The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has released the list of honorees for this year’s Film Ambassadors’ Night (FAN), to be held on February 9. This year, FDCP will be recognizing 66 honorees as ‘Film Ambassadors.’ The honorees consist of the many Filipino film industry artists, filmmakers, and films across genres and formats that received awards in film festivals abroad.

This year’s FAN honorees comprise of seven categories, namely: short films, TV awards, technical & creative awards, actors, full-length films, special citations, and A-Listers. This last category, which celebrates those who have won awards in the most prestigious "A-List" international film festivals around the world, headlines the honorees. These “A-List” film festivals include the big three: Cannes, Venice, and Berlin, as well as a select number of major festivals around the globe according to the list of FIAPF.

Our A-Listers this year include Brillante Mendoza’s Mindanao, winning Best Narrative Film, Judy Ann Santos as Best Actress in the Cairo International Film Festival in Egypt, Jun Robles Lana for winning best director in his film Kalel, 15, in the 2019 Tallinn Blacknights International Film Festival and the documentary film Aswang, directed by Alyx Ayn Arumpac which won the Fipresci Prize in International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), the most prestigious film festival in the field of documentary filmmaking. Raymund Ribay Guttierez's film Verdict, the official Philippine entry to this year's Oscars holds the highest award our country has achieved this year, having claimed the Special Jury Prize in the Orizzonti section of the Venice International Film Festival last 2019.

Direk Jun Lana with his Best Director trophy at the  2019 Tallinn  Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn, Estonia

Other honorary ‘Film Ambassadors’ include Maja Salvador for her ‘Best Actress’ performance in the teleserye Wildflower, Bea Alonzo for her ‘Asian Stars Up Next Award,’ Max Eigenmann for her performance as Joey Del Rosario in Verdict (2019), and the critically-acclaimed, multi-award-winning films Signal Rock (2018, dir. Chito Rono) and Balangiga: Howling Wilderness (2017, dir. Khavn Dela Cruz). The late Kristofer King will receive posthumous honors for his role in Kristo as well.

Maja Salvador with her Best Actress Trophy at the Asia Contents Awards 2019 in Busan, South Korea

The late veteran actors Eddie Garcia and Tony Mabesa, who starred in Joel Lamangan’s award-winning Rainbow’s Sunset (2018), will also be receiving posthumous honors during the Film Ambassador’s Night. Adding to their already illustrious careers, both actors tied in the “Best Actor” category during the 52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival and were part of the “Best Ensemble Cast” victory in New York’s International Film Festival 2019 alongside the rest of Rainbow’s Sunset’s lead cast.

Ms. Gloria Romero with the late Eddie Garcia and Tony Mabesa of Rainbow Sunset.

“These ‘Film Ambassadors’ display the diversity and the wide spectrum of our national film industry. They exemplify the best that Philippine cinema has to offer, and as its cream of the crop they promote Philippine cinema internationally, therefore empowering our local film industry and strengthening our cultural heritage.” FDCP Chair Liza Dino said.

FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño with the A-Listers of last year's Film Ambassadors' Night.

The new honorees will join the over 200 filmmakers and other members of the film industry who have been recognized by FDCP for their success in the international arena since the event’s inaugural night in 2017. Past honorees have featured and covered the various spheres of Philippine cinema, from blockbuster films such as The Hows of Us (2018), starring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla to indie filmmakers such as Lav Diaz and Kidlat Tahimik.

FDCP’s Fourth Annual Film Ambassadors’ night kicks-off an eventful year for the agency as it leads the celebration of Sine Sandaan, the centennial year commemoration of Philippine cinema. 

 

FILM AMBASSADORS' NIGHT HONOREES:

SHORT FILMS - 9

1. BREECH ASHER HARANI

NEXT TO ME 

JCS International Young Creatives Award

International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

International Emmy World Television Festival

New York City, New York, USA

 

2. JULLIENNE ROASA

 

ELON'S WAY

Best Student Film

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

3. EMIR KAHN BAUTISTA

 

MISS CONCEPCION

Audience Choice Award

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

4. JOHN LANBERT RAFOLS, JAY CONDENO, JOHN NICO NUNAG

 

YERO

Best Short Documentary

21 Islands International Short Film Festival

New York, USA

 

5. MARK DELA CRUZ

 

AMOR FALSO

Best Short Film

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

6. RAYMUND RIBAY GUTIERREZ

 

JUDGEMENT

Gold Remi Dramatic – Original

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

7. JOJI ALONSO

 

LAST ORDER

Platinum Remi Award - Short film

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

8. LOUIE IGNACIO

 

NGITI NI NAZARENO

Jury Award 

Innuendo International Film Festival

Milan, Italy

 

9. ARJAN REBETA

 

PALABAS (A COUNTRY IN MOVING PICTURES)

Signs Award – Short Film Section

17th Festival International Signs of the Night – Zeichen Der Nacht

Berlin, Germany

 

Best Short Film

15th Mini Film Festival

Sarawak, Malaysia

 

Best International Short Film 

Short Film Festival on Cultural Diversity and Peace by Dhaka University Film Society 

Dhaka, Bangladesh

 

Telefon Art Category Top Prize Winner

12th Szczecin Film Festival

Szczecin, Poland

 

MA-GULONG SAYAW NG BUHAY (THE COMPLICATED DANCE TO THE WHEEL OF LIFE)

Second Best Short Film

Maandeshi International Short Film Festival

Sangola, Maharashtra, India

 

VIRAL GIRL

Best Child Short Film

Maandeshi International Short Film Festival

Sangola, Maharashtra , India

 

VIRAL KIDS

Special Mention for the Signs Award

17th Festival International Signs of the Night

Bangkok, Thailand

 

A BOXING COUNTRY

Best Short Film

ANPUD Short Film Competition 2019 

Bangkok, Thailand

 

Best Experimental Short Film

Dolgoji Experimental Shorts 

Seoul, South Korea

 

WING CHAIR

Best Short Documentary 

LAMP» International Film Festival 2019 

Perm, Russia

 

Jury Award 

10th Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival – 

PESTA10 Filmmakers’ Competition 

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

 

AT HOME

Best Documentary Film    

3rd Asia Peace Film Festival 

Lahore, Pakistan

 

 

DOCUMENTARIES - 8

 

TV DOCUMENTARIES

 

1. THE ATOM ARAULLO SPECIALS: BABIES FOR SALE (GMA 7)

Gold Camera Award

US International Film and Video Festival

Chicago, Illinois, USA

 

2. THE ATOM ARAULLO SPECIALS: NO LEFTOVERS (GMA 7)

Gold Camera Award

US International Film and Video Festival

Chicago, Illinois, USA

 

3. I-WITNESS (HOWIE SEVERINO TEAM): ISLANG WALANG LUPA (GMA 7)

Silver Screen Award

US International Film and Video Festival

Chicago, Illinois, USA

 

4. FRONT ROW: PASAN (GMA 7)

Silver Screen Award

US International Film and Video Festival

Chicago, Illinois, USA

 

5. INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTARIES: PIITAN (GMA 7)

Silver Screen Award

US International Film and Video Festival

Chicago, Illinois, USA

 

6. LOCAL LEGENDS: KARNE NORTE (ABS-CBN)

Silver Dolphin in the Lifestyle, Art, Music, and Culture Category

Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards

Cannes, France

 

Bronze World Medal

2019 New York Festivals “World’s Best TV and Films”

New York, USA

 

DOCUMENTARY FILMS

 

SHORT DOCUMENTARY

 

7. NO MAN LEFT BEHIND

Directed by Ella Mage

Best Feature Documentary

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

FULL-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY

 

8. CALL HER GANDA

Directed by PJ Raval

Produced by Jim Butterworth, Daniel J. Chalfen, James Costa, 

Abigail Disney, Barbara Dobkin

Audience Choice Award

Seattle Asian American Film Festival 2019

Washington, USA

 

Best Feature Film

Seattle Asian American Film Festival 2019

Washington, USA

 

 

TECHNICAL & CREATIVE AWARDS - 11

 

1. MATTHEW ROSEN & MARIA ROWELLA TALUSIG

Gold Remi Best Art Direction - Quezon’s Game

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

2. MIKKO QUIZON

Best Sound Effects – Nabubulok

Formosa Festival of International Filmmaker Awards

Taiwan

 

3. VINCENT SOBERANO

Best Visual FX - Blood Hunters Rise of the Hybrids

Urban Action Showcase International Action Film Festival

New York, USA

 

4. MAC COSICO

Best Cinematography - Musmos Na Sumibol Sa Gubat ng Digma

Festival Internacional de Cinema da Figueira da Foz (Film Art 2019)

Coimbra, Portugal

 

5. ERIC RAMOS

Best Story Innovation - Rainbow Sunset

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA 

 

6. RODY VERA

Best Script - Asian Competition Section - Signal Rock

17th Dhaka International Film Festival

Dhaka, Bangladesh

 

7. CARLO ORTEGA CUEVAS 

Best Screenplay - Guerrero

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

8. MONSOUR DEL ROSARIO

Best Weapons Sequence - Blood Hunters Rise of the Hybrids

Urban Action Showcase International Action Film Festival

New York, USA

 

9. SARAH CHANG

Best Action Sequence - Blood Hunters Rise of the Hybrids

Urban Action Showcase International Action Film Festival

New York, USA

 

10. ROMM BURLAT

Best Director - Ama Ka Ng Anak Mo

16th We Care Film Festival

New Delhi, India

 

11. MATTHEW ROSEN 

Gold Remi Best Director - Quezon’s Game

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

ACTORS - 16

 

1. BARBARA MIGUEL

Best Supporting Actress - 1-2-3

ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards 2019

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

 

2. CRISEL CONSUNJI 

Best New Performer - Still Human

38th Hong Kong Film Awards

Kowloon, Hong Kong

 

3. KRYSTLE CAMPOS

Best Child Artist - VIRAL GIRL

Maandeshi International Short Film Festival

Sangola, Maharashtra , India

 

4. GERALDO "JEK" JUMAWAN

Best Actor - Special Mention Citation - Nothing Beats the Oldies

Lake City International Film Festival

New Delhi, India

 

5. MAJA SALVADOR

Best Actress - Wildflower

Asian Content Awards 

Busan, South Korea

 

6. DANTE RIVERO

Best Actor Award - Kung Paano Hinihintay ang Dapithapon

39th Fantasporto-Oporto International Film Festival

Porto, Portugal

 

7. OGIE ALCASID

Best Actor -  Kuya Wes

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

8. GLORIA ROMERO

Best Actress - Rainbow Sunset

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

9. ANGELI BAYANI

Best Actress - Bagahe

15th Zagora International Trans-Sahara Film Festival

Morocco

 

10. INA RAYMUNDO

Best Actress - Kuya Wes

39th Fantasporto-Oporto International Film Festival

Porto, Portugal

 

11.  AI-AI DELAS ALAS

Best Actress - School Service

39th Fantasporto-Oporto International Film Festival

Porto, Portugal

 

12. MAX EIGENMANN 

Best Performance by an Actress - Verdict

13th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA)

Brisbane, Australia

 

13. EDDIE GARCIA, TONY MABESA, GLORIA ROMERO, AIKO MELENDEZ, TIRSO CRUZ, SHIDO ROXAS, ALBIE CASINO, ROSS PESIGAN

Best Ensemble Acting - Rainbow Sunset

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

14. KRISTOFER KING (Posthumous Award)

Best Male Actor - Kristo

ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards 2019

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

 

Best Performance - Verdict

Silver Screen Awards

30th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF)

Singapore

 

15. TONY MABESA 

Best Actor Award - Rainbow Sunset

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

16. EDDIE GARCIA

Best Actor Award - Rainbow Sunset

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

FEATURE FILMS - 14

 

1. HINTAYAN NG LANGIT

Directed by Dan Villegas

Produced by Globe Studios; Project 8 corner San Joaquin Projects, Manet Dayrit & Ed Lejano

The Golden Samaritan Lion: To The Sincere Play-Acting

2019 Festival International Film East and 

West Classics and Avante-Garde

Orenburg, Russia

 

2. BAGAHE

Directed by Zig Dulay

Produced by Milagros Ong How

Critic’s Special Mention and People’s Choice Award

15th Zagora International Trans-Sahara Film Festival

Morocco

 

3. QUEZON’S GAME

Directed by Matthew Rosen

Produced by Lorena Rosen and ABS-CBN Film Productions Inc.

Special Jury Award First Feature

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

Best Foreign Movie of the Year

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

4. SCHOOL SERVICE

Directed by Louie Ignacio

Produced by BG Productions (Baby Go) and Ferdy Lapuz

Orient Express Special Jury Prize

39th Fantasporto-Oporto International Film Festival

Porto, Portugal

 

Gold Remi Foreign

Produced by Ferdy Lapuz

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

 

5. MUSMOS NA SUMIBOL SA GUBAT NG DIGMA 

Directed by Iar Arondaing

Produced by Minda Ponce Rodriguez

Special Jury Prize

18th Baikal International Film Festival

Irkutsk, Russia Siberia

 

6. BALANGIGA: HOWLING WILDERNESS

Directed by Khavn Dela Cruz

Produced By. Achinette Villamor, Khavn & Edong Canlas

Best Jury Prize

5th Bangkok ASEAN Film Festival

Bangkok, Thailand

 

7. RAINBOW SUNSET

Directed by Joel Lamangan

Produced by Heaven’s Best Productions (Harlene Bautista) and Ferdy Lapuz

Special Jury Prize

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

Best Feature Film

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

8. KUNG PAANO HINIHINTAY ANG DAPITHAPON

Directed by Carlo Catu

Produced by Patrick Neil Meneses & Enrico Roque

Special Jury Prize –Directors Week

39th Fantasporto-Oporto International Film Festival

Porto-Portugal

 

Audience Choice Award

25th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema

Vesoul, France

 

 

9. BLOOD HUNTERS RISE OF THE HYBRIDS

Directed by Vincent Soberano

Produced by Monsour Del Rosario

Best Action Film

Urban Action Showcase International Action Film Festival

New York, USA

 

Best Martial Arts Film

Urban Action Showcase International Action Film Festival

New York, USA

 

10. PAN DE SALAWAL

Directed by Che Espiritu

Produced by Neil Arce, Matthew Godbey, Herb Kimble, Tey Clamor and Phyllis Grande

Best Narrative Feature Award

14th Belize International Film Festival

Belize City, Belize

 

11. ARIA

Directed by Carlo Enciso Catu

Produced by Ferdy Lapuz

Best Feature Film

Lake City International Film Festival

India

 

12. ALPHA: THE RIGHT TO KILL

Directed and Produced by Brillante Mendoza (Center Stage Productions)

Jury Prize Award

Bucharest International Film Festival 2019

Bucharest, Romania

 

Le Prix Du Jury

Festival International Du Film Policier De Beaune

Beaune, France

 

13. MAMANG

Directed by Denise O’Hara

Produced by Ferdy Lapuz

Best Feature Film

17th Dhaka International Film Festival

Dhaka, Bangladesh

 

14. SIGNAL ROCK 

Directed by Chito Rono

Produced by CSR Films and Regal Entertainment

Best Film

Asean International Film Festival & Awards 2019

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

 

SPECIAL CITATION - 3

 

1. BEA ALONZO

Asian Stars Up Next Award

4th International Film Festival & Awards Macao

Macao, China

 

2. CESAR MONTANO

Lifetime Achievement Award – Acting/ Directing

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

Best Actor

Heart For Victory

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

3. JOEL LAMANGAN

Lifetime Achievement Award in Directing

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

Film Festival Director Award

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

A-LISTERS - 5

 

1. ASWANG

Directed by Alyx Ayn Arumpac

Produced by Armi Rae Cacanindin

FIPRESCI Prize

International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFFA)

Amsterdam, Netherlands

 

2. JUDY ANN SANTOS

Best Actress

Mindanao

41st Cairo International Film Festival

Cairo, Egypt

 

3. JUN ROBLES LANA

Best Director

Kalel, 15

2019 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival

Tallinn, Estonia

 

4. MINDANAO

Best Artistic Contribution

Directed and Produced by Brillante Mendoza (Center Stage Productions)

41st Cairo International Film Festival

Cairo, Egypt

 

5. VERDICT

Directed by Raymund Ribay Gutierrez

Produced by Center Stage Productions (Brillante Mendoza)

NETPAC Award

2nd Hainan Island International Film Festival

Hainan Island, China

 

SPECIAL JURY AWARD

76th Venice Film Festival

Venice, Italy