FDCP Counts Down To Film Ambassadors' Night 2022

 

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), in anticipation of the 6th Film Ambassadors’ Night, gathered friends from the press last February 22, 2022 in Quezon City. 

The FDCP welcomed more than 40 of their media partners at the Agency’s first in-person press conference after two years of holding media events online. About the same number of friends from the press joined the occasion virtually via Zoom. 

FDCP Chairperson and CEO, Liza Diño together with Film Ambassadors Adam Dumaguin and Jek Jumawan, shared what’s in store for the honorees at this year’s exclusive Film Ambassadors’ Night that goes with the theme “Beyond Limits” in recognition of the efforts and creative artistry of Filipino filmmakers as shown by their continuous presence in the in the international scene despite the pandemic.

Dumaguin, a 21-year-old filmmaker, won 3rd Place for his debut short film, My House at the AGBO Film - No Sleep ‘til Film Fest in California, USA last May 2021. Dumaguin admits that his win was unexpected, “fast forward to a year from that win, nandito po ako sa harap niyo, until now I’m still taking everything in and using everything for experience.”

Jumawan, a Senior High School teacher, won best actor “Sun of the East Award” for Pas-an (Carried Burdens) at the Tagore International Film Festival in India last April 2021. “Iyong dala mo ang pangalan ng Pilipinas sa paglahok mo roon [international film festivals] at mabigyang parangal, talagang nakakataba ng puso,” Jumawan remarked.

My House is one of the twenty one honorees for the short film category while Jumawan is one of the four short film actor honorees.

John Arcilla, A-List Awardee and one of the recipients of the Camera Obscura Award for On the Job: The Missing 8, graced the event as an online participant. Some of the other honorees who were also present virtually were: Hannah Ragudos, director of the Short Film Honoree Ana Bikhayr (Okay Lang Ako); Khent Cacho, director of the Short Film Honoree Ora Miss Mo; Patti Lapus, producer of the Feature Film Honoree Midnight in a Perfect World; and Cedrick Juan, Feature Film Actor Honoree for Gitarista. 

All of the 77 honorees—including the Camera Obscura and Gabay ng Industriya Awards to be conferred by the FDCP— will all be feted at the Film Ambassadors' Night on February 27, 2022 to be held in the historic architectural landmark, The Manila Metropolitan Theater.

In the press conference, FDCP Chairperson and CEO, Liza Diño expressed “FDCP’s objective for FAN is to celebrate our filmmakers’ successes. We have gone so far in bringing Philippine cinema to the world but we still have so much to do. We continue to create content and we continue to represent the Philippines through our stories.”

Diño also clarified, “We name them ‘film ambassadors’ because they represent our cinema, they promote our films in different parts of the world by joining international film festivals. We give importance to these recognitions because they are creating platforms for our Filipino filmmakers to be showcased in that particular country where their films were screened.” She added, “With more than 7000 film festivals all over the world every year, our role is to find the legitimate ones. Our criteria is on the film festivals and not on the filmmakers.”

The annual celebration of Philippine cinema continues to be a symbol of hope for the future of Filipino filmmakers in setting the standards to be a globally competitive industry. This year’s Film Ambassadors’ Night is special as it will also celebrate not just the wins, but the courage and strength of Filipino filmmakers overcoming the challenges of filming during a global pandemic in the past year–and despite these challenges, still get to represent the country in the world stage. Film Ambassadors’ Night 2022 will be an in-person event this Sunday exclusive to honorees. Telecast date via the FDCP Channel will be announced at a later date. 

 

Here is the list of this year’s Film Ambassador’s Night honorees.

A-LIST

1. John Arcilla - On the Job: The Missing 8 
2. Whether The Weather Is Fine (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)  by Carlo Francisco Manatad
3. Gensan Punch by Brillante Mendoza

 

A-LIST CITATION

1. Count by Adjani Arumpac
2. Random People by Arden Rod Condez
3. Gunam-Gunam X Guni-Guni (Rumi X Phantasm) by Khavn De La Cruz
4. Hayop Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story produced by Rocketsheep
5. Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss by Sonny Calvento
6. On The Job: The Missing 8 by Erik Matti
7. Arisaka by Mikhail Red
8. Payback (Resbak) by Brillante Mendoza
9. The Brokers by Daniel Palacio
10. How To Die Young In Manila by Petersen Vargas
11. Big Night! by Jun Robles Lana
12. Last Days At Sea by Venice Atienza
13. Love Is A Dog From Hell by Khavn Dela Cruz

 

SHORT FILMS 

1. Here, Here by Joanne Cesario
2. The Visitor by Joey Agbayani
3. Venganza by Joey Agbayani
4. Harana by Marie Jamora
5. My House by Adam Dumaguin
6. Confession by Arjanmar Rebeta
7. Miss You, George! by Mark Moneda
8. Ang Lihim Ni Lea by Rico Gutierrez
9. Filipiñana by Rafael Manuel
10. Naiiba (Unique) by Rey Coloma 
11. Bukal (Wellspring) by Jeffrey Smith “Epy” Quizon
12. Mga Salitang Inanod (Drifted Thoughts) by Gabriel Carmelo
13. Iamannika by Dan Verzosa
14. Mito Ng Maynila (Myth Of Manila) by Janus Victoria
15. Ora Miss Mo by Khent Cacho
16. Ana Bikhayr  (Okay Lang Ako) by Hannah Ragudos 
17. Bakpak by Carlos Dala
18. Silang Mga Naligaw Sa Limot by Vahn Pascual
19. How To Die Young In Manila by Petersen Vargas
20. Siil by Will Fredo
21. An Sadit Na Planeta by Arjanmar Rebeta

 

SHORT FILM ACTORS

1. Jek Jumawan for  Pas-An (Carried Burdens)
2. Frencheska Farr for Harana
3. Jeyrick Sigmaton for Dayas
4. Janice De Belen for Wounded Blood

 

DOCUMENTARIES

TV DOCUMENTARY

1. Fedelina: A Stolen Life by ABS-CBN’s DocuCentral 
2. Miguel's Wounds (Mga Sugat Ni Miguel) by GMA-7’s Reporter’s Notebook
3. 24 Oras: Special Coverage Of Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses) In Luzon -  GMA Network

SHORT DOCUMENTARY

1. To Calm The Pig Inside by Joanna Vasquez Arong
2. Maliit Na Hakbang by Richard Legaspi
3. Bullet-Laced Dreams by Kristoffer Brugada And Cha Escala

FULL-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY

1. A Thousand Cuts by Ramona Diaz
2. Sa Layag Ng Bangkang Paurong (The Boats That Sail Backward) by Mark Giddel Liwanag
3. Aswang By Alyx Ayn Arumpac

CREATIVE AWARDS

1. Eric Ramos for In The Name Of The Mother
2. Arlyn Dela Cruz Bernal for Ecq Diary (Bawal Lumabas)

ACTORS

1. Rogelio Balagtas for Islands
2. Kit Thompson for Belle Douleur
3. Elijah Canlas for Kalel,15
4. Snooky Serna for In The Name Of The Mother
5. Julio Cesar Sabenorio for Guerrero Dos, Tuloy Ang Laban
6. Janine Gutierrez for Dito At Doon (Here And There)
7. Cedrick Juan, Anna Luna and Noel Comia Jr for Gitarista (Guitarist)

DIRECTORS

1. Carlo Ortega Cuevas for Guerrero Dos, Tuloy Ang Laban 
2. Carlo Francisco Manatad for Whether The Weather Is Fine (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)
3. Maria Diane Ventura for Your Color (Deine Farbe)
4. Mcarthur Cruz Alejandre

FEATURE FILMS 

1. Tagpuan (Crossroads) by Mcarthur Cruz Alejandre
2. Belle Douleur by Josabeth Alonso
3. In The Name Of The Mother by Joel Lamangan
4. Balangiga: Howling Wilderness by Khavn De La Cruz
5. Fan Girl by Antoinette Jadaone
6. Latay (Battered Husband) by Ralston Jover
7. Gitarista (Guitarist) by Jason Orfalas
8. Midnight In A Perfect World by Dodo Dayao
9. Metamorphosis By J.E. Tiglao

SPECIAL CITATION

1. Vice Ganda - Everybody, Sing! - ABS-CBN