Indie films dominate 2018 Gawad Urian nominees

MANILA, Philippines — Two mainstream films aside, the 41st Gawad Urian is largely dominated by independent or “indie” films as the award-giving body unveiled this year’s nominees on March 22.

Among this year’s nominees, only “Kita Kita’s” Alessandra de Rossi (Best Actress), Empoy Marquez (Best Actor), Sigrid Andrea Bernardo (Best Director and Screenplay), Thesa Tang (Best Production Design), and Marya Ignacio (Best Editing) as well as “100 Tula Para kay Stella’s” Bela Padilla (Best Actress) came from mainstream movies.

Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino’s Nicanor Tiongson explained the selection process, saying they had no prejudice against mainstream movies.

“In the past, maraming mainstream na nanalo. Ang sinusunod namin lagi ay yung criteria namin. It’s been followed from the very start which is basically ‘yung nilalaman ng merong sinasabing mahalaga tunkol sa ating pagkatao at pagka-Filipino at ‘yung paggamit ng iba’t ibang element ng cinema. So pag-inapply mo yung criteria na yun, mag-rise and fall yung iba-ibang pelikula,” Tiongson explained. 

“Siguro ang isa sa nagiging consideration kasi ng mainstream is it has to earn kasi malaki ang ginastos niya. Nagkakaroon kasi ang mainstream, hindi ko nilalahat, ng formulas. Dahil nga na sa considerations na ang mainstream ay kailangang kumita, bihira yung mainstream talaga na masasabi natin na ang tanging konsiderasyon ay yung kasiningan lamang ng pelikula,” he added.

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

The awards night will be held on June 14 at the ABS-CBN tent at Vertis North in Quezon City. ABS-CBN’s Cinema One will be broadcasting the event live.