Baler: 34th MMFF’s best

If you chose to watch this film among the MMFF entries this year, you made the right decision, or if you didn’t watch it, you missed the festival’s best movie. Baler is definitely the only movie in the festival that gives importance to Filipino culture and history. In short, watching Baler in the most expensive cinemas in the metropolis is not a waste of money.

Baler connects with the audience without trying. It’s not Jericho Rosales’ subtle yet effective acting or Anne Curtis’ surprising display of acting flair but it’s the beauty of the story of 19th century Baler translated by Mark Meily into a moving tale of love, hatred, and nationalism that keeps our hearts beating extra faster while watching it. The entirety of this Viva produced movie proves that Philippine Cinema can be better.

Festival Awards

• Best Picture:
  • 1) Baler
  • 2) Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat
  • 3) Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After
    
• Best Director : Mark Meily (Baler)
  
• Best Actor: Christopher de Leon (Magkaibigan)
• Best Actress: Anne Curtis – Baler
• Best Supporting Actor:Philip Salvador – Baler
• Best Supporting Actress: Manilyn Reynes – One Night Only
• Best Sceenplay: Roy Iglesias – Baler
• Best Story: Jose Javier Reyes – One Night Only
  
• Best Cinematography: Lee Meily – Baler
• Best Sound: Albert Idioma and Wally Dellosa – Dayo
• Best Visual Effects: Robert Quilao – Dayo
• Best Production Design: Aped Santos – Baler
• Best Editing: Danny Anonuevo – Baler
• Best Make-Up: Noli Villalobos – Desperadas 2
• Best Musical Score: Jessie Lazatin – Dayo
• Best Theme Song: Lipad by Jessie Lasaten and Artemio Abad Jr., performed byLea Salonga – Dayo
• Best Child Performer:Robert Villar – Shake, Rattle, & Roll X
• Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award – Baler
• Most Gender Sensitive Film Award – Baler