Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11) — “About Us But Not About Us” reigned supreme in the first summer edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) after it bagged most of the awards, including the coveted Best Picture.
The psychological drama thriller also took home the best cinematography, best screenplay, best production design, best editing, best sound, and best musical score awards.
Palanca awardee Jun Robles Lana was recognized as best director, Romnick Sarmenta as best actor, while Elijah Canlas also received a special jury prize for his acting prowess in the film.
“About Us But Not About Us” tells the story of a literature professor and his student revealing secrets and lies over a course of a meal.
The second best picture award went to JP Habac’s \”Love You Long Time,\” which had the best float.
Chris Martinez’s “Here Comes the Groom” was the third best picture, with Keempee de Leon as best supporting actor and KaladKaren making history as the first trans woman to be named best supporting actress.
The inaugural summer edition of the MMFF debuted in cinemas on April 8 and will run until April 18.
Here’s the full list of winners:
BEST PICTURE: About Us But Not About Us
SECOND BEST PICTURE: Love You Long Time
THIRD BEST PICTURE: Here Comes the Groom
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE: Here Comes the Groom and Elijah Canlas (About Us But Not About Us)
BEST ACTOR: Romnick Sarmenta (About Us But Not About Us)
BEST ACTRESS: Gladys Reyes (Apag)
BEST DIRECTOR: Jun Robles Lana (About Us But Not About Us)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Keempee de Leon (Here Comes the Groom)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: KaladKaren (Here Comes the Groom)
BEST SCREENPLAY: Jun Robles Lana (About Us Not About Us)
BEST EDITING: About Us But Not About Us
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Neil Daza (About Us But Not About Us)
BEST ORIGINAL THEME SONG: “Paralaya” by Andy Alviz (Apag)
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: About Us But Not About Us
BEST SOUND: Arman de Guzman (About Us But Not About Us)
BEST MUSICAL SCORE: Teresa Barrozo (About Us But Not About Us)
BEST FLOAT: Love You Long Time
