Gabi ng Parangal: Metro Manila Film Festival 2016 Winners

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"MMFF is a lot like Hunger Games... complete with fancy parties and a grand parade before they make us kill each other. While I wish our film survives, I'm hoping all 8 entries Mockingjay's the shit out of the Establishment. May the odds be in our favor. #Reelvolution" - Avid Liongoren

Congratulations to all the winners of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2016 which were recognized during the Gabi ng Parangal awards night held on December 29, 2016 at the Kia Theater located in Araneta Center, Cubao. Erik Matti's Seklusyon dominates the MMFF 2016 from which he also won as Best Director. Seklusyon have won all category directing towards the top award but the movie about the private lives of OFWs living in Hong Kong, Sunday Beauty Queen, wins as Best Picture. This inspiring movie is the first ever documentary to ever make it to the festival, and surprisingly won the highest award.

The People's Choice Awardee is Die Beautiful where Paolo Ballesteros wins as Best Actor. Ballesteros also received the accolade at the Tokyo International Festival in November. Christian Bables wins as Best Supporting Actor for Die Beautiful.

As expected, Irma Adlawan wins as Best Actress for Alvin Yapan's Oro.

However, Nora Aunor starrer Kabisera and Eugene Domingo starrer Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2, did not win any single award.

According to MMFF spokesperson Noel Ferrer, unlike previous MMFFs, this year's competition is more "democratized". However, these movies must fill up at least 10% to 20% of the cinemas where they are being screened so they can stay in the bigger theaters. Otherwise, they will either be transferred to smaller theaters or be pulled out of cinemas.

Theaters are asked to extend MMFF 2016 movies ’til January 7, 2017.

In other news, what can you say about Mocha Uson's performance as #MMFF2016 ambassador?

Here is the complete list of winners:

Short Film Best Screenplay - Mitatang: A Short Animated Film

Short Film Special Jury Prize - Manila Scream

Short Film Best Pictre - EJK

Best Float - Die Beautiful

My Most Favorite Film (People's Choice) - Die Beautiful

Children's Choice Movies - Saving Sally, Sunday Beauty Queen, Vince And Kath And James

Best Sound Design - Seklusyon

Best Musical Score - Saving Sally

Best Movie Theme Song - Seklusyon

Best Editing - Sunday Beauty Queen

Female Celebrity of the Night - Rhian Ramos

Male Celebrity of the Night - Ronnie Alonte

Best Cinematography - Seklusyon

Best Production Design - Seklusyon

FPJ Memorial Award for Excellence - Oro

Best Screenplay - Seklusyon

Best Director - Erik Matti for Seklusyon

Gatpuno Antonio J Villegas Cultural Award - Sunday Beauty Queen

Best Supporting Actor - Christian Bables for Die Beautiful

Best Supporting Actress - Phoebe Walker for Seklusyon

Best Ensemble Cast - Oro

Jury Prize - Rhed Bustamante for Seklusyon

Best Actor - Paolo Ballesteros for Die Beautiful

Best Actress - Irma Adlawan for Oro

Best Picture - Sunday Beauty Queen