If there’s anyone more surprised in the recently concluded Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) it is no other than film director Paul Soriano.
Already reeling in glee when Siargao was chosen as one of eight entries to last year’s MMFF, Soriano’s joy even septupled after Gabi ng Parangal at KIA Theater on the 27th of December last year.
And why not, Siargao, touted to be at the bottom of the box-office race was showered with awards, all major, during the awards night including Best Director for Soriano.
And Soriano wasn’t even expecting. He had conceded that the most film that had been lavished with praises by critics, legit or slipshod, would run away with the trophy. Yet, his name was called and his team celebrated.
“When I entered the film for the four completed films after the four films based on the screenplay had been chosen, I didn’t even expect it would make the grade. I had a March play date for Siargao, so I said if it didn’t make it, we would just release it as planned,” Soriano said over lunch at Relish in Quezon City last Thursday.
But things turned out for the better. It was chosen and with the awards, theaters that at the beginning were wary to screen the “indie” film booked it and since the day we talked, Siargao has the third biggest number of screens nationwide.
Siargao is Soriano’s first foray into the romance-travel genre. It was voted second Best Picture apart from Soriano’s Best Director trophy, his first at from the MMFF.
Jasmine Curtis-Smith, meanwhile, took home the Best Supporting Actress award for her role as the environmentalist Abi who happens to be the former love interest of Diego (Jericho Rosales).
Mark Victor bagged the Best Editor trophy while the film was awarded Best Cinematography for perfectly capturing the Surfing Capital of the Philippines’ signature herculean, clear waves and its bright and picturesque island and locals.
Allowing the movie to sail further was its theme song “Alon” by local alternative rock band Hale, which also bagged the Best Original Theme song award. Not only that, the film was also awarded Best Sound.
Soriano shared the award with his artists, staff and crew saying it was his firs in the annual MMFF hence making his debut in the festival doubly memorable.
Soriano also learned an important lesson from joining the festival. He said, “If there’s one thing that this festival has really taught me is that not everybody is going to like what you make and not everyone is going to appreciate what you made.”
“But there are people that get what I want to say and it’s because of those people that I will continue to tell stories, to continue to make films because this is what I love to do,” he said when he accepted the award that night.
Siargao starring Jericho Rosales, Erich Gonzales and Jasmine Curtis-Smith is still showing in selected cinemas nationwide as part of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2017.