MINDANAON film director Arnel “Arbi” Barbarona is this year’s best director for the 66th Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards held at the Theatre at Solaire Sunday, June 10.
Barbarona who hails from Davao City directed the film Tu Pug Imatuy (The right to kill).
“Isang malaking karangalan ang mapansin ang obrang Mindanaon. Alang sa katawhang lumad nga nakigbisug! Maraming salamat FAMAS (It is such a big honor for a Mindanaon masterpiece to be recognized. This (award) is for all the Indigenous People who continuously fight for their rights. Thank you, Famas!),” the award-winning director said in his Facebook post Monday morning, June 11.
The film he directed was based on true events that unfolded in the uplands at the boundary of Bukidnon and Davao – the location of the Matigsalug’s ancestral domain in 2014.
The film also won as Best Film at the Sinag Maynila Cinema film fest in 2017.
Here is the full list of winners:
Best Picture - Balangiga: Howling Wilderness
1st place Grand Jury Prize: Tu Pug Imatuy
2nd place Grand Jury Prize: Respeto
Best Director - Arnel Barbarona, Tu Pug Imatuy
Best Actor - Allen Dizon, Bomba
Best Actress - Agot Isidro, Changing Partners
Best Supporting Actor - Mon Confiado, Mga Gabing Kasinghaba ng Hair Ko
Best Supporting Actress- Odette Khan, Barboys
Best Original Screenplay - Khav, Achinette Villamor, Jerry Gracio, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness
Adapted Screenplay - Changing Partners - Based on the musical of the same title by Vincent de Jesus. Adapted screenplay by Vincent de Jesus and Lilit Reyes
Best Cinematography - Albert Banzon, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness
Production Design - Marija Vicente, Timmy Harn and Zeus Bascon, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness
Best Editing - Victor Delotavo Tagaro, Yield
Best Sound - Mikko Quizon, Jason Conanan, Kathrine Salinas, John Perez, Nervous Translation
Best Musical Score - Jay Oliver Durias, Respeto
Best Visual Effects - Iar Arondaing, Instalado
Best Original Song - "Katurog Na," Balangiga: Howling Wilderness
Best Short Film: Hilom
Grand Juty Prize for Short Film: Aliens Ata and Dory
Best Documentary Film: Yield
Comedy King Dolphy Memorial Award: Vice Ganda
Male and Female Celebrity of the Night: Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto
Lifetime Achievement Award: Lav Diaz
Fernando Poe Jr Award: Coco Martin
German Moreno Youth Achievement Award: Awra Briguela
Male Face of the Night: JC Santos
Female Face of the Night: Maxx Eigenmann