68th FAMAS Announcement of Winners

(FAMAS DIGITAL 2020 in cooperation with the Film Development Council of the Philippines)

QUEZON CITY, PH – Award –winning actor CHRISTIAN BABLES and award-winning actress JASMINE CURTIS-SMITH has announced the winners and the Lifetime Achievement Awardees during the 68th Famas AWARDS December 20, 2020, pre-recorded from the Seda Vertis North, Quezon City.

It also marks the first year for FAMAS Digital Philippines launched later this year in partnership with IFLIX and WeTV Philippines via digital streaming platforms, YouTube, FB, IG, TWITTER for wider reach and more diverse audiences.

The complete list of winners are written below OR visit the official FB Page https://www.facebook.com/FAMASDigitalOfficial.

FAMAS Board Chairman, Angelo “Eloy” Padua and President Francia Conrado join the new hybrid awards presentation as it goes full digital this year.

In giving recognition to the most important films of 2019, the 68^th FAMAS AWARDS gathered the industry’s most credible storytellers as jury members.

This year’s Head of Jury of the main section is acclaimed alternative filmmaker and DGPI President Paolo Villaluna. Joining him are internationally-lauded directors Carlos Siguion-Reyna, Pepe Diokno and Sari Lluch Dalena. Heading the jury of the documentary section is esteemed journalist Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, joined by filmmakers Ditsi Carolino, Baby Ruth Villarama and Erwin Romulo. The jury for the short film section is led by Cannes Palme D’or awardee Raymond Red, joined by John Torres and Jon Lazam.

OFFICIAL WINNERS FAMAS DIGITAL 2020

Best Picture

ASWANG, directed by Alyx Arumpac

for its painful examination of current realities, and a sober reminder

that cinema is a powerful social mirror.

*Note: This is the first time in 68 years that a documentary has received the FAMAS Award for Best Picture.

Best Director

RAYMUND RIBAY GUTTIEREZ, in Verdict

for his realistic and brave exposure of an imperfect justice system.

Best Actress

JANINE GUTTIEREZ, in Babae at Baril

for her brave subversion of a young woman discovering her own power.

Best Actor (tie)

ELIJAH CANLAS, in Kalel 15 for his sensitive portrayal of a young man cornered into apathy and KRISTOPHER KING, in Verdict for the subtly powerful depth and realism with which he colored a righteous abuser.

Best Screenplay

GLENN BARIT, in Cleaners for creating a world that is new and fresh but universally familiar.

Best Supporting Actress

DOLLY DELEON, in Verdict

Best Supporting Actor

RICKY DAVAO, in Fuccbois

Best Documentary

ASWANG, directed by ALYX ARUMPAC

Best Short Film

TOKWIFI, directed by CARLA PULIDO OCAMPO

Jury Prize for Short Film

Ascending, directed by SOPHIA ISIP

Here, Here, directed by Joanne Cesario

Best Cinematography (tie)

ALYX ARUMPAC and TANYA HAURYLCHYK, in Aswang

TEY CLAMOR, in Babae At Baril

Best Production Design

EERO FRANISCO, in Babae At Baril

Best Editing

FATIMA BIANCHI and ANNE FABINI, in Aswang

Best Sound

JET LEYCO and BRIAN GONZALES, in My Alien Friend

Best Film Scoring

IMMANUEL VERONA, in Babae At Baril

FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Awardees

JURY NOTE: The following awardees were nominated, deliberated and voted on by main section jurors Paolo Villaluna, Sari Lluch Dalena and Pepe Diokno. Director Carlos Siguion-Reyna abstained from said processes pertaining to the Lifetime Achievement Awards category.

The three recipients of the FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Awards are deserving storytellers who remind us that artists play critically important roles in society, including protesting injustice, fighting for freedom of expression, and rebelling against the paralyzing conventions of the status quo. These three changed the broad landscape of Philippine cinema forever, and are true cultural revolutionaries:

RICARDO “RICKY” LEE, Scriptwriting
ARMIDA SIGUION-REYNA, Industry Development
ROX LEE, Alternative Cinema

RICARDO “Ricky” LEE — LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDEE for SCRIPTWRITING

Ricky Lee gave birth to some of the greatest Filipino films ever written; Brutal (Abaya ’81), Salome (Guillen ’81), Cain at Abel (Brocka ’82), Relasyon (Bernal ’82), Himala (Bernal ’82), Moral (Abaya ’82), Karnal (Abaya ’83), Sinner or Saint (Chionglo ’84), Private Show (Rono ’85) Macho Dancer (Brocka ’88) Gumapang Ka Man Sa Lusak, (Brocka ‘90) The Flor Contemplacion Story (Lamangan ’95), Madrasta, (Lamasan ’96), Miguel/ Michelle, (Portes ’98), Jose Rizal, (Abaya ’98), Pusong Mamon, (Lamangan ’98) Burlesk King, (Chionglo ’99), Muro-Ami (Abaya ’99) and Anak (Quintos ’00). More than classics, these are films that became allegories of the Filipino’s continuing struggle for equality and freedom.

Apart from committing his words to the screen, he generously mentored thousands of new voices with his free scriptwriting workshops that began in 1982. The graduates of his workshops are a veritable who’s who in filmmaking and are changing the landscape of cinema themselves.

For his vital contribution to scriptwriting, and generous spirit in mentorship, FAMAS grants Ricky Lee a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award.

ARMIDA SIGUION-REYNA — LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDEE for INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT

A legendary producer and actress who starred in films such as “Dung-Aw” (which she also produced), “Tahan na Empoy, Tahan,” and “Bwakaw,” Armida Siguion-Reyna also founded Reynafilms, a production company that elevated local cinema back in the 1990s.

Her television work is iconic: she produced and hosted the country’s longest-running musical/cultural show “Aawitan Kita” (1970-2005), an important program that was instrumental in keeping alive the disappearing art of the kundiman for the new generation, and inspired the broad acceptance of Tagalog songs in television and the coming OPM movement.

A fierce advocate of freedom of expression and creative liberties in film, Armida’s greatest work and lasting legacy lie in her reformation of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) that had been notorious for ultra-conservative censorship practices before she headed the office. She led a board consisting of the industry’s most credible anti-censorship personalities, and her policy of protecting free expression resulted in the flourishing of independent voices during its time. Armida’s goal of self-regulation in film is still the standard guiding principle of the motion picture industry to this day.

For her important contributions to film and local culture, and determined resolve to fight censorship, the FAMAS grants Armida Siguion-Reyna a much-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award.

ROX LEE — LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDEE for ALTERNATIVE CINEMA

The co-creator of the renowned comic-strip Cesar Asar, Rox Lee is an original voice and pioneering animator of the independent film industry. He is one of the founding members of Animahenasyon, the country’s largest group of animators.

Acclaimed internationally, his body of work—from the line drawing The Great Smoke to stop-motion live shorts like Juan Gapang—includes canonical works of the alternative movement and has influenced filmmakers of the new generation. Also a famed painter, his philosophical approach to cinema, with its irreverence, non-linearity, biting humor, and social consciousness, continues to inspire filmmakers and storytellers up to this day.

For his contribution to alternative cinema that continues to inspire uniqueness and originality in filmmaking, the FAMAS grants Rox Lee a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award.

Thank you for joining us in this truly challenging year. But together, the film industry will rise.

SPECIAL JURY AWARD FOR SHORT FILM

Ascending Writer / Director: Sophia Isip

Here, Here Writer/Director: Joanne Cesario

SPECIAL FAMAS AWARDS

FERNANDO POE JR. MEMORIAL AWARD: Angel Locsin

DOLPHY KING OF COMEDY AWARD: Pokwang

GERMAN MORENO YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Liza Soberano and Mateo Guidicelli

JOSE VERA PEREZ AWARD – Boy Abunda

ADVOCACY AWARD, DIRECTOR – Neal “Buboy” Tan

Featured Artist Kristine S. Lim showed her creative works through the Special Awards portion which showcased her work as multidisciplinary artist with painting, drawing, graphic design, film and digital photography and digital art as her areas of interest. She is currently the Director of Culture and Arts for Sustainable PH. She is also the Vice-President for External Affairs of Christian + Collective.

Major Sponsors:

PLDT HOME, SEDA VERTIS NORTH, GREENFIELDS DEV’T CORP., DOOH (Mother of all Billboards), DAVID’S SALON, RDL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS, ISKIN AESTHETIC LIFESTYLE, SKIN101, PHILUSA and SUGAR DOLLS PHILS.

68^TH FAMAS Awards Jury

JURY FOR FULL-LENGTH FILMS