THE ROMANTIC-comedy “Walang Forever” won the top prizes at the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival Awards held at the Kia Theater Sunday night.
The film, directed by Dan Villegas, won six awards including Best Festival Picture, FPJ Memorial Award for Excellence, Best Story and Best Festival Screenplay.
Its lead stars Jennylyn Mercado and Jericho Rosales were awarded Best Actress and Best Actor, respectively. It was a back-to-back win for Mercado, who was last year’s Best Actress awardee for the film, “English Only, Please,” also directed by Villegas.
MERCADO
“Honor Thy Father” which starred John Lloyd Cruz took home five awards despite its controversial disqualification from the Best Picture category. These include Best Supporting Actor for Tirso Cruz III, Best Child Performer for Krystal Brimmer, Best Make-Up Artists, and Best Song for Armi Millare’s version of the Sampaguita original, “Tao.”
Erik Matti who won as Best Director was a no-show during awards night. Shiel Calde of Reality Entertainment accepted the award on his behalf.
Calde also read the acceptance speech of Matti expressing his disappointment over the disqualification.
“Kahit kailan po, hindi ako gumawa ng pelikula para magka-award. At kung may mga reklamo man ako sa MMFF, hindi ‘yan tungkol sa pag disqualify niyo sa Honor Thy Father from the Best Picture category. Naglabas na ng statement ang producer namin na si Dondon Monteverde. Sang-ayon ako sa mga sinabi niya doon.
Mas malalim kesa d’yan ang disappointment ko sa MMFF,” as read on the speech.
“Mula sa pagpili niyo ng mga sineng isasali hanggang sa pagkunsinti niyo sa masahol na trato ng mga sinehan sa ibang pelikula, lalo na ng maliliit na producers, para sa isang die-hard movie fan na gaya ko, hindi ko na halos makilala ang film festival na dati kong hinangaan at nirespeto,” Calde continued to read.
“Maraming salamat na lang sa libreng publicity at higit sa lahat, sa pagbukas ng pinto para pag-usapan na sa wakas ng filmmakers pati ng moviegoers ang mga hinahangad nilang pagbabago sa MMFF.
“Sa lahat naman ng Pilipinong hindi pa rin nagsasawang manood ng mga gawa namin dito, salamat sa inyo. You deserve better. Kaya tulungan niyo naman kami.
Demand for better films! Demand for more choices in the cinemas! Kaya pa natin baguhin ‘to. Hindi ako titigil kung hindi rin kayo titigil. Hindi na ito tungkol sa Honor Thy Father. Buong industriya ng paggawa at panonood sa pelikulang Pilipino ang usapan na ‘to. Kaya, salamat na rin sa inyo, MMFF. Binuhay niyo ang pag-asa ko para sa pagbabago,” she added.
On Matti’s Twitter account, he said, “Di ako madadala sa himas ng plastic na trophy. Balik na tayo sa totoong issue.#MMFF2015 AwardsNight #MMFF2015Scandal.”
Other films like “Nilalang,” “Buy Now Die Later,” and “My Bebe Love” also won several awards.
“Nilalang” bagged Best Visual Effects, Best Musical Score, Best Cinematography and Best Editing.
“Buy Now Die Later” won second Best Picture, Best Festival Production Design and Best Festival Float.
“My Bebe Love” got third Best Picture and Gatpuno Villegas Award and won for Maine Mendoza the Best Female Supporting Actress award.
During the awards night, Jennylyn Mercado and Cesar Montano were named Female and Male Celebrity of the Night, respectively.
The event was hosted by KC Concepcion and Richard Gutierrez.