Will Hilda Koronel be back for the 47th Gawad Urian?

WITH due respect to the compelling cinemas nominated for the 47th Gawad Urian, which remains as the most prestigious prize a filmmaker can receive in this republic, the question is: Will Hilda Koronel make a dramatic comeback to the film industry that has, through the years, made her as one its most important actors?

Koronel, who starred in Lino Brocka’s Insiang,

reputedly the first Filipino film to be shown in Cannes, has been chosen by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino as the recipient of its Natatanging Gawad Urian, the equivalent of the lifetime achievement award.

As for the nominees, Gomburza from Jesuit Communications and Mquest Ventures leads with 12 nominations. GMA’S Firefly comes a close second with nine nominations because Gomburza has three best supporting actor nominations: Dante Rivero, Piolo Pascual and Enchong Dee. This record triumvirate nomination is repeated in Duyan Ka ng Magiting, where Agot Isidro, Dolly de Leon and Frances Makil-ignacio are all nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

Nominated for Best Directors are a relatively new generation of directors, which includes Jun Robles Lana, About Us But Not About Us; Zig Madamba Dulay, Firefly; Jose Lorenzo Diokno, Gomburza; Carl Joseph E. Papa, Iti Mapukpukaw; Sheron Dayoc, The Gospel of the Beast; and, Dwein Ruedas Baltazar, Third World Romance. Baltazar is the lone female nominee.

Five actors are competing for Best Actor this year: Romnick Sarmenta, About Us But Not About Us; Paolo O’hara, Ang Duyan ng Magiting; Euwenn Mikaell, Firefly; Cedrick Juan, Gomburza; Jansen Magpusao, The Gospel of the Beast; Carlo Aquino, Third World Romance.

Uncharacteristic of the Manunuri is the inclusion of a child actor, Euwenn Mikaell, as Best Actor nominee.

For the Best Actress, only four have been nominated this year. They are Kathryn Bernardo,

A Very Good Girl; Gabby Padilla, Gitling; Maxine Eigenmann, Raging Grace; Charlie Dizon, Third World Romance.

Four films were nominated for Best Documentary; six qualified for Best Short Film. Iti Mapukpukaw,

directed by Carl Joseph E. Papa, was the sole selection for animation and was nominated under the said category and also for Best Picture.

The 47th Gawad Urian will be held on June 8, 2024, at the Verdure, 4th Floor, Henry Sy Sr. Hall, De La Salle University, Taft Avenue, Manila.

The Manunuri is composed of Grace Javier Alfonso, Laurence Marvin Castillo, Gary Devilles, Butch Francisco, Miguel Rapatan, Anne Frances Sangil, Katrina Ross Tan, Nic Tiongson, Rolando Tolentino, Tito Genova Valiente and Shirley Lua, the present Chair.

47TH GAWAD URIAN NOMINATIONS BEST PICTURE

■ About Us But Not About Us

■ Ang Duyan ng Magiting

■ Firefly

■ Gomburza

■ Iti Mapukpukaw

■ Third World Romance

BEST DIRECTOR

■ Jun Robles Lana, About Us But Not About Us

■ Zig Madamba Dulay, Firefly

■ Jose Lorenzo Diokno, Gomburza

■ Carl Joseph E. Papa, Iti Mapukpukaw

■ Sheron Dayoc, The Gospel of the Beast

■ Dwein Ruedas Baltazar, Third World Romance

BEST SCREENPLAY

■ Jun Robles Lana, About Us But Not About Us

■ Angeli G. Atienza, Firefly

■ Rodolfo C. Vera and Jose Lorenzo Diokno, Gomburza

■ Carl Joseph E. Papa, Iti Mapukpukaw

■ Dwein Ruedas Baltazar and Jeko Aguado, Third World Romance

BEST ACTOR

■ Romnick Sarmenta, About Us But Not About Us

■ Paolo O’hara, Ang Duyan ng Magiting

■ Euwenn Mikaell, Firefly

■ Cedrick Juan, Gomburza

■ Jansen Magpusao, The Gospel of the Beast

■ Carlo Aquino, Third World Romance

BEST ACTRESS

■ Kathryn Bernardo, A Very Good Girl

■ Gabby Padilla, Gitling

■ Maxine Eigenmann, Raging Grace

■ Charlie Dizon, Third World Romance

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

■ Epy Quizon, Firefly

■ Dante Rivero, Gomburza

■ Piolo Pascual, Gomburza

■ Enchong Dee, Gomburza

■ Ronnie Lazaro, The Gospel of the Beast

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

■ Agot Isidro, Ang Duyan ng Magiting

■ Dolly de Leon, Ang Duyan ng Magiting

■ Frances Makil-ignacio, Ang Duyan ng Magiting

■ Alessandra de Rossi, Firefly

■ Jorrybell Agoto, When This is All Over

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

■ Josiah Hiponia, Ang Duyan ng Magiting

■ Kenneth Kevin Villanueva, Firefly

■ Ericson Navarro, Gomburza

■ David Esguerra, Huling Palabas

■ Benjamin Padero and Carlo Tabije, In My Mother’s Skin

■ Eero Yves Francisco, Third World Romance

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

■ Neil Daza, Firefly

■ Mycko David, Gitling

■ Carlo Canlas Mendoza, Gomburza

■ Theo Lozada, Huling Palabas

■ Rommel Andreo Sales, The Gospel of the Beast

BEST EDITING

■ Lawrence S. Ang, About Us But Not About Us

■ Benjo Ferrer, Firefly

■ Benjamin Tolentino, Gomburza

■ Benjamin Tolentino, Iti Mapukpukaw

■ Lawrence S. Ang, The Gospel of the Beast

■ Maria Estela Paiso, When This is All Over

BEST MUSIC

■ Firefly n Gomburza

■ Iti Mapukpukaw

■ Third World Romance

■ When This is All Over

BEST SOUND

■ Imman Verona and Nerrika Salim, About Us But Not About Us

■ Andrea Teresa T. Idioma and Nicole Rosacay, Ang Duyan ng Magiting

■ Albert Michael M. Idioma, Jannina Mikaela Minglanilla, and Emilio Bien Sparks, Gomburza

■ Lamberto Casas Jr. and Alex Tomboc, Iti Mapukpukaw

■ Michael Haines, Raging Grace

BEST DOCUMENTARY

■ Baon sa Biyahe, dir. James Magnaye

■ Ghosts of Kalantiaw, dir. Chuck Escasa

■ Maria, dir. Sheryl Rose Andes

■ Nitrate: To the Ghosts of the 75 Lost Philippine Silent Films (1912-1933), dir. Khavn

BEST ANIMATION

■ Iti Mapukpukaw, dir. Carl Joseph E. Papa

BEST SHORT FILM

■ Abutan man Tayo ng House Lights, dir. Apa Agbayani

■ Ate Bunso, dir. Angelica Llanera

■ Cross My Heart Hope to Die, dir. Sam Manacsa

■ Hito, dir. Stephen Lopez

■ Karkarma, dir. Melver Gomez

■ Tumatawa, Umiiyak, dir. Che Tagyamon