“Imbisibol” sweeps major awards at the first Sinag Maynila Film Festival
by Vance Madrid
Lawrence Fajardo’s “Imbisibol” won the major awards at the first Sinag Maynila film festival awarding night held last Saturday at the Sky Park Gardens of SM Aura Premier. The films tackles the lives of four Filipinos who are illegally living and working in Japan. The said movie took home a total of seven awards: Best Picture, Best Director for Fajardo, Best Actor for Allen Dizon, Best Actress for Ces Quesada (in a tie with Alessandra de Rossi for Zig Dulay’s “Bambanti”), Best Screenplay for Herlyn Gail Alegre, Best Cinematography for Boy Yñiguez, and Best Production Design for Fajardo and Rolando Inocencio.
“Imbisibol” is the screen adaptation of Alegre’s one-act play of the same title that Fajardo directed in 2013 for the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Virgin Lab Fest production. Aside from “Imbisibol,” the other entries at the Sinag Maynila film festival includes Zig Dulay’s “Bambanti”, Remton Siega Zuasola’s “Swap” and Paul Sta. Ana’s “Balut Country” as well as Jim Libiran’s controversial “Ninja Party,” which took home the festival’s SM People Choice award.
Allen Dizon’s best actor win only proves he’s able to continue his winning streak which started in 2014 when he won via Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Magkakabaung”. The said film had given him his five Best Actor prizes to date, two of them are from international film festivals.
According to Dizon’s manager, Dennis Evangelista, Allen was not present during the awarding ceremony for Sinag Maynila because he’s currently in Dublin, Ireland attending the Silk Road Film Festival where “Magkakabaung”, released internationally as “The Coffin Maker,” is competing in the Feature Film section.
Best actress winner Ces Quesada started out as a comedienne as the wacky anchor of the fake satirical news program called “Sic-O-Clock News” sometime in the mid-80’s, directed by the late Marilou Diaz-Abaya. She’s also popular for her stints on “Eat Bulaga” and “Home Along Da Riles”, Qusada’s win at the Sinag Maynila Award is the very first acting award for the veteran actress.
Meanwhile, Alessandra De Rossi is one of the country’s finest actresses. She must have found her niche in independent films. Before her award for “Bambanti,” she won the Gawad Urian and ASEAN International Film Festival Best Actress for Manny Palo’s “Sta. Niña” in 2013.
Fajardo, an accomplished film editor, was the recipient of the 2013 Gawad Urian Best Director award for “Posas.” Two of his other films, “Amok” (2011) and “Prinsesa” (2007), have also done well in local independent festival circuit.
The festival’s distinguished board of jurors was composed of National Artists for Literature F. Sionil Jose and Bienvenido Lumbera, award-winning screenwriter Armando “Bing” Lao, festival programmer Paolo Bertolin, film producer John Badalu, and art critic and film educator Tito Valiente.
Presented by Solar Entertainment Corp together with celebrated filmmaker Brillante Mendoza, the Sinag Maynila film festival will continue the theatrical run of its five entries until October 24 at SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Manila, SM Fairview, SM Southmall, SM Mall of Asia and SM Aura Premier.
