John Lloyd Cruz, Max Eigenmann lead 46th Gawad Urian winners

Lav Diaz's Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon and Martika Ramirez Escobar's Leonor Will Never Die won big at the 46th edition of the Gawad Urian Awards, held at the University of the Philippines Film Institute on 30 November.

The award-giving body run by the country's film critics and academics gave its annual recognition to topnotch films and outstanding actors, directors and craftsmen in the industry.

The award-giving body run by the country's film critics and academics gave its annual recognition to topnotch films and outstanding actors, directors and craftsmen in the industry.

The drug-war-themed drama Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon won Best Film, with lead actor John Lloyd Cruz bagging the Best Actor Award.

In his acceptance speech, the 40-year-old actor lauded filmmakers who strive to fight for eye-opening films that are timely and relevant.

"Salamat po sa lahat ng mga manggagawa sa pelikulang Pilipino na walang pagod na lumalaban para ikuwento ang mga kwento na dapat lumabas lalo na sa panahon na ito. Tapos na po ba 'yung dalawang minuto ko? Ang bilis po, pero mas mabilis pa rin pumatay sa bansang ito," Cruz pointedly said in his acceptance speech.

In August, Cruz also won Best Actor for the same film at the 76th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.

Max Eigenmann, meanwhile, won Best Actress for playing a 40-year-old woman who feels conflicted about her unexpected pregnancy in Anna Isabelle Matutina's 12 Weeks — the same award she got at the recent EDDYs (Entertainment Editors Choice Awards).

Eigenmann's award allows her to join illustrious family company: Her father, Mark Gil, won the Urian Best Actor in 2007 for the film Rotonda, while her brother, Sid Lucero, won Best Actor twice in 2008 and 2011 for the films Selda and Muli.

Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon and Leonor Will Never Die tied with the most number of awards received this year at four each. Apart from winning Best Film and Best Actor Awards, Diaz's film also won Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography. Leonor Will Never Die won Best Director, Best Editing, Best Production Design and Best Music.

The 46th Gawad Urian full list of winners:

Best Film: Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon
Best Director: Martika Ramirez Escobar, Leonor Will Never Die
Best Actor: John Lloyd Cruz, Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon
Best Actress: Max Eigenmann, 12 Weeks
Best Supporting Actor: Soliman Cruz, Blue Room
Best Supporting Actress: Claudia Enriquez, 12 Weeks
Best Screenplay: Lav Diaz's Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon
Best Cinematography: Lav Diaz's Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon
Best Editing: Lawrence Ang, Leonor Will Never Die
Best Production Design: Eero Yves Francisco, Leonor Will Never Die
Best Music: Alyana Cabral, Pan de Coco and Joseph Salcedo, Leonor Will Never Die
Best Sound: Kristian Eidnes Andersen, Nocebo
Best Short Film: Sa Paglipad ka Banog
Best Documentary: 11,103
Natatanging Gawad Urian: Jaime Fabregas