Unexpected nominees turn up for 40th Gawad Urian

MANILA, Philippines — Rock star Pepe Smith for Best Actor? Barbie Forteza for Best Supporting Actress? 

In the partial, unofficial list of 40th Gawad Urian nominees released earlier on Tuesday by the award-giving body's organizer, the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP), young actress Janine Gutierrez has been nominated for Best Actress for her role in "Dagsin." The more surprising part is that she will go head-to-head with veterans like Nora Aunor for "Hinulid," Cherry Pie Picache for "Pauwi Na," Ai Ai delas Alas for "Area," Charo Santos for "Ang Babaeng Humayo" and Jaclyn Jose for "Ma Rosa," who won the Cannes Festival Best Actress last year for the same movie.

MPP member Dr. Nicanor Tiongson, however, said that in choosing the winners and the nominees, the MPP only has one criteria: quality.

"We're not after how many awards an actor has won but for his or her passion," he explained in a press conference in ABS-CBN earlier. "We're looking for a properly portrayed, convincing character who can show its relation to other actors."

Gawad Urian is considered as the Philippines' Oscars and British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards.

While still discussing and voting for the official list of nominees to be presented for the July 20 awards night, the MPP has released the following partial and unofficial list of nominees for 40th Gawad Urian:

Best Picture

• "Pamilya Ordinaryo"
• "Paglipay"
• "Ang Babaeng Humayo"
• "Women of the Weeping River"
• "Ma Rosa"
• "Baboy Halas"

Best Director

• Brilliante Mendoza for "Ma Rosa"
• Eduardo W. Roy Jr. for "Pamilya Ordinaryo"
• Zig Madamba Dulay for "Paglipay"
• Lav Diaz for "Ang Babaeng Humayo"
• Bagane Fiola for "Baboy Halas"
• Paolo Villaluna for "Pauwi Na"
• Avid Liongoren for "Saving Sally"
• Sheron Dayoc for "Women of the Weeping River"
• Lemuel Lorca for "Ned's Project"

Best Actor

• Tommy Abuel for "Dagsin"
• Bembol Roco for "Pauwi Na"
• Gerry Cabalic for "Paglipay"
• Khalil Ramos for "2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten"
• Paolo Ballesteros for "Die Beautiful"
• Ronwald Martin for "Pamilya Ordinaryo"
• Pepe Smith for "Singing in Graveyards"

Best Actress

• Nora Aunor for "Hinulid"
• Laila Ulao for "Women of the Weeping River"
• Jaclyn Jose for "Ma Rosa"
• Cherry Pie Picache for "Pauwi Na"
• Ai Ai delas Alas for "Area"
• Charo Santos-Concio for "Ang Babaeng Humayo"
• Elizabeth Oropesa for "MRS"
• Irma Adlawan for "Oro"
• Hasmine Kilip for "Pamilya Ordinaryo"
• Angeli Bayani for "Ned's Project"
• Janine Gutierrez for "Dagsin"

Best Supporting Actor

• Taha Daranda for "Women of the Weeping River"
• Christian Bables for "Die Beautiful"
• Jess Mendoza for "Hinulid"
• John Lloyd Cruz for "Ang Babaeng Humayo"
• Nonie Buencamino for "Ang Babaeng Humayo"
• Julio Diaz for "Ma Rosa"

Best Supporting Actress

• Rhed Bustamante for "Seklusyon"
• Barbie Forteza for "Tuos"
• Sharifa Pearlsia Ali-Dans for "Women of the Weeping River"
• Anna Luna for "Paglipay"
• Joan Dela Cruz for "Paglipay"
• Lui Manansala for "Ned's Project"
• Lotlot de Leon for "MRS"
• Meryll Soriano for "Pauwi Na"

Best Screenplay

• Lemuel Lorca and John Paul Bedia for "Ned's Project"
• Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos for "Pauwi Na"
• Sheron Dayoc for  "Women of the Weeping River"
• Zig Madamba Dulay for "Paglipay"
• Troy Espiritu for "Ma Rosa"
• Fatrick Tabada for "Patay na si Jesus"
• Lav Diaz for "Ang Babaeng Humayo"
• Eduardo Roy Jr. for "Pamilya Ordinaryo"

Best Cinematography

• "Women of the Weeping River"
• "Ang Babaeng Humayo"
• "Ma Rosa"
• "Paglipay"

Best Production Design

• "Ma Rosa"
• "Die Beautiful"
• "Ned's Project"
• "Women of the Weeping River"
• "Pamilya Ordinaryo"
• "Paglipay"
• "Saving Sally"
• "Hinulid"
• "Baboy Halas"

Best Editing

• "Women of the Weeping River"
• "Ma Rosa"
• "Pauwi Na"
• "Ang Babaeng Humayo"
• "Pamilya Ordinaryo"
• "Paglipay"
• "Die Beautiful"

Music

• "Paglipay"
• "Women of the Weeping River"
• "Saving Sally"
• "Pauwi Na"
• "Tuos"

Sound

• "Hinulid"
• "Women of the Weeping River"
• "Ang Babaeng Humayo"
• "Pamilya Ordinaryo"
• "Ma Rosa"
• "Pagl?ipay"
• "Baboy Halas"