LIST: Cinemalaya 2024 winners

MANILA, Philippines — Kapuso actress Marian Rivera won the Best Performance of an Actress award for the film “Balota” at the recently concluded Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

Marian shared the award with Gabby Padilla from the film “Kono Bosho.”

Marian was praised for “her spirited portrayal of a public school teacher risking life and limb to protect the sanctity of the ballot,” while Gabby received the nod for “her sensitive and very moving portrayal of a young woman navigating the cultural complexities of a foreign funeral while coming to terms with personal loss and family grief.”

The docufiction film on the plight of the Ati community in Sitio Karabankalan brought home the prestigious Balanghai trophy for Best Film at the 20th edition of the film festival.

Directed by Iloilo-based filmmakers Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay and Richard Jeroui Salvadico, “Tumandok: was cited for “its focus on a marginalized sector of Philippine society, its nearly epic sweep of the life and landscape of a people disempowered by the wealthy and the powerful and victimized by government neglect and corruption, its highly convincing characters and effective ensemble acting by a cast of non-professional actors, and for its highly effective filmmaking in defense of the rights of indigenous people to their ancestral domain.”

The film also bagged the Best Supporting Actor for Felipe Ganancial; as well as Best Screenplay, Best Original Score, and NETPAC Award for Best Film in the Full-Length Category. 

Ganancial got the award for “his very impressive performance as elder and chieftain trying to keep his people together in their steadfast but non-violent fight to keep their ancestral land despite violence and intimidation by the wealthy and the powerful.”

“Tumandok’s” script, co-written by Arden Rod Condez with Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay, was cited for “taking as its subject matter a sector that’s relegated to the margins of society, and its powerful tale of an indigenous people’s resolve to keep their ancestral land in the face of corruption and violence.”

Paulo Almaden and The Ati People of Kabarankalan and Nagpana won Best Original Score for “their highly effective use of