On MMFF 2012: The winners of the 38th edition!

It’s not MMFF without the surprising award categories and winners. This year, let’s see what they have cooked up for their avid fans. Let’s start with the irrelevant awards. The award called the “Best Float” has been there for decades already so I’m not surprised. That’s not just it though! This year they gave out a Male Star of the Night award which was handed to Joseph Estrada (sounds like a courtesy award) and a Male Celebrity of the Night award to Zanjoe Marudo (maybe the real Star of the Night award). Same goes true for the female category. I mean, what’s the difference? This event has been decorative since the beginning, and I can only hope that our major award-giving bodies would step up to show a distinct taste for real art and credible choices. Not much like MMFF which is a joke! El Presidente won most of the minor awards like Best Make-Up. Wait, really? For a historical drama set up in the pre-war Philippines, the movie looks glossier (and dapper if you may). Indeed, Mark Meily is at his best when he does commercials for TV. Brillante Mendoza won the Best Director award for Thy Womb but the movie did not even get any of the three Best Picture awards, and lost to movies like Sisterakas (a slapstick comedy) and One More Try (a master copycat). See the rest of the awardees after the jump.

Best Picture – One More Try

2nd Best Picture – El Presidente

3rd Best Picture – Sisterakas

Best Actress – Nora Aunor, Thy Womb

Best Supporting Actress – Wilma Doesnt, Sisterakas

Best Actor – Dingdong Dantes, One More Try

Best Supporting Actor – Cesar Montano, El Presidente

Best Child Actor – Miguel Vergara, One More Try

Best Director – Brillante Mendoza, Thy Womb

Best Original Story – Henry Burgos, Thy Womb

Best Screenplay – One More Try

Best Editing – Vito Kahili, One More Try

Best Cinematography – Thy Womb

Best Production Design – Thy Womb

Best Visual Effects – Shake Rattle and Roll 14: The Invasion

Best Make-up – El Presidente

Best Theme Song – Apl De Ap and Jamir Garcia of Slapshock, El Presidente

Best Musical Score – Jessie Lasaten, El Presidente

Best Sound Engineer – Albert Idioma, El Presidente

Gatpuno Villegas Cultural Award – Thy Womb

FPJ Memorial Award of Excellence – One More Try

Most Gender-Sensitive Film Award – Thy Womb

Youth Choice Award – El Presidente

Best Float – El Presidente

Male Star of the Night – Joseph Estrada

Female Star of the Night – Nora Aunor

Male Celebrity of the Night – Zanjoe Marudo

Female Celebrity of the Night – Bianca King

New Wave Films Category:

Best Full-length Feature – The Grave Bandits

Most Gender-Sensitive Film Award – In Nomine Matris

Best Director – Tyron Acierto, The Grave Bandits

Best Actress – Liza Diño, In Nomine Matris

Best Actor – Allan Paule, Gayak

Special Jury Prize – Quantum Films

Student Short Films Category:

Best Short Film – Pukpok, DLSU

Most Gender Sensitive Film Award – Manibela, FEU

Special Jury Prize – Daniel Bautista, USC