
VETERAN cinematographer Neil Daza took home the Best Cinematographer plum during the Gabi ng Parangal for the 50th edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) on Dec. 27 at the Solaire Grand Ballroom in Parañaque.
Daza, an alumnus of the old UST College of Architecture and Fine Arts, was recognized for his work in GMA Pictures’ “Green Bones,” the 96-minute drama that emerged as the winner of the film festival.
Directed by the critically acclaimed Zig Dulay, “Green Bones” tells the story of Xavier Gonzaga (Ruru Madrid, who won the Best Supporting Actor award), a prison guard in a quest for justice for his sister’s murder, and Domingo Zamora (Dennis Trillo, who won the Best Actor plum), an inmate nearing the end of a decade-long sentence for allegedly killing his own sister and niece.
“Green Bones” won this year’s Best Picture, Dulay’s second straight in the MMFF. It also won Best Screenplay for National Artist Ricky Lee and Angeli Atienza and Best Child Performer for Sienna Stevens.
Meanwhile, UST communication arts alumnus Jun Lana’s “And the Breadwinner Is…” reaped two accolades: Gender Sensitivity Award and a Special Jury Citation for comedian Vice Ganda’s lead performance.
The 123-minute Star Cinema/IdeaFirst Company feature tackles the many facets of being a family provider through the perspective of Bambi Salvador (Vice), an overseas Filipino worker in Taiwan who returns home to a tumbledown family house.
The 10 films for the 50th MMFF will run in cinemas nationwide until Jan. 7.
Here is the full list of the awards:
- Best Float (Tied with “Topakk”)
- Best Visual Effects
- Best Production Design: Nestor Abrogena
- Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award
- Best Director: Michael Tuviera (tied with Crisanto Aquino, “My Future You”)
- 2nd Best Picture
- Special Jury Citation: Vice Ganda
- Gender Sensitivity
- Best Child Performer: Sienna Stevens
- Best Cinematographer: Neil Daza
- Best Supporting Actor: Ruru Madrid
- Best Screenplay: Ricky Lee and Angeli Atienza
- Best Actor: Dennis Trillo
- Best Picture
- Best Musical Score: Vincent de Jesus
- Best Original Theme Song: “Ang Himala Ay Nasa Puso” by Vincent de Jesus and Ricky Lee, interpreted by Juan Karlos Labajo
- Best Supporting Actress: Kakki Teodoro
- Special Jury Prize (tied with “Topakk”)
- 4th Best Picture
‘Strange Frequencies, Taiwan Killer Hospital’
- Best Sound: Ditoy Aguila
- Best Editing: Vanessa Ubas de Leon
- Breakthrough Performance: Seth Fedelin
- Best Director: Crisanto Aquino (tied with Michael Tuviera of “The Kingdom”)
- 3rd Best Picture
- Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award
- Special Jury Prize (tied with “Isang Himala”)
- Best Actress: Judy Ann Santos