Big Night was hailed as the big winner in the 2021 Metro Manila Film Festival, bagging a total of nine awards in this year’s Gabi ng Parangal.
A film that revolves around the story of a gay beautician who tries to clear his name after learning he is part of a drug watchlist won Best Picture, with Christian Bables and John Arcilla winning Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.
The dark comedy movie also won Best Director and Best Screenplay (Jun Lana), Best Cinematography, Best Musical Score (Teresa Barrozo), and Gender Sensitivity Award.
Full list of the MMFF2021 winners follows:
2nd Best Picture – “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon”
3rd Best Picture – “A Hard Day”
Best Actress – Charo Santos Concio, “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon”
Best Supporting Actress – Rans Rifol, “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon”
Best Short Film Content Creator – Pio Balbuena’s “Kandado”
Best Float – “Huwag Kang Lalabas”
Best Sound – Albert Michael Idioma for “A Hard Day”
Best Theme Song – “Huling Ulan sa Tag-Araw”
Best Visual Effects – “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon”
Best Production Design – Whammy Alcazaren, “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon”
Best Theme Song – “Huling Ulan Ng Tag-Araw” by Louie Ignacio
Best Editing – Law Fajardo, “A Hard Day”
Special Jury Prize – Daniel Padilla
FPJ Award – “A Hard Day”
Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award – “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon”Marichu Vera Perez Memorial Award – Rosa Rosal
Unlike the virtual awarding ceremony last year, this year’s Gabi ng Parangal was held at the SM Aura, Taguig on Monday, December 27.
Amid reports of low turnout of moviegoers, MMFF spokesperson Noel Ferrer in a lengthy Facebook post on Sunday, stressed that cinema operators have said that the opening day for the annual film fest last December 25 was the highest grossing day since the reopening of cinemas amid the pandemic.
“The first day gross alone this year covered 1/3 of the total MMFF Online gross (in its entire run) last year. With more people going to the cinemas by the day, sa first 3-4 days pa lang, puwede nang malampasan ang total gross last year. Wala pang major sakit ng ulong problema sa piracy,” stated Noel.
He added, “The fact na nakapag MMFF tayo despite the pandemic ay isang malaking achievement na at magandang unang hakbang sa pagbabalik ng kumpiyansa ng mga tao at producers na nandito tayo na nakasuporta sa industriyang naipatigil, naisantabi at hindi itinuring na “essential” ng halos dalawang taon.
Noel also urged public to support the local film industry: “Hindi lang ito para sa kabuhayan ng mga tao kundi ang patuloy na paglikha ng sining – sa gitna ng pandemya”.
“IPAGPATULOY NATIN ANG SUPORTA AT PAGMAMAHAL SA PELIKULANG PILIPINO. Sa huli’t huli, sino nga ba ang magtutulungan kundi tayo tayo rin naman, di ba?”
