAL DESIGN
Winner: Baboy Halas, Raphael Meting and Mark Limbaga (cinematography), Joel Geolamen (production design)
Nominees:
Ma’ Rosa, Odyssey Flores (cinematography), Brillante Mendoza (production design)
Mrs., Albert Banzon (cinematography), Arthur Maningas (production design)
Tuos, Mycko David (cinematography), Steff Dereja (production design)
Women of the Weeping River, Rommel Sales (cinematography), Harley Alcasid (production design)
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING
Winner: Women of the Weeping River (Carlo Francisco Manatad)
Nominees:
Ma’ Rosa (Diego Marx Dobles)
Malinak Ya Labi (Gilbert Obispo)
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND AND AURAL ORCHESTRATION
Winner: Ang Tulay ng San Sebastian, Jess Carlos (sound), Hiroko Nagai (music)
Nominees:
Ma’ Rosa, Albert Michael Idioma (sound), Teresa Barrozo (music)
Malinak Ya Labi, Gilbert Obispo (sound), Emerzon Texon (music)
Patay Na Si Hesus, Mark Laccay and Nicholas Varela (sound), Francis de Veyra (music)
Women of the Weeping River, Albert Michael Idioma and Immanuel Verona (sound), Kit Mendoza (music)
BEST FIRST FEATURE
Winners:
2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten (Petersen Vargas)
Malinak Ya Labi (Jose Abdel Langit)
The YCC members who took part in the deliberations this year were Jema Pamintuan (Chair), Aristotle Atienza, Emerald Flaviano, J. Pilapil Jacobo, Skilty Labastilla, Noy Lauzon, and Jaime Oscar Salazar.
Young Critics Circle Film Desk 