Photo by JUDE BAUTISTA

“Last Supper No. 3,” the lone comedy film finalist in the 2009 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, was named Best Film at the awarding ceremonies held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) on July 26.

The film bested the other finalists “24K,” “Ang Nerseri,” “Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe,” “Astig,” “Colorum,” “Dinig Sana Kita,” “Engkwentro,” “Mangatyanan,” and “Sanglaan.”

“Friends texted us earlier, ‘Congratulations pero hindi nananalo ang comedy,’” said “Last Supper” directors Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel while holding up their Cinemalaya Balanghai Trophy.

“Last Supper No. 3” is a humorous shot at the detours our country’s legal system takes to justice. It was one of the most watched films in this year’s festival, selling at least 1,100 tickets in the first six days of screening that began on July 17.

The comedy film joins the elite circle of Cinemalaya Best Picture winners “Jay” (2008), “Tribu” (2007), “Tulad ng Dati” (2006), and “Pepot Artista” (2005) in the festival’s five-year history.

Meanwhile, “Colorum” and “Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe” tied for the Special Jury Award.

“Colorum” tells the story of a cop and an ex-convict who were forced to embark on a road trip across the Philippine East Coast, while “Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe” is about an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who is forced to come home because of the global economic crisis.

“Colorum” yielded Best Actor winner in Lou Veloso. In accepting his trophy, Veloso thanked the festival for giving him the opportunity to transcend his image as a comedian.

The Best Actress award went to Ina Feleo, daughter of actor Johnny Delgado and actress-director Laurice Guillen. Feleo won for her role as a pawnshop employee in the film that looks at seemingly simple relationships cast in a mundane institution.

“Sanglaan” also produced this year’s Cinemalaya Best Supporting Actress, Tessie Tomas.

Best Director was awarded to GB Sampedro of “Astig” who said the timing of his victory could be of divine providence because he had worked on another indie film intended for the festival a couple of years ago but never got to finish.

Other awards that “Astig” won in the 2009 Cinemalaya Film Festival were for Best Sound Recording, Best Editing, and Best Supporting Actor (Arnold Reyes). The film was co-produced by famed TV host-manager Boy Abunda and has the most stellar cast among the entries. 

The Audience Choice Award and the National Council for Children’s Television Award were given to “Dinig Sana Kita” by Mike E. Sandejas. A love story between a deaf man and a rocker girl, “Dinig” was also the second most watched film in the festival after “Astig.”

Sandejas dedicated his Balanghai trophy to deaf people, entreating producers to do more stories about the deaf most of whom, he said, “lead interesting lives.”

“Dinig Sana Kita” also grabbed the Best Original Musical Score for Francis Florentino Reyes, a member of rock band The Dawn who starred in the Cinemalaya 2006 Best Picture, “Tulad ng Dati.”

A total of 38,000 viewers watched this year’s Cinemalaya entries, according to CCP president Nestor Jardin. Each of the full-length feature film finalists cost no more than 3 million pesos in production and each was given an initial production grant of half a million pesos.

The finalists in the Cinemalaya 2009 Short Film category were “Behind Closed Door” by Mark Philipp Espina; “Blogog” by Rommel “Milo” Tolentino; “Bonsai” by Alfonso K. Torre III; “Hulagpos” by Maita Lirra Lupac; “Latus” by John Paul S. Seniel; “Musa” by Dexter B. Cayanes; “Si Bok at ang Trumpo” by Hubert Tibi; “Tatang” by Jean Paolo “Nico” Hernandez; “Wat Floor, Ma’am” by Mike Sandejas and Robert Sena; and “Ugat sa Lupa” by Ariel Reyes.       

Below is the complete list of 2009 Cinemalaya winners:

Best Film: “Last Supper No. 3”

Special Jury Award: “Colorum” and “Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe”

NETPAC Award: “Baseco Bakal Boy”

National Council for Children’s Television Award: “Dinig Sana Kita”

Audience Choice (Full Length): “Dinig Sana Kita”

Best Director: GB Sampedro (“Astig”)

Best Actress: Ina Feleo (“Sanglaan”)

 Best Actor: Lou Veloso (“Colorum”)

Best Supporting Actress: Tessie Tomas (“Sanglaan”)

Best Supporting Actor: Arnold Reyes (“Astig”)

Best Screenplay: “Ang Nerseri” (Vic Acedillo Jr)

Best Cinematography: “24K” (Pao Orendain)

Best Production Design: “Mangatyanan” (Benjamin Padero)

Best Editing: “Astig” (Charliebebs Gohetia)

Best Musical Score: “Dinig Sana Kita” (Francis Reyes)

Best Sound Recording: “Astig” (Ditoy Aguila, Junnel Valencia, Mark Locsin)

Best Short Film: “Bonsai”

Special Jury Award (Shorts): “Blogog”

Audience Choice (Shorts): “Tatang”

Best Director (Shorts): Dexter B. Cayanes (“Musa”)

Best Screenplay (Shorts): “Behind Closed Doors”