Best Films and Annual Citation for 2020

 

Here's the annual citation and rundown of my own pick of best Filipino films for 2020 that have shown from streaming applications, film festivals, theatrical runs and special screening. 

 
Honorable Mention

                        16. Boyette, Not A Girl Yet (Full Review)

                        15. U-Turn (Full Review)

                        14. My Lockdown Romance (Full Review) 

                        13. Motel Acacia (Full Review)

                        12. Magikland (Full Review) 

                        11. Block Z (Full Review)

 

10. Four Sisters Before The Wedding

Four Sisters Before The Wedding is a solid prequel to Four Sisters And The Wedding that matches the energy and impact of the first film but also stand alone to tell the beauty of its story.

 

 (Full Review)

 

 

9. Death of Nintendo

 

 

Death of Nintendo is lovely and capture the right emotions, vision and message it would like to tell to the audience.

(Full Review)

 

 

8. Tagpuan  

 

 

Tagpuan is like doing soul searching, trying to find yourself in the beautiful background of the film, New York and Hongkong, that was fully utilized to enhance the layers of characters and also serve as the additional characters of the film.

(Full Review) 

 

7. On Vodka, Beers and Regrets

On Vodka Beers and Regrets has been able to manage a stylish emotional film with feels that truly affect your heart. Bela Padilla & JC Santos nuances hints towards the generic messages and let the audience feels the learning with their characters.

(Full Review)

 

6. Hayop Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story

This funny film boasts of its message and statement towards our society and the realities of life. It mirrors what is happening on our country but told in a witty way.

(Full Review)  

 

5. The Boy Foretold By The Stars

The Boy Foretold By The Stars is a simple film and small glimpse of the diverse stories of LGBTQ yet it succeeds with its emotion, heartfelt story and relevant message.

 (Full Review)  

 

4. Midnight In A Perfect World

It is a modern take of post apocalyptic Filipino film that is close to reality and what is happening on our country. The cinematography, sound  and production design are well mounted in the film making this an effective thriller film to watch at the comfort of your home. 

 (Full Review)   

 

 3. He Who Is Without Sin 

He Who Is Without Sin is decently provocative and controversial with an important social issue that needs to be told.

(Full Review) 

 

2. Untrue

Untrue gave Xian Lim and Cristine Reyes their greatest performance in their acting career. This mind blowing psychological thriller is one of a kind Filipino film that raised the bar in Philippine film making and also match with the quality and look of international films.

(Full Review)

 

1. Fan Girl

Fan Girl nailed it to be bold, deliver its message on women empowerment and make impact to leave to the audience after watching. The storytelling and screenplay is lit!, on how it has been able to tell a story yet there is another inner story to tell beyond it. 

(Full Review) 

 

Best Picture

Fan Girl

Runners-Up 

 

                         2. Untrue
                         3. He Who Is Without Sin
                         4. Midnight In A Perfect World
                         5. The Boy Foretold By The Stars  

 

 

Best Actress

Charlie Dizon - Fan Girl

Runners-Up

 

                 2. Cristine Reyes - Untrue
                 3. Bela Padilla – On Vodka, Beers and Regrets
                 4. Alessandra De Rossi - Watchlist
                 5. Glaiza De Castro - Midnight in A Perfect World

 

 

Best Actor

 

Elijah Canlas - He Who Is Without Sin 

 

 Runners-Up

 

                      2. Paulo Avelino – Fan Girl
                      3. Jameson Blake - Lockdown Romance
                      4. Enzo Pineda - He Who Is Without Sin
                      5. Noel Comia Jr. - Death of Nintendo

 

 

Best Director

 

Antoinette Jadaone - Fan Girl

 

Runners-Up

 

                         2. Sigrid Andrea Bernardo - Untrue
                         3. Dodo Dayao - Midnight in a Perfect World
                         4. Jason Paul Laxamana - He Who Is Without Sin
                         5. Dolly Dulu - The Boy Foretold by Stars

 

 

Best Supporting Actress

 

 Shaina Magdayao - Tagpuan

 

 Runners-Up

 

                      2. Kim Chloe Oquendo - Death of Nintendo
                      3. Elijah Allejo - Death of Nintendo
                      4. Cai Cortez - Four Sisters Before The Wedding
                      5. Irma Adalawan - Four Sisters Before The Wedding

 

 

Best Supporting Actor

 

Zanjoe Marudo - Isa Pang Bahaghari

 

Runners-Up

 

                          2. Nicholas Saputra - Motel Acacia
                          3. JM De Guzman - U-Turn
                          4. John Vincent Servilla - Death of Nintendo
                          5. Michael De Mesa - Nightshift 

 

 

Best Screenplay

 

 Antoinette Jadaone - Fan Girl

 

 Runners-Up

 

                      2. Sigrid Andrea Bernardo - Untrue
                      3. Jason Paul Laxamana - He Who Is Without Sin
                      4. Dolly Dulu - The Boy Foretold By The Stars
                      5. Dodo Dayao and Carljoe Javier - Midnight In A Perfect World

 

 

Best Cinematography

 
Albert Banzon and Gym Lumbera - Midnight in A Perfect World

Runners-Up

 

                           2. Neil Daza - Fan Girl
                           3. Carlo Mendoza, Treb Monteras II, Daniel Uy - Tagpuan
                           4. Boy Yniguez - Untrue
                           5. Marvin Reyes - The Boy Foretold By The Stars 

 

 

Best Production Design
 

Ericson Navarro - Magikland

Runners-Up

 

                                2. Benjamin Padero and Carlo Tabije - Midnight in a Perfect World
                                3. Maolen Fadul  - Untrue
                                4. Benjamin Padero and Carlo Tabije - Motel Acacia
                                5. Hayop Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story

 

 

Best Editing

Carlo Francisco Manatad - Tagpuan

 

 Runners-Up

 

                          2. Benjamin Tolentino - Fan Girl
                          3. Lawrence Ang - Midnight in A Perfect World
                          4. Mai Calapardo - He Who Is Without Sin
                          5. Marya Ignacio - Untrue

 

 

Best Musical Score
 

Len Calvo - Untrue

 

 Runners-Up

                           2. Emerzon Texon - Magikland
                           3. Malek Lopez, Erwin Romulo, Juan Miguel Sobrepeña - Midnight in A Perfect World
                           4. Paulo Protacio - The Boy Foretold By The Stars

 

Best Theme Song

Maligaya Ang Buhay Ko - Inigo Pascual - Four Sisters Before The Wedding

 Runners-Up

                           2. Di Ko Akalain - Demo Boys - Boyette, Not A Girl Yet
                           3. Hindi Tayo Pwede The Juans - Hindi Tayo Pwede

Best Sound

 Corinne De San Jose - Midnight in a Perfect World

 Runners-Up

 

                           2. Albert Michael Idioma - Magikland
                           3. Vincent Villa - Motel Acacia

                           4. Vincent Villa - Fan Girl

 

 

Best Poster

Fan Girl

Runners-Up

 

 Death of Nintendo
He Who is Without Sin
Magikland

 

 

Best Short Film

 

Excuse Me Miss, Miss, Miss - Sonny  Calvento

 

 Runners-Up

 

                           2. Tokwifi - Carla Pulido Ocampo
                           3. Living Things - Martika Ramirez Escobar
                           4. Noontime Drama - Kim Timan and Sam Villa-Real
                           5. Pabasa Kan Pasyon - Hubert Tibi

Best Documentary

Aswang - Alyx Arumpac

 

 

 Best BL Series

Gaya Sa Pelikuka
Gameboys

Hello Stranger