24th LUNA AWARDS TOASTS EIGHT FIRST TIME WINNERS
By Jose N. Carreon


The Lunas went to eight first-time winners while three of last year’s winners garnered their second consecutive trophies in this year’s 24th annual edition of the Film Academy of the Philippines peer awards.
Two films amassed wins in four categories each while four other films got a trophy each.

This, in a nutshell, described the results of the 24th Luna Awards which was held at the PAGCOR Grand Theater in Casino Filipino, Parañaque City.

In a predominantly Filipiniana-themed awards program which focused on the UNESCO’s eight heritage sites in the country and musical numbers which were distinctly Filipino, the ceremonies also paid tribute to the lifetime achievements of Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. and Pablo S. Gomez, and granted posthumous awards to composer George Canseco and actress Nida Blanca.

Hosted by three pairs that included Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. and wife Lani Mercado, Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal and John Lloyd Cruz and Claudine Barretto, the awards night was unanimously praised as something that was totally different and patently original in concept from the usual awards programs.

FAP Director-General literally gave the Eight Elephants productions outfit of Harlene Bautista and Rominic Sarmenta which produced the show for a job well done. The television coverage was directed by Al Quinn.

Blue Moon garnered major awards as best picture, best director (Joel Lamangan), best screenplay and best musical score. Nasaan Ka Man won in the best supporting actress, cinematography, editing (Marya Ignacio) and musical score categories.

Four other films came up with a single trophy, namely Kutob, for best actor; Ako Legal Wife, for best actress (Zsa Zsa Padilla); La Visa Loca, for best supporting actor; and Exodus, for best production design.

Herein is the list of first-time winners:

Marvin Agustin, best actor for Kutob; Johnny Delgado, best supporting actor for La Visa Loca; Hilda Koronel, best supporting actress for Nasaan Ka Man; Allan Tijamo, best screenplay for Blue Moon; Charlie Peralta, best cinematography for Nasaan Ka Man; Richard Somes, best production design for Exodus; Von de Guzman, best musical score for Blue Moon; and Addis Tabong, best sound for Nasaan Ka Man.

The only fly in the ointment, as one of the directors present during the entire awards proceedings remarked, was the failure of six of the winners to attend and personally receive their awards. These were in the categories of supporting actor, supporting actress, screenplay, editing, production design and sound.

But all in all, the program unfolded with impressive video presentations of the eight heritage sites as well as musical numbers which were greatly appreciated and applauded.

An official report from the Cedilla, Villarey and Associates which tabulated the results of the voting revealed that the winners which chalked up the highest percentages were the following:

Charlie Peralta for best cinematography, 53%; Joel Lamangan for best direction, 49%; Johnny Delgado as best supporting actor, 49%; Marya Ignacio for best editing, 47%; Blue Moon as best picture, 46%; and Allan Tijano for best screenplay, 45%.

Mr. Leo Martinez said that the academy will already be preparing for
a much bigger awards night next year as this will be the silver anniversary of the Luna Awards.

He said that academy citers will be selecting their short list of possible nominees earlier, setting a March or May time frame for the holding of the awards. He added that the FAP secretariat is now preparing a short list of films which received an A or B rating from the Cinema Evaluation Board of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

He also said they intend to inject more young blood in the roster of citers and voters for next year’s awards.