Mainstream Cinema is Still Dead at the Filipino Film Critics Awards

The mainstream industry is (artistically) dead. That's what the Gawad Urian, the society of the Filipino film critics, made clear once more with their latest awards celebration. This is nothing new, since its been years since the organization nominated the big productions of the Philippines' major studios, despite the presence of good films like Olivia Lamasan's The Mistress. The question is always the same: When is the audience seeing these winners? In fact, most of the films chosen by the critics didn't have their run in the local theatres. A problem, as usual, when we talk about independent cinema in the Philippines

Here is the complete list of winners:

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Alessandra de Rossi, "Sta Nina"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Art Acuna, "Posas"

BEST DOCUMENTARY: "Harana" by Benito Bautista

BEST SHORT FILM: "Ritmo" by Remton Siega Zuasola

BEST SOUND: Willy Fernandez, Bong Sungcang, Ferdinand Marcos Sabarongis, "Florentina Hubaldo"

BEST MUSIC: Diwa de Leon, "Baybayin"

BEST EDITING: Aleks Castaneda, "Kalayaan"

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: Brillante Mendoza, "Thy Womb"

SPECIAL AWARD FOR FILM - NATATANGING GAWAD URIAN: Mila del Sol

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Whammy Alcazaren, "Colossal"

BEST SCREENPLAY: Mes de Guzman, "Diablo"

BEST DIRECTOR: Adolfo Alix Jr, "Mater Dolorosa"

BEST ACTOR: Jericho Rosales, "Alagwa"

BEST ACTRESS: Nora Aunor, "Thy Womb"

BEST FILM: "Ang Paglalakbay ng mga Bituin sa Gabing Madilim" by Arnel Mardoquio