Veterans dominate 3rd Cine Filipino Festival awards

It was the night of the veteran actors as Rosemarie Gil and Jaime Fabregas took home the top acting honors for the movie “Delia & Sammy” at the 3rd Cine Filipino Festival awards night held Saturday at the Kia Theatre.

Rosemarie was named Best Actress for her role as a faded actress who finds out she is dying and wants to look for her husband’s relatives to seek acceptance and forgiveness. Jaime plays Rosemarie’s chronically ill husband.

It was the first best actress and best actor awards, respectively for Rosemarie and Jaime. In an industry known to be partial to young performers, it is very rare that actors like Rosemarie and Jaime will get plum roles in a film project.

Rosemarie’s award was accepted by her daughter Cherie Gil who gave a lengthy speech on her mom’s behalf, ecstatic as she was with the best actress award given to her mother. Rosemarie came out of retirement to accept the role and came out a winner.

This is also Jaime’s first best actor trophy that he shared with his fellow nominees. He said that this is  probably the only acting award he will get in his lifetime.

Winning the Best Supporting trophy is Nico Antonio, also from the movie “Delia & Sammy” where he played the good-natured security guard who drove the couple to their trip to Baguio. It is also his first acting award and he was voted unanimously by the jurors.

The award for Best Supporting Actress went to former TV5 talent-turned Kapamilya actress Ritz Azul who won the nod for her work in the action-comedy film “Mata Tapang.”

The biggest winner in the festival is the movie “The Eternity Between Seconds,” starring TJ Trinidad and Yeng Constantino which won the Best Picture Award.

It also garnered trophies for Best Director for Alec Figuracion, Best Cinematography for Rommel Sales, Best Editing for Alec Figuracion and Best Sound Design for Junell Valencia.

“Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus,” directed by Dwein Baltazar, got the award for 2nd Best Picture. It also garnered trophies for Best Ensemble, Best Production Design for Marxie Maolen Fadul and Best Musical Score for Myka Magsaysay Sigua and Paul Sigua.

It tells the story of four men who fell in love with one woman, Aileen, each with a different reason. Each maybe different, but one thing is certainly true: all of these men love Aileen with all their hypothalamus.

Aside from the winning three acting awards, “Delia & Sammy” was also named 3rd Best Picture.

The award for Best Screenplay was given to Alpha Habon for the movie “Mga Mister ni Rosario” starring Joross Gamboa and Kate Alejandrino.

He also directed the film which casts Joross in the role of  Yogi Juan, an actor who takes his role seriously. His devoted wife Sari supports him and role-plays along. But when Sari learns that Yogi’s upcoming role is a serial killer, can she revise the morbid fate that awaits her?

Aside from feature films, Cine Filipino Film Festival also honored short films.

Winner in the Super Shorts Best Film is “Orlie” by Lino Balmes while first runner-up honors went to “Bente Kwatro Oras” by Eunice Maximo.

The winner in the Short Features (Open Category) Best Film is “Gabi ng Kababalaghan” by Stephen Lopez while the first runner-up is “Siyudad sa Bulawin” (City of Gold) by Jarell Serencio.

In the Shorts Feature (Student Category), the trophy for Best Film went to “Santa Nena” by Tim Rone Villanueva of the DLS-College of St. Benilde. Runner-up honors went to “Mark & Leny” by Gio Potes from UP Diliman.

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Paulo Avelino plays the other leading man of Bea Alonzo (the other one is Derek Ramsay) in the Ruel S. Bayani-film titled “Kasal” from Star Cinema which opens today in cinemas nationwide.

Paulo was glad to have worked with Bea and Derek, adding he enjoyed every time they were together on the set.

“Both of them are very professional and are so good in their craft. With regards our director, Ruel Bayani, he is very collaborative with his cast. He respects us, gives us space to play around with our lines, where we can be comfortable,” he said.

Since “Kasal” is about marriage, Paulo was asked about his views on the topic. He said he is not yet ready to settle down. He said the right partner for him has yet to come and added that there should be mutual agreement between their parents. Paulo also said that finding the right partner means being compatible in all aspects, including the sexual aspect of the relationship so one has to be really prepared.