41st GAWAD URIAN NOMINEES REVEALED

"Respeto," a movie about a struggling rapper who dreams of hip-hop stardom leads the 41st Gawad Urian Awards with 12 nominations including Best Film, Best Director for Treb Motreras II and Best Actor for Abra. 

As expected Indie films dominated the list of nominees, mostly coming from independent film festivals like Cinemalaya, QCinema and One Cinema Originals however many of these films have yet to be released for commercial run.   An ordinary movie fan remarked "It's strange... but I have never heard most of the films nominated."  True enough, only those film enthusiasts who religiously attend local film festivals are well-informed about the nominated films.

Only "Kita Kita" survived among the mainstream movies which incidentally, is the 2nd highest grossing film for 2017, next to Vice Ganda monster hit "Gandarapiddo: The Revenger Squad."  Blockbuster mainstream films like "Unexpectedly Yours," "Love You to the Stars and Back," "Seven Sundays" failed to merit a single nomination.  Urian also snobbed 2017 MMFF Best Director winner Paul Soriano (for "Siargao") and Iza Calzado's performance in "Bliss" where Calzado won the Yakushi Pearl Award for Best Performer at the 12th Osaka Film Festival last year. 

"Balanginga: Howling Wilderness" received 10 nominations including Best Picture and Best Director for Khavn de la Cruz.  The movie, set in Samar in the early 1900 follows the journey of a young boy and his grandfather as they fled Balanginga to escape the horrors of American occupation of the Philippines.

"Birdshot" and "Boy Intsik" received 6 nominations each including best picture.

This year's "Natatanging Gawad Urian" award will be given to Wilson Raval, musical director of "Vanishing Tribe" who has scored 40 feature films to his credit including Lino Brocka's "Jaguar" and most of Ismael Bernal films. Recipient of this award last year was movie icon Vilma Santos-Recto.

I have only watch 3 films among the nominated films.  These are "Birdshot," "Respeto," "Kita-Kita," and "Bagahe."

Here's the full list of Nominees:

BEST FILM: Balangiga: Howling Wilderness Bhoy Intsik The Chanters Respeto Tu Pug Imatuy	BEST DIRECTOR: Arnel Barbarona, Tu Pug Imatuy Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo, Kita Kita Khavn de la Cruz, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness Joel Lamangan, Bhoy Intsik James Robin M. Mayo, The Chanters Treb Monteras II, Respeto Mikhail Red, Birdshot
BEST ACTRESS Joanna Ampil, Ang Larawan Angeli Bayani, Bagahe Alessandra de Rossi, Kita Kita Gloria Diaz, Si Chedeng at Si Apple Dexter Doria, Paki Jally Nae Gilbaliga, The Chanters Agot Isidro, Changing Partners Elizabeth Oropesa, Si Chedeng at Si Apple Bela Padilla, 100 Tula Para Kay Stella Angellie Nicholle Sanoy, Bomba Malona Sulatan, Tu Pug Imatuy	BEST ACTOR Abra, Respeto Nonie Buencamino, Smaller and Smaller Circles Timothy Castillo, Neomanila Noel Comia Jr, Kiko Boksingero Allen Dizon, Bomba RS Francisco, Bhoy Intsik Jojit Lorenzo, Changing Partners Empoy Marquez, Kita Kita Sandino Martin, Changing Partners Justine Samson, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR John Arcilla, Birdshot Robert Arevalo, Ang Larawan Romulo Caballero, The Chanters Dido de la Paz, Respeto Pio del Rio, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness Nor Domingo, Respeto Ronwaldo Martin, Bhoy Intsik Jess Mendoza, Sa Gabing Nanahimik ang mga Kuliglig Arnold Reyes, Birdshot	BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Yayo Aguila, Kiko Boksingero Angeli Bayani, Maestra Shamaine Buencamino, Paki Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Siargao Chai Fonacier, Respeto Nathalie Hart, Historiographika Errata Odette Khan, Bar Boys Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Ang Larawan Gloria Sevilla, Maestra
BEST SCREENPLAY Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo, Kita Kita Ronald C. Carballo, Bhoy Intsik Njel de Mesa, Alberto Monteras II, Respeto Christopher Gozum, Dapol Tan Payawar Na Tayug 1931 Jerry Gracio, Khavn de la Cruz, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness Andrian Legaspi, John Bedia, The Chanters Arnel Mardoquio, Tu Pug Imatuy Kip Oebanda, Bar Boys	BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Ike Avellana, Respeto Albert Banzon, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness Mycko David, Birdshot Mycko David, Neomanila Bryan Jimenez, Arbi Barbarona, Tu Pug Imatuy TM Malones, Baconaua JA Tadena, Smaller and Smaller Circles
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN Bagwani Ampalayo, Tu Pug Imatuy Popo Diaz, Respeto Gino Gonzales, Ang Larawan Marielle Hizon, Baconaua Ericson Navarro, Smaller and Smaller Circles Daniel Red, Neomanila Thesa Tang, Kita Kita Marija Vicente, Timmy Harn, Zeus Bascon, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness	BEST EDITING Lawrence Ang, Respeto Arnel Barbarona, Tu Pug Imatuy Lawrence Fajardo, Ang Larawan Jay Halili, Smaller and Smaller Circles Marya Ignacio, Kita Kita Marya Ignacio, Changing Partners Carlo Francisco Manatad, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness John Anthony Wong, Bhoy Intsik
BEST MUSIC Arnel Barbarona, Tu Pug Imatuy Ryan Cayabyab, Ang Larawan Vincent de Jesus, Changing Partners Jay Durias, Respeto Erwin Fajardo, The Chanters Khavn de la Cruz, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness Lutgardo Labad and Odoni Pestelos, Smaller and Smaller Circles	BEST SOUND KC Caballero, Ang Larawan Aian Caro, Birdshot Corrine de San Jose, Respeto Stephen Lopez, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness Mikko Quizon, Changing Partners Jeff Sabayle, Tu Pug Imatuy Immanuel Verona, The Chanters
BEST DOCUMENTARY Jose S. Buenconsejo, Seven Dances of Life JL Burgos, Han-Ayan Sari Dalena and Keith Sicat, History of the Underground Ramona Diaz, Motherland Phyllis Grande, Haunted: A Last Visit to the Red House Nawruz Paguidopon, God BLISS Our Home Dempster Samarista, Bundok Banahaw, Sacred and Profane Victor Delotavo Tagaro and Toshihiko Uriu, Yield	BEST SHORT FILM Glenn Barit, Aliens Ata Christian Candelaria, Sa Saiyang Isla Carl Adrian Chavez, Sorry for the Inconvenience Kiri Dalena, Gikan Sa Ngitngit Nga Kinailadman          (From the Dark Depths) Keith Deligero, Babylon Kyle Fermindoza, Manggagarab Dennis Hubag, Empyreus TM Malones, Bawod Carlo Francisco Manatad, Jodilerks Dela Cruz,         Employee of the Month Roanna Mercado, Piko Maje Papin and Ef Orpiada Jr, Lutab Joseph Vincent "Xeph" Suarez, Si Astri Maka Si       Tambulah (Astri And Tambulah) Edmund Telmo, Redempsyon Kim Timan, Caramel Child