5th Film Ambassadors’ Night on Feb. 28
The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has named the 60 honorees and special awardees for this year’s fifth Film Ambassadors’ Night (FAN) as well as the performers for the online event on Feb. 28.
The FAN, an annual event spearheaded by the FDCP since 2017, recognizes Filipino film industry creatives, artists, filmmakers and films of various formats that gained recognitions from established international film festivals and award-giving bodies in the past year.
Leading the FAN 2021 honorees are the A-Listers, filmmakers Rafael Manuel and Lav Diaz. A-Listers pertain to those who bagged awards in prestigious A-List international film festivals as declared by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations.
Rafael was awarded the Berlinale Shorts Silver Bear Jury Prize for Filipiñana at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival in Germany while Lav won the Orizzonti Award for Best Director for Lahi, Hayop (Genus Pan) at the 77th Venice International Film Festival in Italy.
The Feature Films category has six honorees: Sunshine Family by Kim Tai-Sik, Write About Love by Crisanto Aquino, Latay (Battered Husband) by Ralston Jover, Pan de Salawal by Che Espiritu, Lingua Franca by Isabel Sandoval and John Denver Trending by Arden Rod Condez. The honorees in the Directors category are Maria Diane Ventura for Dein Fabre, Mallorie Ortega for The Girl Who Left Home and Derick Cabrido for Clarita.
The Actors category will award Cristine Reyes for UnTrue, Ruby Ruiz for Iska, Elijah Canlas for Kalel, 15, Louise Abuel for Edward, Isabel Sandoval for Lingua Franca, Alden Richards for Hello, Love, Goodbye, Lovi Poe and Allen Dizon for Latay and the cast of Kaputol led by Cherie Gil, Alfred Vargas, Angel Aquino, and Ronwaldo Martin. Dingdong Dantes and Arjo Atayde are the television awardees who made it to the FAN 2021 Actors list.
The Gabay ng Industriya Award is a new citation to honor those who serve as Philippine Cinema’s guiding light and inspiration. The industry is grateful and honored to have witnessed their admirable artistry, incredible work ethic and encompassing love for film. Romy Vitug is the Haligi ng Industriya Award recipient and Gloria Romero is the Ilaw ng Industriya Award recipient.
For its fifth edition, the FAN will be held in support of the NCCA’s National Arts Month. It is going to be streamed online for free on Feb. 28 at 8 p.m., exclusively on the FDCP Channel. Those who want to watch the FAN 2021 may sign up for free at