Cebuano dramedy wins 2 awards at Q Cinema test
Cebuano director Victor Villanueva’s screwball road comedy “Patay na si Hesus” won the Audience Choice and Gender Sensitivity awards at the fourth QCinema International Film Festival awards night at the QCX in Quezon City on Wednesday.
Villanueva gave a comedic spin to a family’s island hop and long drive in his movie written by Fatrick Tabada, also a Cebuano.
In this 2016 QCinema International Film Festival Circle Competition entry, multi-awarded actress Jaclyn Jose plays Iyay, a single mom who drags her family on a trip from Cebu to Dumaguete to attend the funeral of her children’s estranged father, Hesus.
Riding with her in the old cramped multicab are her children: Hubert, who has Down Syndrome; Jude, a lovesick transman; and Jay, who is living a bum’s life. The broken family faces unexpected stopovers, detours, revelations, and funny moments as they spend long hours on the road.
In 2011, Villanueva was given special mention in the Young Cinema section of the Cinemanila International Film Festival for his first film “Saranghae My Tutor.” His second film, “My Paranormal Romance,” made waves in the same year’s Cinema One Originals Film Festival, taking home awards for best production design and best editing and a special citation for directing.
Meanwhile, a film that depicts the armed conflict in Mindanao as seen through the eyes of a widow caught in an escalating family feud that stretches back generations won three major awards to lead all honorees in QCinema 2016’s Circle Competition.
Directed by Sheron Dayoc, “Women of the Weeping River” won Best Film, Best Supporting Actor for Taha G. Daranda and, in a stunning upset, Best Actress for Leila Putli P. Ilao who won over expected favorites Nora Aunor (“Hinulid”) and Jaclyn Jose.
For his portrayal of a gay inmate in the prison comedy-drama “Best. Partee. Ever,” JC de Vera bagged the first Best Actor trophy of his career.
Prime Cruz’s “hugot horror” entry “Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B” won Best Director and Best Supporting Actress for Vangie Labalan.
Other winners were Bagane Fiola’s “Baboy Halas” which won the NETPAC Special Jury Prize for Best Picture as well as Best Artistic Contribution in Cinematography for Raphael Meting and Mark Limbaga.
Derick Cabrido’s “Purgatoryo” won Best Screenplay for Joseph Israel Laban and Denise O’Hara.