The 37th Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Luna Awards, with its Awards Ceremony taking place on November 30, Saturday, is unique in several ways. Firstly, the Luna Awards 2019 is a special edition because it takes place during the year-long celebration of the centenary of Philippine Cinema. The Luna Awards Night will feature a special segment on the One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema to continue and propagate its commemoration that was mandated in Presidential Proclamation No. 622, Series of 2018, which declared September 12, 2019 to September 11, 2020 as the official celebration of the Philippine Cinema Centennial.

Secondly, two types of trophies will be given at the Luna Awards this year. The Luna Awards trophy will be awarded to the film professionals who have done exemplary artistic achievements within the eligibility period from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. The respective industry peers of the nominees voted on 12 categories. Of the 16 films nominated this year, four have garnered the most nominations: “Signal Rock” by Chito Roño and “Liway” by Kip Oebanda with nine nominations each, and “Buy Bust” by Erik Matti and “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral” by Jerrold Tarog with eight nods apiece. The Special Awards recipients are Regal Films matriarch Lily Monteverde for the Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ) Lifetime Achievement Award and Best Supporting Actress Nominee Nova Villa for the Manuel de Leon Award for Exemplary Achievement. The posthumous Lamberto Avellana Memorial Award will be bestowed on directors Wenn Deramas and Soxie Topacio.

The second set of trophies that will be given, meanwhile, are the Sine Sandaan commemorative trophies. A special feature will be held to honor 30 film outfits as the Sine Sandaan: Production Companies of the Philippines Luminaries for their invaluable contributions to the Philippine film industry. Ten studios and 20 independent production companies will be hailed. These are Nepomuceno Productions, LVN Pictures, Inc., Sampaguita Pictures, Inc., Premiere Productions, Inc., Lebran Productions, Regal Entertainment, Inc., Seiko Films, Inc., Viva Entertainment, Inc., Star Cinema (ABS-CBN Films), GMA Films, FPJ Productions, Inc., AM Productions, NV Productions, LEA Productions, Inc., Reyna Films, Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions, Inc., RVQ Productions, Inc., J.E. Production, Quantum Films, APT Entertainment, Inc., Unitel Productions, Inc., OctoArts Films International, M-ZET Productions, Inc., Spring Films, TBA Studios, The IdeaFirst Company, Reality Entertainment, Center Stage Productions, Inc., Ten17P Productions, and Imus Productions, Inc.

Thirdly, the FAP and Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) have joined forces for the first time to hold the Luna Awards. In previous years, FDCP has provided support to FAP, but this is the first time that FDCP has stepped up to become a co-organizer together with FAP. Happening at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, the 37th Luna Awards promises to be a star-studded event, with the attendance of veterans, icons, and celebrities to be led by FAP Director-General Vivian Velez and FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño

FAP Director-General Vivian Velez

The Luna Awards Night is set to be a Philippine Cinema extravaganza with musical performances and production numbers that are sure to light up the stage, including a Tribute to Willy Cruz and George Canseco, who are both Luna Awards Hall of Fame inductees. The awards show spectacle will surely dazzle with its guests, performers, presenters, nominees, and awardees. The Luna Awards Night is under the direction of singer-songwriter Ice Seguerra.

Ten days prior to the Luna Awards Night, the FAP and FDCP held a Nominees' Night on November 20 at Delgado.112 restaurant along Scout Delgado Street in the Tomas Morato area of Quezon City. The Nominees' Night introduced the nominees to the members of the press, celebrated the nominees’ notable works, and fostered better camaraderie in the entertainment industry.

The 37th Luna Awards on November 30 is a strictly invitational Black Tie Optional affair. The Red Carpet Ceremonies will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Cocktail Reception at 6 p.m., and the Awards Ceremony promptly starting at 8 p.m. The Red Carpet and Awards Ceremony will be shown via livestream on the FDCP Facebook page (with the username Film Development Council of the Philippines).

FAP Director-General Vivian Velez, Best Directors Nominee Dwein Baltazar, Kip Oebanda, Chito Roño, and FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño

FAP Director-General Vivian Velez, Best Actor Nominee Nicco Manalo, and FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño

Best Actress Nominee Glaiza de Castro

The official list of nominees and Special Awardees of the 37th Luna Awards:

BEST MOTION PICTURE

Liway (Exquisite Aspect Ventures, VY/AC Productions, and Cinemalaya)

Buy Bust (Viva Films and Reality Entertainment)

Signal Rock (CSR Productions)

Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral (TBA Studios and Globe Studios)

Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus (Epicmedia Productions, CineFilipino, Unitel, and Cignal Entertainment)

BEST DIRECTOR

Chito Roño (Signal Rock)

Dwein Baltazar (Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus)

Erik Matti (Buy Bust)

Kip Oebanda (Liway)

Irene Villamor (Meet Me in St. Gallen)

BEST ACTOR

Eddie Garcia (Rainbow’s Sunset)

Christian Bables (Signal Rock)

Nicco Manalo (Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus)

Daniel Padilla (The Hows of Us)

Dingdong Dantes (Sid & Aya)

BEST ACTRESS

Angelica Panganiban (Exes Baggage)

Glaiza de Castro (Liway)

AiAi delas Alas (School Service)

Anne Curtis (Sid & Aya)

Agot Isidro (Changing Partners)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Arjo Atayde (Buy Bust)

Soliman Cruz (Liway)

Carlo Aquino (Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral)

Epy Quizon (Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral)

Mon Confiado (Signal Rock)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Aiko Melendez (Rainbow’s Sunset)

Daria Ramirez (Signal Rock)

Max Collins (Citizen Jake)

Nova Villa (Miss Granny)

Sunshine Dizon (Rainbow’s Sunset)

BEST SCREENPLAY

Carmi Raymundo, Gilliann Ebreo, Crystal San Miguel, and Cathy Garcia-Molina (The Hows of Us)

Rodolfo Vera (Signal Rock)

Rodolfo Vera and Jerrold Tarog (Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral)

Irene Villamor (Meet Me in St. Gallen)

Zig Dulay and Kip Oebanda (Liway)

BEST SOUND

Albert Michael Idioma and Alex Tomboc (Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral)

Albert Michael Idioma and Alex Tomboc (Signal Rock)

Whannie Dellosa and Steven Vesagas (Buy Bust)

Axel Fernandez (Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus)

Jason Conanan, Mikko Quizon, and Kat Salinas (Meet Me in St. Gallen)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Michael Español and Roma Regala (Buy Bust)

Aped Santos (Liway)

Mark Sabas (Signal Rock)

Roy Lachica (Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral)

Maolen Fadul (Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Neil Derrick Bion (Buy Bust)

Neil Daza (Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus)

Pong Ignacio (Liway)

Neil Daza (Signal Rock)

Tey Clamor (Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi)

BEST MUSICAL SCORE

Jerrold Tarog (Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral)

Malek Lopez and Erwin Romulo (Buy Bust)

Emerzon Texon (Meet Me in St. Gallen)

Nhick Ramiro Pacis (Liway)

Emerzon Texon (Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi)

BEST EDITING

Jay Halili (Buy Bust)

Marya Ignacio and Beng Bandong (The Hows of Us)

Maynard Pattaui and Edlyn Tallada-Abuel (Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes)

Chuck Gutierrez (Liway)

Jerrold Tarog (Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral)

FAP Director-General Vivian Velez, Best Supporting Actor Nominee Epy Quizon, and FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño

FAP Director-General Vivian Velez, Best Supporting Actor Nominee Soliman Cruz, and FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño

FAP Director-General Vivian Velez and FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño with Best Supporting Actress Nominees Max Collins and Nova Villa

Special Awards

Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ) Lifetime Achievement Award

Ms. Lily Monteverde

Manuel de Leon Award for Exemplary Achievement

Ms. Nova Villa

Lamberto Avellana Memorial Award

Director Wenn Deramas

Director Soxie Topacio

Sine Sandaan: Production Companies of the Philippines Luminaries

Studios

1. Nepomuceno Productions

2. LVN Pictures, Inc.

3. Sampaguita Pictures, Inc.

4. Premiere Productions, Inc.

5. Lebran Productions

6. Regal Entertainment, Inc.

7. Seiko Films, Inc.

8. Viva Entertainment, Inc.

9. Star Cinema (ABS-CBN Films)

10. GMA Films

Independent production companies

1. FPJ Productions, Inc.

2. AM Productions

3. NV Productions

4. LEA Productions, Inc.

5. Reyna Films

6. Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions, Inc.

7. RVQ Productions, Inc.

8. J.E. Production

9. Quantum Films

10. APT Entertainment, Inc.

11. Unitel Productions, Inc.

12. OctoArts Films International

13. M-ZET Productions, Inc.

14. Spring Films

15. TBA Studios

16. The IdeaFirst Company

17. Reality Entertainment

18. Center Stage Productions, Inc.

19. Ten17P Productions

20. Imus Productions, Inc.