8th EDDYs: A night of legends and luminaries

The 8th Entertainment Editors’ Choice Awards, known as The EDDYs, were held on 20 July at the Manila Marriott Hotel as a grand celebration of Filipino cinematic brilliance. It brought together generations of film and television luminaries for a night of heartfelt recognition, artistic triumph and industry-wide excellence.

Held under the auspices of the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd), the annual ceremony honored both critical achievements and commercial success, with standout winners emerging from across genres and generations.

Marian Rivera, Dennis Trillo reign as lead acting winners

Kapuso Superstars Marian Rivera and Dennis Trillo led the acting accolades, with Rivera taking home Best Actress for her riveting turn in Balota. Trillo bagged Best Actor for his performance in the haunting drama Green Bones. Their wins marked a career milestone not only as individual artists but also as two of the industry’s most bankable and respected performers.

Trillo’s win anchored a night of triumph for Green Bones, which swept four major awards, including Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Supporting Actor for Ruru Madrid (tied with Aga Muhlach for Uninvited). Zig Dulay was also honored with Best Director, sealing the film’s status as one of the most acclaimed cinematic offerings of 2024.

Box office heroes take the spotlight

The EDDYs bestowed the Box Office Hero Awards to Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards for Hello, Love, Again; Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia for Un/Happy for You; and Vice Ganda for And The Breadwinner Is…

In true EDDYs fashion, the awards night also spotlighted behind-the-scenes brilliance:

• Best Screenplay — Under A Piaya Moon

• Best Production Design — The Kingdom

• Best Musical Score — Vincent De Jesus (Isang Himala)

• Best Sound — Topakk

• Best Editing and Best Original Theme Song — My Future You

• Best Visual Effects — Espantaho

Veteran actress Lorna Tolentino also won Best Supporting Actress for her chilling role in Espantaho, proving that her decades-long legacy continues to evolve with grace and power.

Icons, industry pillars honored

The EDDYs paid homage to a powerhouse lineup of movie icon awardees who shaped the Philippine cinema’s golden eras. Among them were Laurice Guillen, Odette Khan, Perla Bautista, Pen Medina, Rosemarie Gil, Eddie Mesa and Kidlat Tahimik.

Kidlat Tahimik, a National Artist for Film, is revered for his avant-garde works. He received a second distinction as Movie Icon of the Year, underscoring his role in redefining Filipino film on the global stage.

Tributes, special awards

Special tributes were given to industry trailblazers Pilita Corrales, Asia’s Queen of Songs and Lolit Solis, veteran columnist and talent manager.

Journalistic excellence and advocacy in entertainment were recognized through the Joe Quirino Memorial Award for Ogie Diaz, the Manny Pichel Memorial Award for Crispina Belen and the Isah V. Red Award for RS Francisco.

On the production front, Nathan Studios was honored with the Rising Producer Circle Award. GMA Pictures was named Producer of the Year, in recognition of their groundbreaking narratives and commitment to high-quality Filipino storytelling.

Reflection and renewal

The 8th EDDYs was more than an awards night; it was a celebration of legacy, with veterans being honored alongside emerging visionaries. The ceremony proved that the heartbeat of Filipino film lies in both its heritage and its hope. 

As the industry continues to evolve, the EDDYs stand as a testament to its brilliance — past, present and future.