Indie-pendence Day

MANILA, Philippines - The Gawad Urian Film Awards Night was held Tuesday night at the NBC Tent, and will be telecast on Cinema One starting this Saturday, June 22. If you want to witness the handing of the mantle of the future of Philippine Cinema, this would be a good place to start. For on that night, we saw the list of nominees for all categories monopolized by our indie film movement.

Similar in concept to the NY Film Critics Awards in the US, the Gawad’s award-giving body (the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino) is composed of film critics, professors of film studies and members of the academe, whose lives are devoted to the study and appreciation of Filipino movies. Their resounding verdict was that if one looked for quality films in 2012, one need not look further than the various independently-produced films that made such an impact as they left our shores, and were heralded abroad as the new wave of Philippine cinema.

And one was struck by the sense of community that was prevalent during the course of the night. While some mainstream actors and actresses have seen the indie film movement as a means to do something for art’s sake, and to remind themselves of why they entered the profession; by and large, the slew of films up for honors showcased how, commercial considerations aside, there is a richness and diversity that propels these indie films to continuously strive and reach new heights — and this is populated by professionals who wonderfully have film-making coursing through their veins.

Sidebar highlights included moments such as sisters vying for the Best Actress plum, as you had both Assunta and Alessandra de Rossi nominated for Baybayin; and in the Best Actor category, you had a father and son competing, courtesy of Bembol Roco for Brillante Mendoza’s Thy Womb and Dominic Roco for Ang Nawawala. While Alessandra copped the Best Supporting Actress nod for Sta. Niña, the ever-popular Nora Aunor walked away with another Best Actress trophy (for Brillante’s Thy Womb). Jericho Rosales won Best Actor for his work in Alagwa, while Art Acuña in Posas took home Best Supporting Actor. For Best Film, out of the blue, Ang Paglalakbay ng Mga Bituin sa Gabing Madilim took the coveted prize. The Best Director award went to Adolf Alix Jr. for the violent family saga, Mater Dolorosa.

Taking on host duties throughout the Awards Night were Cherie Gil, Iza Calzado, Richard Gomez and Xian Lim. The presenters were showbiz celebrities always accompanied by a Manunuri. One touching moment came when an In Memoriam segment had us remembering how the likes of Dolphy, Bella Flores, Eddie Romero, Mario O’Hara, Marilou Diaz-Abaya and Luis Gonzalez have all gone, making our showbiz celestial lights that much dimmer. Mila del Sol, a spry 90 year old, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and the montage prepared to introduce her was a great slice of Philippine cinema history.

A running joke throughout the night was whether the Manunuri would have to defend their nominees, why they had centered all their choices from within the indie film arena. I can clearly see, however, why they made such choices; and more to the point, was my wondering how many Filipinos have actually seen the films honored, why it has to be that these films garner more accolades and audience appreciation abroad, and why our mainstream cinema-goers have still not caught on, and have trooped to watch the celluloid magic that’s being performed right in front of their eyes. Kudos to the Manunuri, and to Cinema One’s channel head Ronald Arguelles for having banded together to make the event an amplified reality.

The 36th Gawad Urian will be aired on Cinema One on June 22 at 3 and 11 p.m. It also airs on June 23 at 10 p.m.