The other contenders are Cherie Gil as the depressed opera diva who finds redemption in “Sonata”, Lorna Tolentino as the mother searching for her missing son in “Burgos”, Rustica Carpio as the aging house help with nowhere to go in “Ano ang Kulay ng mga Nakalimutang Pangarap”, Teri Malvar as the teenage lesbian falling in love for the first time in “Huling Cha Cha ni Anita” (she won best actress in the Cine Filipino filmfest), Irma Adlawan as the problematic OFW in Israel in “Transit” (she won best actress in the Cinemalaya Filmfest, New Wave Category), Lovi Poe as the reluctant bride in “Sana Dati” and Eugene Domingo playing the title roles of the twins in “Kimmy Dora, Ang Kiyemeng Prequel”.
As best actor, the sure winner is Joel Torre, who gave two stand out performances as the aging world-weary hired killer in “On the Job” (he won the best actor award at the Puchon International Filmfest in Korea for this) and as the fisherman turned drug trafficker/murderer in “Kabisera” (he won the Cinema One Originals best actor award for this). After him comes Arnold Reyes as the dying NPA rebel in “Tag-araw ni Twinkle”, Alex Vincent Medina as the internet scammer who falls in love with a would be victim in “Babagwa”, Jake Cuenca as the rebel hopelessly in love with his colleague in “Lihis”, Mimi Juareza as the transgender engaged in administering illegal beauty treatments in “Quick Change”, Allen Dizon as the bipolar constabulary officer who torments women in “Lauriana”, Junjun Quintana as the kind-hearted but ill-fated male prostitute in “Philippino Story”, TJ Trinidad as the much harassed but faithful groom in “Sana Dati” and Dingdong Dantes as the convict who gets relief from dancing in “Dance of the Steel Bars”.
Who do you think deserves the award? Leave a comment below.
