FERNANDEZ, CUNETA TOP FILM AWARDS
by Kaye Villagomez And Beverly Movido, Manila Bulletin, June 23, 2002

Actor Rudy Fernandez, actress Sharon Cuneta and Viva Filmsproduced ìMagkapatidî were the top winners in this yearís Manila Film Festival (MFF) Awards.

Fernandez was named Best Actor for his role in the movie "Diskarte," while Cuneta took home the Best Actress plum for her performance in "Magkapatid" at the awards rites held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila Saturday night.

Garnering most of the votes in the Best Actress race, Cuneta thanked her co-star and co-nominee, Judy Ann Santos, in her acceptance speech. "To my adopted sister Judy Ann, I wouldn't have done our scenes if you weren't also that deserving," she said.

Cuneta played the role of a mother who nearly lost her sanity following the loss of her only son in the film.

This year's top-grosser in the MFF box-office, "Magkapatid" centered on two sisters who were shattered after their children accidentally drowned in a story that proved blood is indeed thicker than water.

The film also earned the Best Director honors for Joel Lamangan, who called for an improvement of the movie industry now that it is getting good government support.

"Let this be a sign for us, filmmakers, actors, actresses and scriptwriters to come up with meaningful films," Lamangan said in his acceptance speech. He was visibly proud that the film also won the Best Story and Best Screenplay trophies.

Veteran actors ruled the supporting awards category with Jonee Gamboa adjudged as Best Supporting actor for his performance in Diskarte, and Gloria Romero as Best Supporting Actress for her role in the entry, "I Think I'm In Love".

Other awards went to Albert Michael Idioma for Best Sound Engineering; Archie Castillo, Best Music for I Think I'm In Love; the song I Think I'm In Love for Best Movie Theme; Francis Vinarao, Best Editing for Diskarte; Bona Fajardo, Best Production Design for "Utang Ni Tatang"; Larry Manda, Best Cinematography also for Utang Ni Tatang; and Mel Mendoza Del Rosario, Best Story and Best Screenplay for Magkapatid.

The MFF is a feature of the city's month-long Araw ng Maynila celebration which ends today, June 24.

The revival of the June film festival won for Manila Mayor Lito Atienza a special citation from the Film Academy of the Philippines headed by Esperidion Laxa.

Hosts of last night's event were Ricky Davao, Dina Bonnevie, Eric Quizon and Charlene Gonzales.

The musical portion of the awards night was participated in by Vina Morales, Jenine Desiderio, Geneva Cruz, Kyla, Rosselle Nava, Rico Blanco, Southborder band, the Bayanihan dancers, among others. (Kaye Villagomez)

Top winners

Viva Films' "Magkapatid" was the top winner in the Manila Film Festival 2002 Awards Night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, in Malate, Manila, last Saturday as it bested five other entries and bagged six out of 14 awards, including the Best Picture Award and Best Actress Award (Sharon Cuneta).

Aside from the Best Picture and Best Actress Awards, the movie also garnered the following awards: Best Sound (Albert Michael Idioma); Best Story and Best Screenplay (Mel Mendoza del Rosario); and Best Director (Joel Lamangan).

Tied in second place in the number of awards won were Maverick Films' "Diskarte" and Regal Films' "I Think I'm In Love", with three awards each tucked to their belt.

Diskarte lead star Rudy Fernandez received the Best Actor trophy. The action flick also romped off with the Best Editing (Francis Vinarao) and Best Supporting Actor (Joonee Gamboa) plums.

"I Think I'm In Love" produced Best Supporting Actress (Gloria Romero); Best Music (Archie Castillo); and Best Theme Song (I Think I'm In Love) trophies for Maverick Films.

World Arts Cinema entry Utang ni Tatang was cited for "Best Production Design" (Bona Fajardo) and "Best Cinematography" (Larry Manda).

The two other filmfest entries were FLT Films' "Mama San" and Neo Films' "Super B".

Keynoting the awards night, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza credited the high quality of the six entries in this year's Manila Film Festival to the high standards set by the local filmmakers. "I thank all those who made this project a very successful one," he said.

This year's Manila Film Festival has been acknowledged as the most successful with the six official entries raking in P15 million on the first day of the festival alone, twice the first day box-office performance of the entries to the last Manila Film Festival in 1999, which earned P8 million for the whole festival.