'Firefly,' 'Rewind,' 'Mallari,' 'GomBurZa' lead 40th PMPC Star Awards for Movies nominees

MANILA, Philippines — Movies that competed at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) racked up the most nominations for the 40th Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards for Movies.

As revealed by PMPC Rodel Ocampo Fernando, MMFF 2023 Best Picture winner "Firefly" led all nominees with 15 nods, followed closely by "Mallari," "Rewind," and "GomBurZa."

All four films are up for Movie of the Year along with "Family of Two," "When I Met You In Tokyo," and "Five Breakups And A Romance," the former two also MMFF 2023 entrants.

Actors Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Christopher De Leon, and Piolo Pascual will be recognized as Dekada Award honorees, based on acting PMPC Star awards they've won in the last 40 years.

Vilma and Christopher, both stars of "When I Met You In Tokyo," received Movie Actress and Actor of the Year nominations respectively while Nora is up for the former having starred in "Pieta."

Related:  Philippine films need to improve — Jose Javier Reyes, Ruel S. Bayani

Piolo, meanwhile, has three other nominations to look forward to: Movie Actor of the Year for "Mallari," Movie Supporting Actor of the Year for "GomBurZa," and Darling of the Press.

Real-life couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera will receive the Takilya King and Queen award for starring in "Rewind," currently the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time.

Both are also up for Movie Actor and Actress of the Year through "Rewind," with Dingdong also getting a Movie Supporting Actor of the Year nomination for "Firefly."

Veteran actress Liza Lorena and movie producer Vicente del Rosario Jr. will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards, while former PMPC president Ronald K. Constantino will receive the Ethel Ramos Dean’s Lister Award.

Related:  ABS-CBN, GMA planning for more collaborations after 'Hello, Love, Again'

Here is a list of major nominees:

Movie of the Year
"Family Of Two"
"Firefly"
"Five Breakups And A Romance"
"Gomburza"
"Mallari"
"Rewind"
"When I Met You In Tokyo"

Movie Director of the Year
Derick Cabrido for "Mallari"
Nuel Naval for "Family Of Two"
Mae Cruz Alviar for "Rewind"
Pepe Diokno for "Gomburza"
Zig Dulay "Firefly"
Rommel Penesa and Conrado Peru for "When I Met You