BIG WINNERS: JUDY ANN SANTOS AND DENNIS TRILLO

Stiff competition, starstudded and intrigues-filled — is how we are to describe the recently concluded 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival Gabi ng Parangal that took place at the Grand Ballroom of Solaire in Pasay City.

Comebacking actress Judy Ann Santos took home the much-coveted best actress in a leading role award for her performance in the Chito Roño horror film Espantaho, a role that made Juday return to the horror genre after an almost 10-year absence.

The actress emotionally accepted her trophy and thanked all her co-nominees: “Sa sampung magagandang pelikula na ipinapalabas ngayon sa MMFF, doon pa lang panalo na tayo lahat. Sa mga nagtiwala sa akin para gawin ang role na ito maraming maraming salamat sa inyo

(With the 10 excellent films in this year’s Film Festival we are all winners. To those of you who believed in my ability to play this role, many thanks to you),” Judy Ann said.

Best actor in a leading role for the movie Green Bones, Dennis Trillo dedicated his latest achievement to wife Jennylyn Mercado whom he hugged before going to the stage.

“Para akong aatakihin sa puso, isang napakalaking karangalan na makasama kayo lahat lagi ko sinasabi na ngayon kapaskuhan ayoko na magpa-stress sa competition dahil pakiramdam namin panalo kami ng pumasok ang Green Bones sa sampung mga pelikula. Sa aking number one supporter, ang aking asawa si Jennylyn Mercado inaalay ko ang award na ito sa aking pamilya (I don’t want to focus on the stress and competition. The fact that we made it to the top 10 films we are honored. To my number one supporter, my wife, Jennylyn Mercado, I offer this award),” Dennis said.

In the supporting role category, two first-timers took home their MMFF trophies namely Ruru Madrid (Best Actor in a Supporting Role) for Green Bones and Kakki Teodoro (Best Actress in a Supporting Role) for Isang Himala.

Ruru highlighted his long career journey to achieve his first acting award: “Lagi po ako underdog pero ito pala ang naghahanda sa akin para sa tagumpay na ito na hawak ko ngayon (I was always the underdog but that prepared me for my victory),” Ruru said.

Stage actress Kakki Teodoro meanwhile, proudly shared her experiences in the world of theater helped her to get the MMFF acting recognition: “Just to be nominated with these talented actors is a big honor for me and to our producers na nagtiwala (who trusted in me) to bring a stage musical to film version for MMFF maraming salamat sa inyo (thanks to all of you),” she said.

The biggest snub of the night was Aga Muhlach not being nominated for his role in the film Uninvited, which was also snubbed in various categories, winning only one award for Best Festival Float tied with Topakk.

Here is the full list of winners in this years Metro Manila Film Festival:

Best Picture: Green Bones (GMA Films)

Second Best Picture: The Kingdom (Media Quest)

Third Best Picture: My Future You (Regal Entertainment)

Fourth Best Picture: Isang Himala (CreaZion Studios)

Best Actor — Dennis Trillo for Green Bones

Best Actress — Judy Ann Santos for Espantaho

Best Supporting Actress — Kakki Teodoro for Isang Himala

Best Supporting Actor — Ruru Madrid for Green Bones

Breakthrough Performance — Seth Fedelin for My Future You

Special Jury Citation — Vice Ganda for And The Bread Winner Is...

MMFF Lifetime Achievement Award — Joseph “Erap” Estrada

Best Float — Topakk and Uninvited

Gender Sensitivity Award — And The Bread Winner Is...

Best Visual Effects — Riot Inc. for The Kingdom

Best Child Performer — Sienna Stevens for Green Bone

Best Sound Design — Ditoy Aguila for Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital

Best Musical Score — Vincent de Jesus for Isang Himala

Best Original Theme Song — “Ang Himala ay Nasa Puso for Isang Himala: The Musical”

Best in Editing — Vanessa Ubas de Leon for My Future You

Best Cinematography — Neil Daza for Green Bones

Best Production Design — Nestor Abrogena for The Kingdom

Best Screenplay — Ricky Lee and Angeli Atienza for Green Bones

Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award — Topakk

Special Jury Prize — Topakk

Special Jury Prize — Isang Himala

Best Director — Crisanto Aquino for My Future You and Michael Tuviera for The Kingdom (tie)