JOHN LLOYD CRUZ
JOHN Lloyd Cruz and LJ Reyes went home with trophies for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively from the Gawad Urian 2016 awards held Wednesday at the Kia Theater.
Cruz, who was nominated for the same category for two films “A Second Chance” and “Honor Thy Father,” won the award for the latter–an Erik Matti film. He bested strong contenders including John Arcilla for “Heneral Luna,” Sid Lucero for “Apocalypse Child” and Jericho Rosales for “Walang Forever.”
It was the first Gawad Urian Award for the 32-year-old Kapamilya actor, who was then previously nominated for 2010 film “In My Life.”
Reyes also earned her first trophy for Gawad Urian Best Actress for Jun Lana’s Martial Law-inspired film, “Anino sa Likod ng Buwan.”
She was also recognized as Best Actress for the same movie in last year’s Pacific Meridian International Film Festival of Asia Pacific Countries held in Vladivostok, Russia.
“Taklub,” a disaster drama by award-winning independent film director Brillante Mendoz won the Best Film award. But it was “Heneral Luna,” the blockbuster historical epic movie directed by Jerrold Tarog, that went home with four major awards, namely Best Director and Best Editing (both by Tarog), as well as Best Cinematography (Pong Ignacio) and Best Sound (Mikko Quizon).
Veteran actor Bernardo Bernardo bagged the Best Supporting Actor for Lawrence Fajardo’s “Imbisibol” while Ana Abad Santos won Best Supporting Actress for “Apocalypse Child” directed by Mario Cornejo.
The Best Screenplay and Best Music were taken home by the film “Ari: My Life with a King,” produced by Holy Angel University Center for Kapampangan Studies, directed by Carlo Catu.
Best Production Design went to Ben Payumo for the film “Water Lemon” directed by Lemuel Lorca.
“Wawa” brought home the Best Short Film award while “The Crescent Rising,” was adjudged as the Best Documentary.
Romy Vitug, a legendary cinemtographer was honored with Natatanging Gawad Urian lifetime achievement award.