MMFF 2025 awardees set historic milestone

MANILA, Philippines — History was made at the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) awards night as “I’m Perfect” lead star Krystel Go became the first Best Actress awardee with Down syndrome.

Vice Ganda emerged as the first openly queer actor to win the Best Actor award for his performance in “Call Me Mother.”

Helmed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo and produced by Nathan Studios, “I’m Perfect” also took home this year’s Best Picture and Best Ensemble Award.

The film follows the story of two people with Down syndrome who fall in love.

Bernardo, in her speech, said the film project was supposed to be an advocacy and awareness effort.

“But now it has become a movement. So I hope this is not just the beginning, sana wala nang wakas ito. Let them be seen, be heard and include them in the film,” she added.

Go, for her part, was emotional while reading her acceptance speech.

Clad in a yellow gown, Go said she was in disbelief over the recognition. She dedicated the award to her parents.

Go thanked the director, producers, co-actors and the team behind the film “for giving us a voice and for allowing us to show that we, too, can act.”

The second best picture was Jeffrey Jeturian’s “UnMarry,” which also earned him the Best Director award as well as Breakthrough Performance award for Zac Sibug, best screenplay for Chris Martinez and Therese Cayaba, best actor in a supporting role for Tom Rodriguez, best editing for Benjo Ferrer, and best float (a tie with “Manila’s Finest”).

There was another tie for third best picture between Jun Robles Lana’s “Call Me Mother” and Raymond Red’s “Manila’s Finest.”

Vice Ganda, a member of the LGBTQ community, received the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his riveting performance in “Call Me Mother.”

Last year, Vice Ganda accepted the special jury citation for Lana’s “And the Breadwinner Is…”

He expressed gratitude for the MMFF jurors for recognizing his work.

“It’s really 2025 and it is really possible. And it’s real. Queer people can be best actors. A queer person in gown can be a best actor. It’s 2025, it’s about damn time,” he said.

Vice Ganda dedicated his award to all mothers, including his own, as well as to his sisters, his partner Ion Perez and his friends in the entertainment industry.

“Call Me Mother” also garnered the Gender Sensitivity Award and best child performer for Lucas Andalio.

On the other hand, “Manila’s Finest” copped the most number of trophies, including the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award, best cinematography for Red, best original theme song for Vehnee Saturno’s “Sandalan,” best sound for Roy Santos, best musical score for Frederik Sandoval and Emerzon Texon and best production design for Digo Ricio.

Veteran actress Odette Khan was presented with the Best Actress in a Supporting Role award for her role in “Bar Boys: After School,” a film by Kip Oebanda, which also won the Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award.

Santelmo Inc. won the Best Visual Effects award for the horror flick “Shake, Rattle, & Roll: Evil Origins,” while Bianca de Vera was declared the Female Star of the Night and Will Ashley and Dustin Yu as Male Stars of the Night.

Among the board of jurors are The Philippine STAR’s entertainment editor and member of the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors Nathalie Tomada; Irene Jose, chief operating officer of the Araneta Group, and Clodualdo del Mundo Jr., chairman of the board of jurors.