Acting races take center stage in a fiercely competitive 49th Gawad Urian

The 49th Gawad Urian is shaping up to be a wide-open battle, particularly in its four acting categories, where veterans, established stars and emerging performers are competing for some of Philippine cinema’s most respected honors.

Eight performers are in the running for Best Actress, including Maris Racal for Sunshine, Odette Khan for Bar Boys: After School and Ruby Ruiz for Tigkiliwi. The category also recognizes Ann Krystel Go, Nour Hooshmand, EJ Jallorina, Rissey Reyes-Robinson and Geraldine Villamil. 

Best Actor is just as packed. Jericho Rosales earned a nomination for his portrayal in Quezon, while Carlo Aquino is recognized for Bar Boys: After School. Elijah Canlas, Earl Jonathan Amaba, Jomari Angeles, Julian Paul Larroder, Jojit Lorenzo and Miguel Odron complete the eight-man field. 

The supporting categories offer similarly formidable lineups. Dolly de Leon, Alessandra de Rossi, Jennica Garcia, Gina Pareño, Eula Valdez, Elora Español and Rochelle Pangilinan-Solinap are competing for Best Supporting Actress. Meanwhile, Will Ashley faces Amado Arjay Babon, Rico Blanco, Joshua Garcia, Enrique Gil, Iain Glen and Nanding Josef for Best Supporting Actor. 

Beyond the performances, Quezon emerged as the most nominated film with 10 nods, followed by Cinemartyrs and Sunshine with eight nominations each and Bar Boys: After School with seven. 

Here is the complete list of nominees shown for the 49th Gawad Urian:

Best Film

• Bar Boys: After School

• Bloom Where You Are Planted

• Cinemartyrs

• Quezon

• Sunshine

Best Director

• Noni Abao — Bloom Where You Are Planted

• Sari Dalena — Cinemartyrs

• Antoinette Jadaone — Sunshine

• Kip Oebanda — Bar Boys: After School

• Jerrold Tarog — Quezon

Best Screenplay

• Sari Dalena and Keith Sicat — Cinemartyrs

• Renei Dimla — Republika ng Pipolipinas

• Antoinette Jadaone — Sunshine

• Kip Oebanda, Zig Dulay and Carlo Catu — Bar Boys: After School

• Jerrold Tarog and Rody Vera — Quezon

Best Actress

• Ann Krystel Go — ImPerfect

• Nour Hooshmand — Cinemartyrs

• EJ Jallorina — Dreamboi

• Odette Khan — Bar Boys: After School

• Maris Racal — Sunshine

• Rissey Reyes-Robinson — Paglilitis

• Ruby Ruiz — Tigkiliwi

• Geraldine Villamil — Republika ng Pipolipinas

Best Actor

• Earl Jonathan Amaba — ImPerfect

• Jomari Angeles — Some Nights I Feel Like Walking

• Carlo Aquino — Bar Boys: After School

• Elijah Canlas — Rumaragasa

• Julian Paul Larroder — Tigkiliwi

• Jojit Lorenzo — Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan

• Miguel Odron — Some Nights I Feel Like Walking

• Jericho Rosales — Quezon

Best Supporting Actress

• Dolly de Leon — Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan

• Alessandra de Rossi — Republika ng Pipolipinas

• Elora Español — Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesus

• Jennica Garcia — Sunshine

• Gina Pareño — Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesus

• Rochelle Pangilinan-Solinap — Child No. 82: Anak ni Boy Kana

• Eula Valdez — Paglilitis

Best Supporting Actor

• Will Ashley — Bar Boys: After School

• Amado Arjay Babon — Magellan

• Rico Blanco — Manila’s Finest

• Joshua Garcia — Meet, Greet & Bye

• Enrique Gil — Manila’s Finest

• Iain Glen — Quezon

• Nanding Josef — Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan

Best Cinematography

• Neil Daza and Kiri Dalena — Cinemartyrs

• Lav Diaz and Artur Tort — Magellan

• Pong Ignacio — Quezon

• Theo Lozada — Rumaragasa

• TM Malones — Salum

• Pao Orendain — Sunshine

• Raymond Red — Manila’s Finest

Best Editing

• Vanessa Ubas De Leon — Child No. 82: Anak ni Boy Kana

• Chuck Gutierrez — Bar Boys: After School

• Keith Sicat — Cinemartyrs

• Che Tagyamon — Bloom Where You Are Planted

• Jerrold Tarog — Quezon

• Ben Tolentino — Sunshine

Best Music

• Glenn Barit — Bloom Where You Are Planted

• Krina Cayabyab — Song of the Fireflies

• Paulo Protacio — Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan

• Jerrold Tarog — Quezon

• Emerzon Texon and Fred Sandoval — Manila’s Finest

Best Sound

• Lamberto Casas — Rumaragasa

• Mikko Quizon and John Michael Perez — Bloom Where You Are Planted

• Emilio Bien Sparks — Cinemartyrs

• Alex Tomboc — Child No. 82: Anak ni Boy Kana

• Immanuel Verona and Fatima Nerikka Salim — Quezon

• Vincent Villa — Sunshine

Best Short Film

• Agapito

• Cemento

• City’s Laundry and Taxe

• Coding si Papa

• Hasang

• Muli Ka Na, Merlie

• RUNO!

• Vox Humana

• When it Rained Malunggay Leaves

• Yelo

Best Documentary

• Bloom Where You Are Planted

• Del Mundo

• Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea

• Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesus

• Romeo and Julie

• The Road to Sydney

With several films appearing repeatedly across the major and technical categories, the 49th Gawad Urian has no shortage of strong contenders. But the acting races may ultimately provide the biggest suspense, with accomplished veterans sharing the field with some of the most prominent and promising performers in contemporary Philippine cinema.