Money or quality? Both would be nice.
It was a difficult struggle, but it is always heartwarming to see the deserving underdog triumph as the film Mindanao did at the 45th Metro Manila Film Festival Awards night last December 27 at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City.
Team Mindanao hauled these 11 awards:
Best Float
Gender Sensitivity Award
Best Child Performer-Yuna Tangog
Best Sound- Hiroyuki Ishizaka
Best Visual Effects-Team App
Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award
FPJ Memorial Award for Excellence
Best Director- Brillante Mendoza
Best Picture
Best Actor- Allen Dizon
Best Actress- Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo
Upon receiving the awards, the requests made by Mendoza, Dizon and Judy Ann Santos were the same and very reasonable—More cinemas for Mindanao!
While its fate at the box office as an indie film is quite unsurprising—what with its very limited budget, non reliance on traditional and expensive marketing or promotion, having no huge, noticeable billboard placements or television advertisement—still, there is nothing to be ashamed of, and in fact, Team Mindanao has everything to be proud of. Creators create, and let this not dishearten them or those who desire to take the same path and emulate the good things they have done.
International and local awards are something one can be grateful and be happy about— reaching audiences, touching hearts worldwide and achieving unforgettable victories for the Philippines and its film industry are great ways to end the year— but we can only wish that more cinemas would show and retain Mindanao, and that the process and those in position would consider and be more fair regarding films such as these.
Write About Love and horror film Sunod also received a good number of awards.
Write About Love
-Best Musical Score
-Best Original Song
-Best Editing
-Best Editor
-Best Supporting Actor
-Best Supporting Actress
-Special Jury Prize for Full Length Film
-2nd Best Picture
Sunod
-Best Production Design
-Best Cinematography
-3rd Best Picture
We urge you to watch the films in this year’s MMFF, and to support independent films like Mindanao even though many malls do not show it in their cinemas.
Part of Mindanao’s earnings will be donated to the Kythe Foundation.
Spread kindness around you and be true. Happy New Year!
One Philippines Filmmakers 