Here are the Cinemalaya 2022 victors
The Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival has finally made its grand homecoming.
Known as a premiere and pioneering event, Cinemalaya annually honors and celebrates Filipino independent filmmakers. However, the practice faced extreme adjustment in the form of online streaming when the COVID-19 pandemic happened.
After two years of this compromise, Cinemalaya resumes with the theme “Breaking Through the Noise.” A total of 11 full-length and 12 short movies were featured this year, proving that Filipino films are never dead but thriving. Moreover, the various screenings held from August 5 to 14 received a warm welcome from around 25,000 viewers.
Last Sunday, the 18th Cinemalaya Film Festival capped its return with a live award ceremony at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Besting the competition, let us get to know the winners:
Carlo Obispo’s “The Baseball Player”
Winning big at the 18th edition of Cinemalaya is “The Baseball Player” by Carlo Obispo. The piece tells the story of a Moro child soldier who dreams of becoming a baseball player amidst a war breakout.
In addition to being hailed as the Best Film (full-length) title, it clinched the Best Editing (Zig Dulay), Best Screenplay (Obispo), and Best Actor (Tommy Alejandrino).
Ma-an L. Asuncion Dagñalan’s “Blue Room”
“Blue Room” by Ma-an L. Asuncion Dagñalan also outstood the night by bagging major awards. The movie depicts privileged teenagers whose morality will be tested after being caught in a drug scandal.
It won four titles, namely: Best Director (Dagñalan), Best Cinematography (Neil Daza), Best Supporting Actor (Soliman Cruz), and Best Production Design (Marxie Maolen Fadul).
Meanwhile, the rest are the Cinemalaya 2022 winners:
- Audience Choice Award (full length): “Kargo” by TM Malones
- Audience Choice Award (short film): “Mga Handum Nga Nasulat Sa Baras” by Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay and Richard Jeroui Salvadico
- Best Actress: Max Eigenmann for “12 Weeks”
- Best Director (short film): Gabriela Serrano for “Dikit”
- Best Film (short film): “Black Rainbow” by Zig Dulay
- Best Original Music Score: Isha Abubakar for “Retirada”
- Best Screenplay (short film): Zig Dulay for “Black Rainbow”
- Best Sound Design: Pepe Manikan for “Bula Sa Langit”
- Best Supporting Actress: Ruby Ruiz for “Ginhawa”
- Best Supporting Actor: Soliman Cruz for “Blue Room”
- NETPAC Award (full length): “12 Weeks: by Anna Isabelle Matutina
- NETPAC Award (short film): “Black Rainbow” by Zig Dulay
- Special Jury Award (full length): “Blue Room” by Ma-an L. Asuncion Dagñalan
- Special Jury Award (short film): “Dikit” by Gabriela Serrano
Indeed, it was a triumphant comeback for Cinemalaya. Congratulations to the winners!
