Cherie Gil Wins First Best Actress Award In Asean International Filmfest In Kuching, Malaysia, Nora Aunor Gets Lifetime Achievement Award

CHERIE GIL won the best actress award at the Asean International Filmfest (AIFF) held at the Borneo Convention Center in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia last Saturday night. We’re so happy for Cherie as she is so deserving. We wrote then that we’re hoping she’d win even just one award for her portrayal of an aging opera diva who has lost her zest for life but gets redeemed by a little boy in “Sonata”, directed by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes.

She was snubbed by all local award giving bodies, some of whose choices for best actress that year (2013) were just ludicrous and can’t even hold a candle to Cherie’s finely nuanced performance. So her award in Kuching is a clear vindication for her. She has won best supporting actress awards for “God... Save Me”, “Imortal” and “Sugatang Puso”. This is the first time she bagged a best actress plum and it’s in an international filmfest at that. “Sonata” was an entry in the 2013 Film Development Council of the Philippines. This is also an advanced birthday gift for Cherie as she’s turning 52 on May 12.

Nora Aunor was also honored at Kuching with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The actress who last received this before her was Michelle Yeoh, who was present in the awards night and Ate Guy has a photo with her. Chinese superstar Jackie Chan was also given the Asian Spirit Award as recognition for his achievements and Ate Guy also had her picture taken with him.

Other Pinoys who won awards in the AIFF are Benjamin Tolentino for best film editing for “Bendor”, the movie “Purok 7” for Asian Spirit Award and Joseph Laban as best director for “Nuwebe”. “Bendor” is a Cinema One Originals entry, while “Purok 7” and “Nuwebe” are both Cinemalaya entries.