Paraphrasing what Kip Oebanda said during his acceptance speech, he enunciated that their film is too small compared to the other films nominated in this year’s EDDYS, but the awards it received just proved that no film is too small for a big story that needs to be heard and seen.
Liway, a film about a young boy growing up in a prison during Martial Law, emerged as the biggest winner during Sunday night’s Entertainment Editors’ Choice for Movies or The EDDYS held at the New Frontier Theater in Araneta Center in Cubao.
Written and directed by Oebanda, the independent film walked home bagged the coveted Best Picture plum, Best Screenplay trophy, and Best Editing award.
In the acting category, Dingdong Dantes won Best Actor for his role in the movie Sid & Aya: Not A Love Story, while Kathryn Bernardo edged out veteran and seasoned actresses by winning the Best Actress trophy.
“I’m happy to accept this award but it saddens me that I wasn’t able to work with Eddie Garcia,” Dingdong said during his acceptance speech.
The Kapuso actor won over other A-list actors nominated including the legendary thespian, Paolo Pascual, Christian Bables, Paolo Contis, Carlo Aquino, and Daniel Padilla.
“I wasn’t able to experience the Eddie magic but because of the stories I’ve been hearing, I feel inspired. Yun ang dapat tularan ng bagong henerasyon ng mga aktor,” he carried on and dedicated the award to his parents and wife Marian Rivera and their kids.
Meanwhile, Arjo Atayde bagged Best Supporting Actor for his role in BuyBust, Max Collins won Best Supporting Actress for Citizen Jake, and Joel Lamangan was named best director for the LGBT-themed movie starring Eddie Garcia entitled Rainbow’s Sunset.
The star-studded third edition of the EDDYS was powered by the performance of artists such as Kuh Ledesma, Ice Seguerra, Aicelle Santos, Gerald Santos, Rayver Cruz, Lara Maigue, Bituin Escalante, Rita Daniela, Hashtags’ Rayt Carreon, Jem Cubil and Andrea Babierra, Sean Oliver, Both of Us (BOU), RJ dela Fuente, Acapellago, and Raket Manila Dancers.
It was also graced by beauty queens Patricia Magtanong (Binibining Pilipinas International 2019) and Gazini Ganados (Miss Universe Philippines 2019), personalities like former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista, former senator Jinggoy Estrada, Eric Quizon, Mayor Lani Mercado, Sen. Bong Revilla, and Rep. Alfred Vargas.
The glitzy awards night celebrated the 100th year of Philippine Cinema in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines led by its chairperson and CEO Liza Diño. It was hosted by Korina Sanchez-Roxas, produced by Echo Jham Entertainment, led by director Calvin Neria, and presented by Cignal .
Below is the full list of awardees:
Best Picture: Liway
Best Director: Joel Lamangan
Best Actress: Kathryn Bernardo (The Hows of Us)
Best Actor: Dingdong Dantes (Sid & Aya)
Best Supporting Actor: Arjo Atayde (Buy Bust)
Best Supporting Actress: Max Collins (Citizen Jake)
Best Screenplay: Liway
Best Cinematography: Aurora
Best Visual Effects: Aurora
Best Musical Score: Bakwit Boys
Best Production Design: Goyo
Best Editing: Liway
Best Original Theme Song: Maybe The Night (Ben & Ben, Exes Baggage)
Best Sound: Bakwit Boys
SPECIAL AWARDS:
Joe Quirino Award: Cristy Fermin
Manny Pichel Award: Ethel Ramos
Producer of the Year: Star Cinema
Lifetime Achievement Award: Elwood Perez
Rising Producers’ Circle: Spring Films and T-Rex Entertainment
Posthumous Award: Dolphy
BeauteDerm Red Carpet Choice: Lorna Tolentino