INDEPENDENT  FILMS  GET  TOP  PLUMS  IN  'URIAN'  AWARDS

MANILA, AUGUST 6, 2006 (MALAYA) By Beng Ragon - Digital movies ruled the 29th Gawad Urian with "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros" winning as Best Picture during the awards show held Thursday at the Henry Irwin Theater, Ateneo de Manila University. Action star Robin Padilla bagged the Best Actor trophy for his comic role in "La Visa Loca" while dramatic actress Jaclyn Jose won Best Actress for "Sarung Banggi."

Young talent Ketchup Eusebio scored an upset when he won the Best Supporting Actor award for "Sa Aking Pagkakagising Mula sa Kamulatan," besting veteran actors Johnny Delgado ("La Visa Loca") and Michael de Mesa ("Big Time"). Meanwhile, seasoned actress Hilda Koronel was named Best Supporting Actress for "Nasaan Ka Man" against strong contender Gloria Diaz for the same movie. Other nominees in this category were famed personalities Boots Anson Roa and Jennylyn Mercado for "Blue Moon" and "indie" actors Joy Soler-De Castro for "Pepot Artista" and Hallen Sumingwa for "Ang Daan Patungong Kalimugtong."

Bringing experimental films into the spotlight in this year’s Urian Awards proved the maturity of the industry and its positive direction with the emergence of more intelligent moviegoers. That’s why Urian jurors gave particular recognition to independent cinema which marked its boom in the recent years and brought the rise of today’s most promising filmmakers. Noted for their groundbreaking concepts and fresh approach to filmmaking, digital movies got the most number of nominations and even bagged top awards in award-giving tilts this year.

Best Director Mes de Guzman boasts of his low-budgeted flick "Ang Daan Patungong Kalimugtong" which he says was a humble product of five-man team who succeeded in showing the life in the Mountain Province as seen in the eyes of two Ifugao kids who brave dangerous terrains day by day to be able to get to school. His directorial masterpiece likewise won Best Production Design with location set against the luscious landscape of Benguet. "Nasa atin na ang makinarya at teknolohiya, malaya na tayong lumikha," he declares after accepting his trophy.

Another toast of local cinema since its debut in the 1st Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival last year is the breakthrough film "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros" which was also Urian’s choice for Best Screenplay by Michiko Yamamoto. More than charming the viewers with the character of pre-pubescent gay Maximo, played by talented newbie Nathan Lopez, the digital flick goes beyond the conflicts of sexual orientation by unraveling a deeper sense of family values amidst life in the slums where criminals and scoundrels live. The re-master version of "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros" will be shown in theaters by the end of this month and will soon have its international release.

Auraeus Solito, director of "Maximo," simply prides in the Filipinos’ ingenuity and spirit to survive amidst the hard times. He states, "Mahirap man ang ating bansa, punung-puno at mayaman naman ang ating kaluluwa."

One of the unforgettable highlights of the awards night was the honorary citation given to Eddie Garcia as the recipient of the 2006 Natatanging Gawad Urian. The prestigious award was presented by megastar Sharon Cuneta, who rendered a medley of movie theme songs from Eddie’s selected directorial projects.

One of the most respected and accomplished names in the history of Philippine movies, Eddie boasts of a long list of achievements both as an actor and director in the past 50 years. He is admired for his great passion for his craft and versatility as an actor with roles in almost all genres of both mainstream and alternative films. He has more than 250 movies to his credit since 1949. His acting accolades include six Famas trophies for Best Supporting Actor and another five Famas trophies for Best Actor.

Eddie Garcia also champions the cause of independent film by gracing recent alternative shorts and features like Raymond Red’s "Anino," Gene Cajayon’s "Debut" and Rica Arevalo’s "ICU Bed #7," which gave him the Best Actor plum in the first Cinemalaya filmfest in 2005.

More than anything else, he is also recognized in the industry as one of the most commercially successful directors who made his directorial debut "Sa Linggo ang Bola" in 1961, 12 years after establishing a solid career in acting. Among the most popular and significant movies he directed were "Pinagbuklod ng Langit," a film bio of Ferdinand Marcos; "Atsay"; "Sinasamba Kita"; "Palimos ng Pag-ibig"; "Magdusa Ka"; "Immortal"; and a number of Sharon Cuneta teenybopper flicks like "P.S. I Love You," "Cross My Heart," "Forgive and Forget," and "Friends in Love."

Completing the roster of 2006 Urian victors were "Kultado" by Lawrence Fajardo for Best Short Film; Nap Jamir III for Best Cinematography ("Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros"); Clarence Sison and Kalakan Balintagos for Best Editing ("Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros"); Vincent de Jesus for Best Music ("La Visa Loca"); and Raffy Magsaysay for Best Sound ("Big Time").