Young Critics Circle announces its film nominees

“Edward,” Thop Nazareno’s Cinemalaya entry about a teenage boy’s coming-of-age in a public hospital, and “Lingua Franca,” Isabel Sandoval’s QCinema exhibition film about a trans woman’s struggle to obtain legal status in Trump-era America, topped the nominations of the Young Critics Circle Film Desk, garnering six citations apiece, including for Best Film.

Eight other films received nominations across the critics group’s seven categories. The only other nominee for Best Film is “Verdict,” directed by debuting filmmaker Raymund Ribay Gutierrez.

For Best Performance (given to either lead or support, or to individual or ensemble), the nominees are Louise Abuel (Edward), Gio Gahol (Sila-Sila), Royce Cabrera and Kokoy de Santos (duo performance for Fuccbois), Max Eigenmann and Kristoffer King (duo performance for Verdict), Jansen Magpusao (John Denver Trending), and Isabel Sandoval (Lingua Franca).

The Young Critics Circle considered 138 films released commercially in 2019 and narrowed them down to a long list of 18 films. After months of review and deliberations, the long list was further narrowed down to a shortlist of 10 films. Per YCC rules, all nominations except for Best First Feature should come from the shortlisted films.

Winners will be announced over the weekend.

Below is the list of nominations:

BEST FILM: Edward, directed by Thop Nazareno; Lingua Franca, directed by Isabel Sandoval and Verdict, directed by Raymund Ribay Gutierrez

BEST PERFORMANCE:Louise Abuel, for Edward, Royce Cabrera and Kokoy de Santos (duo performance), Fuccbois; Max Eigenmann and Kristoffer King (duo performance), Verdict; Gio Gahol, Sila-Sila; Jansen Magpusao, John Denver Trending; Isabel Sandoval, Lingua Franca

BEST SCREENPLAY: Cleaners (Glenn Barit); Edward (Thop Nazareno and John Bedia), Fuccbois (Eduardo Roy, Jr.), John Denver Trending (Arden Rod Condez); Lingua Franca (Isabel Sandoval), and Verdict (Raymund Ribay Gutierrez).

BEST EDITING: A Is for Agustin (Johnny Bassett), Cleaners (Noah Loyola and Che Tagyamon), Edward (JR Cabrera and Thop Nazareno), For My Alien Friend (Jet Leyco)Fuccbois (Carlo Francisco Manatad), John Denver Trending (Benjo Ferrer); Lingua Franca (Isabel Sandoval), No Data Plan (Miko Revereza) and Verdict (Marx Diego Dobles).

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AND VISUAL DESIGN: A Is for Agustin (cinematography: Kara Moreno and Grace Pimentel Simbulan), Cleaners (cinematography: Steven Evangelio; production design: Alvin Francisco), Edward (cinematography: Kara Moreno; production design: Alvin Francisco), For My Alien Friend (cinematography: Jet Leyco). Fuccbois (cinematography: Albert Banzon; production design: Carmela Danao); John Denver Trending (cinematography: Rommel Sales; production design: Harley Alcasid), Lingua Franca (cinematography: Isaac Banks; production design: Maxwell Nalevansky and Clint Ramos). No Data Plan (cinematography: Miko Revereza); Verdict (cinematography: Joshua Reyles; production design: Ryan Faustino)

BEST SOUND AND AURAL ORCHESTRATION: Cleaners (sound editing: Daryl Libongco, Nicole Amores, RJ Cantos, Aeriel Ellyzon Mallari; re-recording mixing: John Michael Perez), Edward (original score: Pepe Manikan; sound design: Russel Gabayeron and Immanuel Verona), Fuccbois (original score: Andrew Florentino; sound design: Immanuel Verona); John Denver Trending (original score: Len Calvo; sound editing: Mikko Quizon; re-recording mixing: Kathrine Ariane Salinas), Lingua Franca (original score: Teresa Barrozo; sound design: Albert Michael Idioma)

BEST FIRST FEATURE: A Is for Agustin (Grace Pimentel Simbulan), Cleaners (Glenn Barit), John Denver Trending (Arden Rod Condez),No Data Plan (Miko Revereza). And Verdict (Raymund Ribay Gutierrez).

We wonder if the other award-giving bodies will honor the best cinematic achievements for 2019. The Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors or SPEED which gives out the Eddys has already announced that they are giving out awards this year owing to the Corona virus pandemic.

Will the Gawad Urian, the Film Academy Awards and the PMPC Star Awards hold simple rites to honor the best film achievements of 2019?